Whiplash
(Masters of the Universe villain)
Context
Whiplash is one of the new villains introduced in the second season of the 1983-1984 He-man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon series.
If you’re not familiar with that, you should first read the Masters of the Universe (1980s) setting article.
Whiplash is the evil crocodile-man who works for Skeletor.
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Background
- Real Name: Whiplash.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Skeletor’s Warriors.
- Base of Operations: Snake Mountain, formerly the Demon Zone.
- Height: 5’10” (1.78m). Weight: 230 lbs. (104 Kg.).
- Eyes: Yellow. Hair: None (but with black eyebrows).
Powers & Abilities
Whiplash relies on his physical abilities, sending opponents flying with a swing of his powerful tail. He can crush stone or lift and throw heavy boulders.
Allied with Skeletor and his warriors, Whiplash has access to the weapons and vehicles in Snake Mountain.
He is quite the animal tamer. Whiplash keeps and works with several dangerous creatures. Aside from teaching them not to kill him, he trains them to:
- Guard areas.
- Attack specific opponents.
- Defend his escape route.
Oh, and once, Whiplash tried to learn Trollan magic.
History
In an attempt to impress Skeletor, Whiplash travelled to Trolla – Orko’s homeworld. His main goal was to learn Trollan magic.
(I guess he didn’t know Trollan magic doesn’t work so well on Eternia.)
A secondary goal was to cause trouble wherever he could. His plan was to impose his own puppet leader to the Academy of Magic.
He found his puppet and teacher in an ambitious young magician named Snoob. To boot, Snoob was a former pupil of Orko’s uncle Montork.
Snoob challenged Montork to a magic duel for control of the Academy of Magic.
Duel of tricks
During the duel, Whiplash directed an energy-draining ray at Montork. This allowed Snoob to outperform him. The Crimson Council therefore agreed with Snoob that Montork had gotten too old.
Snoob would now run the Academy of Magic.
Dree-Elle, worried for Montork, traveled to Eternia to ask Orko for help. After a quick explanation, Orko, He-man, and Battle-Cat went to Trolla.
Whiplash, the puppet master
After meeting with Montork, Orko and Dree-Elle went to question Snoob. They snuck inside and found Whiplash was behind Snoob’s rise to power!
However, Orko and Dree-Elle were captured and taken to the Krooms’ fortress.
The Krooms are humanoid pig soldiers about three feet (90cm) high. They’re evil and happy to have a strong leader like Whiplash.
Krooms ride geks as mounts. Geks are exactly like green-skinned dragosaurs except without any kind of breath attack. Dragosaur stats can be found in the Fang-Man writeup.
Whiplash revealed he helped Snoob in the magic duel.
That shocking disclosure, along with Orko and Dree-Elle’s admonishment, caused Snoob to turn on Whiplash.
Dogpile on the villains!
He-man, Battle-Cat, and Montork came to the rescue. Orko, Dree-Elle, and Snoob closed in on Whiplash. He released his secret weapon, the Skarg!
(Use stats for a Giant Crawler from the Eternian Animals article. The only difference, the Scarg has a strong Magic Field Power.)
Orko, Montork, and Snoob combined their magic to defeat the Skarg. Battle-Cat took care of the Krooms. Meanwhile, He-man captured Whiplash.
Montork returned to his station at the Academy of Magic.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
Into the Demon Zone
Whiplash somehow found his way back to Skeletor.
When Skeletor captured the Egg of Avion from the bird people he ordered Whiplash to stow it away in the Demon Zone.
The Demon Zone is Whiplash’s home base. The doors to this place can only be opened twice a year.
Without the egg, the bird people lose the power of flight. Skeletor and his warriors could conquer Avion with ease after that.
Get them my pets!
Whiplash used two of his prized pets to help him guard the egg. A giant snake and a golden dragon.
As a last resort, he also programmed a missile to seek out and destroy the egg.
He-man, Stratos, and Orko learned of the Demon Zone from the Sorceress. She warned them not to let any of the demons escape from this zone.
