Fang-Man
(Masters of the Universe 1980s cartoon)
Context
Fang-Man appeared in the 1983-1984 He-man and the Masters of the Universe animated TV series.
For more about this world, see our primer to Eternia.
He’s another of Skeletor’s minions. He can control ancient dragons called dragosaurs.
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Background
- Real Name: Fang-Man.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Skeletor’s warriors.
- Base of Operations: Dragosaur Isle, formerly Snake Mountain
- Height: 5’2″ (1.57 m). Weight: 180 lbs. (82 Kg.).
- Eyes: Yellow with black pupils. Hair: None.
Powers & Abilities
Fang-Man is standard stock for Skeletor’s minions. A physical brute without much in the way of intellect.
Fang-Man has the power to command and ride powerful dragosaurs in battle.
Dragosaurs are Eternia’s prehistoric dragons. They do not breathe fire but a choking cloud of smoke.
Otherwise, they are very similar to their modern cousins. So these predators can fly, and have sharp teeth and talons.
Fan art by Mike Bock from his Deviantart page .
History
Skeletor revealed his latest powerful artifact, the Wheel of Infinity. With the Wheel, he would travel back in time to a point before Castle Grayskull existed.
Skeletor took Fang-Man and Tri-Klops with him.
The Sorceress detected the threat to Grayskull. She searched with her Window of Time and saw what Skeletor was up to. She summoned He-man to travel back in time and stop them.
Into the past
Skeletor took control of Ollo, the Ape Clan’s leader. He ordered the Ape Clan to capture their allies the Snake Clan, then force them to build a stone fortress.
This fortress was constructed exactly where Castle Grayskull would stand.
The Wheel of Infinity was stored within, and started turning. Over the years it would spin faster and grow larger until it would destroy Castle Grayskull in the present.
Typical dragosaur in flight.
And it would have worked too
He-man arrived in the past. He allied with the Snake Clan.
They attacked Skeletor’s new fortress. Skeletor was near defeat when he grabbed the Snake Clan leader, Zilora, and teleported to Dragosaur Isle. Fang-Man would have an advantage there as he could control dragosaurs.
The time corridor would soon bring He-man back to the present. So, he had to choose. Go to Dragosaur Isle and save Zilora, or stop the Wheel of Infinity and save Grayskull. As a hero, he chose Zilora.
Dragosaur Isle
When He-man and the others arrived, Tri-Klops spotted them, and Fang-Man went into action. He rode a dragosaur in combat and commanded two more.
However, He-man and Man-At-Arms were able to down all three beasts. Fang-Man fell with his dragosaurs.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
Race to Infinity
The Snake Clan leader was soon rescued. But Skeletor, Fang-Man, and Tri-Klops made their escape and teleported back to the fortress!
The Sorceress used her magic to help He-man and the others catch up. But Skeletor started the Wheel of Infinity spinning, and even He-man’s great strength wasn’t enough to stop it.
It would only spin faster and faster until, much later, it would destroy Grayskull.
He-man had an idea. Instead of stopping it, he instead sped it up even faster. Speeding it up meant it would reach its own end much sooner.
He-man punched the wheel into the stratosphere, where it exploded in a fireworks shower.
Left behind
The heroes returned to their own time. The Sorceress made sure Skeletor could never re-open his time corridor.
Tri-Klops and Skeletor are both seen in later episodes. Fang-Man however may have been stranded in the past. He is never seen again.
Description
Fang-Man is a snake-like humanoid, hissing with each breath. He seems to struggle a bit when speaking.
Fang-Man wears a red tunic and shorts. He has reptilian features and blue skin.
Fang-Man often stands in a slouched position.
Personality
The overly confident Fang Man has a strong belief in himself and his abilities as a warrior.
His short appearance doesn’t give us much. He’s another yes-man to Skeletor, looking for his approval.
Quotes
Skeletor:”Fang-Man, attack !”
Fang-Man: “Get them, my beauties !” (Dragosaurs attack)
“Hisss ! Hisss !”
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Tell me more about the game stats
Fang-Man
A 200 points Character.
| Dex: 04 | Str: 04 | Bod: 04 |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 03 | Min: 03 |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 010 | HP: 015 |
Powers:
Animal Control: 04, Claws (Bite): 04, Empathy: 03
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Animal Control is very specific, it may only control Dragosaurs (-3 FC).
- Empathy is only useable on Dragosaurs (-3 FC).
Skills:
Animal Handling (Riding): 05
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Connections:
Skeletor (Low).
Drawbacks:
Distinct Appearance.
Motivation:
Mercenary.
Occupation:
Skeletor’s Warrior.
Wealth:
005
Dragosaurs
A 417 points Character.
| Dex: 05 | Str: 10 | Bod: 06 |
| Int: 01 | Wil: 01 | Min: 01 |
| Inf: 01 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 02 |
| Init: 007 | HP: 000 |
Powers:
Claws (Teeth and claws): 06, Flight (Winged): 07, Fog: 03, Growth: 04, Poison Touch: 07, Skin Armor: 02
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Claws may be AP added to Str for EV.
- Growth is always on and already factored into stats (-1 FC).
- Poison Touch is Contingent Upon Fog and represents its choking smoke attack (-1 FC).
- Poison Touch begins at 03 APs but gains an AP each Phase as long as victims continue to breath it in.
- Poison Touch cannot damage a dragosaur (+1) or Fang-Man (-1).
Design notes
Fang-Man has very little screen time. Hence, there is some speculation about his abilities.
Fang-Man never appeared in action figure form. It’s theorized this was an early version of Kobra Khan. Although in his cartoon appearance the only similarity was that he was reptilian, his description in the show’s Series Bible is remarkably similar to Khan.
From Filmation’s series bible: “Fang Man* – A reptilian monster who, when he wants to disable his foes, breathes a sleeping gas upon them so they can be taken captive.”
Source of Character: The 1983/1984 animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Fang-man only appeared in one episode – “The Time Corridor”. Voiced by Lou Scheimer.
Helper(s): Wikipedia, he-man.fandom.com .
Writeup completed on the 22nd of October, 2021.