Strongarm
(aka Strong-Arm) (Masters of the Universe 1980s cartoon)
Context
Strongarm is a villainous cyborg. He appeared in but one episode of the 1983-1984 He-man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon.
Like Lizard Man, Strongarm was intended to be a recurring character – but was quickly phased out.
For more about this setting, see our primer to the world of Eternia.
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Background
- Real Name: Strongarm.
- Other Aliases: Strong-Or (modified name for the Classics action figures line), Strong-Arm.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Skeletor’s Warriors.
- Base of Operations: The Planet Phantos.
- Height: 6’0″ (1.82 m). Weight: 250 lbs. (113 Kg.).
- Eyes: Brown. Hair: Black.
Powers & Abilities
Strongarm, as his name implies, has a large mechanical right arm.
- It gives him an immediate strength advantage in battle.
- It can also telescope out for a ranged strike.
Strongarm’s head is metallic, with metal razors for teeth.
History
Skeletor overthrows the planet Phantos by casting a control spell over Queen Elmora. Her look and voice change as she becomes evil.
Meanwhile, Adam and Man-At-Arms test some Photanium weapons. Photanium is the most powerful metal in the universe, according to Man-At-Arms.
Although Adam feels as if something isn’t quite right, they leave for Eternia with their ore.
But Skeletor switched the shipment of Photanium for useless ore. The real Photanium will instead go to Snake Mountain.
Evil woman
The heroes wonder why their new weapons are breaking so easily. Queen Elmora and Phantos have always been an ally of King Randor and Eternia.
They decide to head back immediately, using the space portals in Grayskull, and find out why. But the Sorceress warns them that Elmora has sided with Skeletor.
When they arrive, an evil Elmora sends Battle-Cat and Stratos to her dungeons with a spell.
Through the refinery
He-man sneaks through the Photanium refinery to reach her throne room.
But Skeletor, warned about intruders, sends Strongarm and Mer-Man to guard the refinery.
When he sees how the enslaved refinery workers are treated, He-man has a hard time holding himself in check. He wants to free them.
When a guard pushes him in the back, He-Man slaps the slave-driver’s force field rod out of his hands.
I have the high ground
This alerts both Mer-Man and Strongarm. Strongarm swings down from his perch, forcing He-man inside a Photanium body cell.
However, Strongarm and Mer-Man have to retreat as there were too many other heroes. They report to Skeletor.
Skeletor, believing the heroes will retreat, moves to secure Phantos through Elmora. But she is now fighting back, beginning to resist his magic.
Strongarm and Mer-Man seek to seize Elmora. She stops them by conjuring irritant smoke.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
When she looks on He-man she will see only me
Skeletor conjures a blast of wind to remove the smoke, then ropes to bind Elmora.
Yet she laughs when he tries to demoralize her by showing He-man trapped in a body cell. The mighty He-man has already broken free!
Skeletor casts another spell on Elmora. He-man will now appear as Skeletor to her. The villains then hide nearby, and wait.
He-man enters the throne room and Elmora, thinking he’s Skeletor, attacks. She’s surprised enough to see Teela defending “Skeletor” that Teela has time to tell her that magic can make her see what Skeletor wants her to see.
Two Skeletors?
Just then, Skeletor and the evil warriors reveals themselves. Elmora is shocked to see two Skeletors. But she uses her spin magic to bind them both in Photanium chains.
Only He-man is able to break free, proving who is who.
He then forces Skeletor to release Elmora from his spell. Skeletor and his warriors flee a freed Phantos.
Description
Strongarm has a muscular frame.
He wears orange and blue with a yellow glove on his left hand. His blue belt has spikes like a dog-collar.
His cybernetic head evokes a Roman gladiator helm.
His right arm is completely metallic and much larger than his left.
Personality
Strongarm speaks LOUDLY.
He’s quick to spot his enemies and move on them… and just as quick to retreat.
Seems to be your normal mercenary with a gimmick.
Quotes
“Ah He-man, what a prize you’ll make for Skeletor.”
“Gotcha !”
“There are just too many of them to fight, besides, I knew you’d want to hear the good news. I got He-man !”
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Strongarm
| Dex: 04 | Str: 04 | Bod: 05 |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 05 | Min: 05 |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 |
| Init: 012 | HP: 015 |
Skills:
None demonstrated.
Advantages:
Sharp Eye.
Connections:
Skeletor (Low).
Drawbacks:
Minor Physical Restriction (missing right arm), mitigated by his MECHANICAL RIGHT ARM.
Motivation:
Mercenary.
Occupation:
Villainous Warrior.
Wealth:
005
Equipment:
- CYBERNETIC HEAD [BODY 09, Claws (teeth): 03].
- MECHANICAL RIGHT ARM [BODY 09 /STR 08/, Stretching: 02, Shockwave: 13, Skin Armor: 04; Bonuses and Limitations:
- STR is 08 only for his right arm.
- Stretching is limited to his mechanical right arm and doesn’t add to RV.
- Skin Armor only covers Strong-Arm’s right arm and head.
- Shockwave is accomplished by punching the ground with his mechanical right arm.
Design notes
As a cyborg, Strongarm may have other sensory powers or drawbacks that just weren’t shown in his minimal time in the episode.
Strongarm was originally storyboarded as “Chopper” for the episode “Dragon Invasion”. He was replaced by Jitsu in that story. Both characters only appear once in the series.
Strongarm didn’t have an action figure until the 2013 Classics line. However, he was renamed Strong-Or to avoid IP infringement.
Source of Character: The 1983/1984 animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Voiced by John Erwin.
Helper(s): he-man.fandom.com , www.he-man.org , Busta Toons (James Eatock) .
Writeup completed on the 18th of October, 2021.