Some action figures celebrate decades of history. Others exist because fans collectively lost it over a scene that lasted less than a minute. Gym Bro Skeletor is proudly in the latter category, and honestly, that's part of the charm.
This was my most anticipated San Diego Comic-Con exclusive this year, and thanks to the folks at Mattel and the Masters of the Universe team, I was lucky enough to get one. After spending an afternoon having him pose and show off his sick guns, I can safely say he's one of my favorite releases of the year.
If you've seen the movie, you already know the scene. During one of Skeletor's illusions cast inside Prince Adam's mind, we meet Gym Bro Skeletor, alongside equally ridiculous personas like Date Night Skeletor and HR Skeletor. It's a quick moment of Skeletor at the gym in this fit, trying to embarrass Adam at the gym. This became one of the biggest fan favorite moments from the entire film. I'd be shocked if this costume doesn't launch 1,000 cosplays over the next year.
Mattel did a fantastic job translating the on-screen design into figure form with the only noticeable change being the logo on the hoodie. In the movie, it's a Nike swoosh made of skulls, a not-so-subtle nod to director Travis Knight's dad being Phillip Knight, co-founder of Nike. Here, they switched it out for the ram's head from his havoc staff, but it still captures the same vibe and fits the figure perfectly, so it never feels like a compromise.
One of the coolest design choices is the sleeveless hoodie. Mattel used a soft vinyl overlay instead of hard plastic, giving it a natural drape while allowing the shoulders, torso, and arms to move freely. It feels great in hand and gives the figure an extra bit of texture that helps him stand out.
The Chronicles line has built a reputation for excellent articulation, and Gym Bro Skeletor keeps that streak going with 32 points of articulation. He's incredibly easy to pose, whether he's knocking out curls, flexing in front of an imaginary mirror, showing off his gains, or getting ready to throw down with He-Man. Every pose feels stable, and the figure has a surprising amount of personality once you start moving him around.
There's even a workout guide on the back of the box, and sure enough, he can pull most of these poses pretty easily without falling over.
Skeletor includes a pair of dumbbells decorated with his signature crossbones motif, turning standard gym equipment into something that feels right at home on Eternia. They're simple accessories, but they're packed with character.
His sneakers deserve a mention too. They're very similar to Jordan 1 Highs, but again sans swoosh and more of the crossbones. The paint job here was maybe a weak point, but maybe they're supposed to look used and run-in. It's almost a full circle moment since Nike also released some SB Lows a few years ago that have been in crazy demand, dubbed the Skeletors because of their colorway resembling the blue and purple of the Lord of Destruction.
A few extra gym accessories would've made an already fun package even better. A workout bench, squat rack, or even a display base would've opened the door to even more ridiculous display options. The included dumbbells do a great job selling the concept, but it's hard not to imagine how much fun a full Eternian gym set could've been.
At $50, you're paying convention-exclusive pricing, but the package feels worthwhile. Between the all-new sculpt, excellent articulation, fun accessories, and the fact that it riffs on one of the funniest concepts to come out of the movie, Gym Bro Skeletor feels like a release that collectors will be talking about for a long time. There's already been some early drops on eBay and those are going triple and up.
Gym Bro Skeletor is exactly the kind of figure that reminds me why I love collecting. It's weird, funny, surprisingly well executed, and completely committed to the bit. Mattel could have easily treated this as a throwaway convention exclusive, but instead they gave the joke real effort, and it shows.
