Fisto
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Fisto is a fictional character in the popular toy line and cartoon series Masters of the Universe.
Fisto is a large and muscular warrior with reddish-brown hair and a beard, distinguishable mainly by his right hand, which is a large metal fist. In the original incarnation of the character it was ambiguous as to whether Fisto's metal hand was some kind of removable (possibly magical) gauntlet, or if it was a prosthetic attachment. In the 2002 continuity Fisto's hand is much larger and unambiguously cybernetic. In both versions his fist is able to smash through rock and other hard surfaces, as well as packing more than a punch with the enemy. A member of the Heroic Warriors, he is generally considered to be the second strongest member of his ranks after He-Man.
[edit] Character history
[edit] 1980s
Fisto was introduced into the Masters of the Universe toy line in 1984, packaged as the 'Heroic Master of hand-to-hand combat'.
He appeared in the line's accompanying cartoon series by Filmation, featuring in four episodes: "Fisto's Forest", "The Rarest Gift of All", "To Save Skeletor" and "The Games". In "Fisto's Forest" his origin was told, detailing how he was originally a villain who terrorized the forest in servitude to Skeletor, before being convinced to change his ways by He-Man, now living in peace with the peasants of the forest. However, Fisto received little in the way of character development, simply transferring from a villain to a hero in the space of one episode without any real character depth. His appearances in subsequent episodes were generally little more than cameos and did nothing to flesh out his character. His only other significant role was in "The Games" in which he is selected to represent the side of good in a series of games set by an alien race observing Eternia. But given that he here suffers a rather humiliating defeat against cheating Evil Warriors, and He-Man has to take his place, this episode was hardly a positive showcase for his character, presenting him essentially as the poor man's He-Man.
In the toy line, the evil character of Jitsu was marketed as an adversary to Fisto, his design being an oriental equivalent of Fisto, with a large golden right hand enhanced for performing karate chops. But the apparent rivalry between these two characters was never sufficiently developed by any medium and there is no official background story detailing any kind of history between them. They fought hand-to-hand in the Mattel mini-comic "The Clash of Arms", packaged with both their figures, but no backstory between them was mentioned. Neither did the cartoon ever cover this plotline given that Jitsu was largely excluded from the Filmation show due to fears he would be perceived as a racial stereotype.
Marketing also linked Fisto to the Heroic Warriors' war horse Stridor, and toy commercials, storybooks and comics frequently featured Fisto riding atop Stridor, implying he belonged exclusively to Fisto, although Stridor was listed as He-Man's steed on his package. (Likewise, Jitsu had a similar link with Night Stalker, Stridor's evil counterpart). The link between Fisto and Stridor was apparent in practically every medium other than the cartoon, which made no connection between the two.
[edit] 2002 series
Fisto was included in the 2002 revival of the Masters of the Universe toy line and cartoon series. Due to copyright reasons (Kit Fisto being a character in the Star Wars Universe) his action figure was packaged under the name 'Battle Fist' rather than his original name. But the cartoon rights to the name were still clear, so he was still referred to as Fisto in his cartoon incarnation.
Fisto was introduced in the last four episodes of the new cartoon series. A new dimension was added to his character by making him the brother of Duncan (Man-At-Arms), estranged from him after being accused of deserting his comrades in the Great Unrest (a war that took place sixteen years before the events of the show in which a team of warlords attempted to take over Eternia). Although he insists he did not desert his companions, Fisto has a gap in his memory from the time which he claims was the result of a battle injury, and therefore has trouble remembering exactly what happened. Given that he has never been able to prove his innocence, Fisto has been bitter and disgraced ever since the Great Unrest, spending most of his time in seedy bars where he frequently runs into fights with other punters.
Fisto was here introduced in the episode "Web of Evil" in which his gigantic right hand was initially shown to be natural flesh, though it was never explained if he was born that way or if it was some kind of mutation. After family bonds bring him to save his brother from the evil warriors, shattering his hand in the process, Fisto is recruited into the ranks of the Masters. Man-At-Arms repairs his hand by modifying it into a mechanical metal fist in the following episode "Rattle of the Snake", but tensions remain between the two brothers over the events of the Great Unrest.
Portrayed as bad-tempered and fiery yet well-meaning at heart, it was also arguably hinted that Fisto may be the biological father of Man-At-Arms' adopted daughter Teela, which would have technically made Man-At-Arms' her uncle. The episode "Out of the Past", which comes before Fisto's introduction, revealed that Teela's mother, the Sorceress, fell in love with a wounded soldier during the Great Unrest, who was suffering from amnesia. Given that the soldier vanished mysteriously and she never saw him again, it is possible that he may have been Fisto, given his aforementioned memory loss. After the cancellation of the series, Ian Richter of Mattel revealed the plan had indeed been to reveal Fisto as Teela's father, but the show was cancelled before the plot could be developed. It is not as yet known exactly what was planned for the development of this storyline or Fisto's history in the Great Unrest. However, the idea of Fisto as Teela's father has proved generally controversial among fans, with many preferring to believe Man-At-Arms is her true father, at which "Out of the Past" seemed to subtly if misleadingly hint.
