Mini-comic writer Donald F. Glut and production designer William Stout had these letters pubished in 'Cinefantastique' (December 1987)
https://archive.org/details/cinefantast ... 1/mode/1upStout addressing the STAR WARS-like troopers:
Paging darth VADERS TAILOR
There's a question posed in your last MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE article [17:5:41] that I cannot let go unanswered. Underneath the photo of the Grayskull throne room it is asked “But why do all the palace guards wear helmets and costumes that make them look like Darth Vader from STAR WARS?"
Due to the distasteful nature of film politics I cannot give you the full answer; however. I can tell you that both costume designer Julie Weiss and I had nothing to do with those costumes, and in fact heavilly fought and protested their look right up until their final manufacture. Our good taste and desire to he completely original was unfortunately overruled by higher-ups.
I hope that in reviewing MASTERS (and I know this will he difficult) you attempt to see the film without the prejudice that has colored many perceptions of it. Put simply. it's "How dare anyone be so crass and shallow as to make a film based upon a toy?" That is understandable. I turned down the film several times over a period of four years because of that prejudice. It was director Gary Goddard who changed my mind with his vision of a film that would hopefully leave the triviality of the toys in the dust. I hope you judge MASTERS on its merits as a film, not as a toy by-product. A $25 million toy commercial was never our intention.
William Stout Production Designer
Glut on writing the initial mini-comics:
All those who ‘'CREATED" MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, LINE UP HERE
This should sound like sour grapes. Since I'm reaping no financial reward from my involvement in the MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE "phenomenon," I feel that I. at the very least, deserve some credit. In 1979 or 1980 I was approached by Western Publishing Company (owned by Mattel Toys) to write stories for five booklets to be included with various toys in their new line (later to be called “Masters of the Universe"). For reference, I was given Polaroid shots of the prototype toys, some still unnamed. I his was all "work for hire," meaning that the creator is paid a one-time flat fee. while the company retains all rights to what is created. The project became less appealing when Western Mattel began to ask lor characters to be named and given origins and backgrounds.
Having just finished the novelization of THE EMPIRES STRIKES BACK. I didn't need the credit or money for this assignment, but took it anyway, mainly because my Western editor was a friend who needed someone reliable to get the job done satisfactory and on schedule. At least I was assured that I would receive a writing credit on the booklets, though, when published, the booklets were without a byline.
Some of the names were already there, including “He-Man."“Beastman."and "Man-at-Arms.""Eternia" was mine and required about ten seconds of thought. As the castle looked gray, not green, on the Polaroid photos. I named it "Castle Grayskull"after my then wife, whose maiden name was Linda Gray. "Teela." for anyone recalling the old SMILIN' ED'S AN¬ DY'S GANG TV show, was named after a pachyderm. (Remember the stories of "Gunga Ram" and his great bull elephant "Teela"?) "Mer-Man" was my name, also. The title of one of the booklets. “Battle in the Clouds." was that of an old silent SF movie for which I had a fondness.
Interestingly. Teela originated because I wanted a female figure. Then someone at Mattel saw the possibilities in making a Teela toy and recycling the same mold for additional female characters. I remember facetiously suggesting that one of these characters be patterned after He-Man. named "She-Man" (hardly more ridiculous a name than “He-Man"), but my joke was not well received. Apparently Western Mattel took these characters a lot more seriouslv than I did.
Don Glut Burbank. CA 91504
Sidonis usually make ok-editions (their Western collection, with interviews with Bertrand Tavernier, is really great).
) is on preorder for a early july release on 