He-man and Stratos went inside. They found and defeated Whiplash and his dragon. They escaped with the egg but had to break the doorway.
That ought to keep those demons down where they belong
He-man used his great strength to cause a rockslide that filled the entire entranceway.
Still, Whiplash remains a solid warrior in Skeletor’s growing ranks.
Description
A green humanoid reptile with long dragging tail. He has ridges running down his back from the top of his head to the tip of his tail.
Whiplash wears blue shorts, boots, and wrist bands.
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Personality
Whiplash joined Skeletor as many warriors before him. A sycophant wanting power, and believing Skeletor can give it to him. Whiplash tries hard to gain Skeletor’s favor.
Often challenging the other warriors when making decisions, but not Skeletor.
Certainly a bully, forcing others to do his will through intimidation and muscle.
He’s shown the ability to take control of weaker species, making them work for him as soldiers.
Whiplash is also one of the few who doesn’t lose his drive or devolve into a bumbling coward.
Others have called him names, such as, “Scale Head” or “Crocodile Breath” or “Wimp-lash”
With Krooms on Trolla.
Quotes
(Speaking of Skeletor)
Whiplash: “Pretty good one boss.”
Mer-man: “Hey, I was going to say that.” (puts a hand on Whiplash’s shoulder)
Whiplash: “Keep your fins to yourself.”
“I whipped a couple of their buildings to pieces, hahaha.”
“Who would dare to challenge me ?”
(Dismayed when his pet was magically shrunk).
“My beautiful little monster ! Those little pests have ruined it ! I’ve got to get out of here !”
Hawk: “The Egg (of Avion) is in the next chamber; but it’s guarded by one of Whiplashes’ pets.”
Evil-lyn: “It’s He-man !”
Skeletor: “I’ve been expecting him. He must not find out where Teela is.”
Whiplash: “The boulders.”
Skeletor: “Excellent Whiplash. Go to it.”
DC Universe Adaptation
(This section proposes ways of using this character in DC Universe stories).
An obvious link would be Killer Croc. Whiplash could be a relative of Waylon Jones. With the same rare genetic condition that transformed him.
If you don’t want to go the relative route, perhaps a blood transfusion to save a life origin, à la Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk).
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Whiplash
A 514 points Character.
| Dex: 04 | Str: 05 | Bod: 06 |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 05 | Min: 04 |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 04 |
| Init: 012 | HP: 030 |
Powers:
Analytic Smell/Tracking Scent: 01, Extra-Limb (Tail): 10, Swimming: 05
Skills:
Animal Handling: 08, Charisma: 04, Gadgetry (Identify Gadget): 06, Military Science (Tracking)*: 04, Thief (Stealth): 07, Vehicles (Air, Land)*: 04, Weaponry (Melee, Firearms, Heavy)*: 04
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Connections:
The Demon Zone (Low).
Drawbacks:
Distinct Appearance.
Motivation:
Mercenary.
Occupation:
Villainous Warrior.
Wealth:
005
Whiplash’s Pets
Within the Demon Zone, Whiplash has several trained pets. Two are show-cased. A giant snake and a gold dragon (“The Betrayal of Stratos”).
Note that these are not per the Pet Advantage, only trained creatures.
Use stats for Snake, Giant and Dragon from the Eternian animals of the Masters of the Universe article.
Design notes
Introduced in Season 2, Whiplash did not appear in the She-Ra spinoff or any of the specials.
Whiplash’s action figure came with an orange spear.
Steel spear [BODY 05, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 07), Descriptor: Bludgeoning, Piercing, Recommended STR 03, R#3, Limitation: Bludgeoning has Limited penetration].
If the spearwielder’s opposition is within a four feet range, the spearwielder gets a -1 to the final roll of their melee attacks while the opposition gets a +1 to the final roll of their melee attacks. If the range is greater, these are reversed.
Source of Character: The 1983/1984 animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, voiced by John Erwin.
Helper(s): Wikipedia, he-man.fandom.com , Josh Marquart.
Writeup completed on the 7th of August, 2021.