Sy-Klone
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Sy-Klone is a character in the popular toy line and cartoon series Masters of the Universe.
A member of the Heroic Warriors, Sy-Klone is a blue-skinned cyborg with the ability to spin at super-speed and generate a whirlwind. He is also able to spin different parts of his body individually. He was originally tagged by Mattel as the 'Heroic fist-flinging tornado'.
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[edit] Character history
[edit] The 1980s
Sy-Klone was introduced into the Masters of the Universe toy line in 1985. Given that the cartoon series was drawing to a close by the time he was introduced, his role in the show was so brief as to be almost nonexistent. He appeared only in minor, fleeting cameo appearances in two episodes; "Beauty and the Beast" and "Here, There, Skeletors Everywhere". Other than showcasing his powers these episodes gave no development to the character whatsoever.
Other mediums, such as comics and storybooks, featured Sy-Klone more prominently. One such storybook gave him an origin, explaining he was once a circus acrobat called 'the human tornado' who was turned into a cyborg by Skeletor's mechano-ray (which also turned a living giant spider into Skeletor's Spydor vehicle). In the UK range of comics produced by London Editions he was an athlete called Dash-Shel from the alien world of Snave, who came close to death after being injured in an assault by the Evil Horde. His father, who was a scientist, saved his life by regenerating him into the cyborg form of Sy-Klone, and after driving the Horde from Snave, he left for Eternia to help the Masters in their war against the Horde. This comic series presented him as brave and daring, but also brash and exuberant, often annoying his comrades by boasting and occasionally rushing headlong into danger.
[edit] 2002 series
Sy-Klone featured in the relaunch of the Masters of the Universe toy line and cartoon series in 2002. His appearance was slightly modified by sculptors the 4 Horsemen for his action figure, giving him a samurai warrior-like appearance.
His portrayal in the show was strongly developed from his 80s counterpart, as well as significantly altered. He was introduced in the episode "The Mystery of Anwat Gar" as the final defender of an ancient race who once inhabited the now-deserted island of Anwat Gar, on which he had remained alone for thousands of years. His mission was to guard the Legacy Stones of the island, which were stolen by Skeletor and subsequently destroyed for safety by He-Man. He-Man then invited Sy-Klone to join the Masters.
Here a mystical and centuries-old samurai warrior rather than a pure cyborg, Sy-Klone's power over wind now seemed to be partially, if not wholly, magical rather than cybernetic like his 80s counterpart. His appearance was also here faintly Asian, as was his background; the island and fighting style of Anwat Gar had a Japanese influence, though possibly based on Angkor Wat. His personality was here wise and sombre, and in subsequent episodes he would frequently spawn out metaphors and eloquent phrases of wisdom, which would amusingly often annoy his battle comrades. Nothing was revealed about his history prior to guarding Anwat Gar and his subsequent appearances were generally cameos and supporting roles, but he did receive a spotlight role again in the episode "Separation" in which he went in search of his family, but found nothing and upon realizing they were centuries gone, decided the Masters were his true family.
[edit] Trivia
Sy-Klone's name was originally going to be Tornado. In his first mini-comic appearance in "Spikor Strikes" one panel mistakenly refers to him by his original name.
In the contemporary series it is possible that he is part of the same blue-skinned race to which Keldor/Skeletor belongs. This race was apparently to be termed the Gar, although this name was never mentioned in the series.
