Queen Marlena
| Queen Marlena | |
|---|---|
| Masters of the Universe character | |
| Created by | Mattel |
| Portrayed by |
Linda Gary - 1983 & Nicole Oliver - 2002 |
| Information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Occupation | Queen/Astronaut |
| Spouse(s) | King Randor |
| Children |
He-Man (son) She-Ra (daughter) |
Queen Marlena is a fictional character from the Masters of the Universe franchise. She first appears in the toys' minicomics as a typical medieval-style queen. Later, the Filmation cartoon series states that she is actually a space pilot from Earth who had crash-landed on Eternia some years before the present time of the series. [1]
Unlike her husband, King Randor (who received a figure at the tail-end of the original line), Queen Marlena never had an action figure version of herself produced in the original toy line. In 2011, Mattel released a Queen Marlena/Captain Glenn action figure which was available at the San Diego Comic-Con and Matty Collector website as part of the Masters of the Universe Classics line.[2]
Character history
Filmation animated series
Filmation's He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series, presents a somewhat expanded version of the queen of Eternia, making her the mother of Prince Adam and Princess Adora. In the cartoon Marlena is given an elaborate backstory, being an astronaut from Earth who was forced to make an emergency landing and became stranded on Eternia when her spaceship was bombarded by an asteroid storm. There, she was found by Randor, King of Eternia. Recovering from the crash, she fell in love with Randor, and chose to stay on Eternia and became his wife even after her ship was fully repaired.[3] The original series bible states that Marlena had several passengers on board her craft when it crash landed, who were mutated into Evil-Lyn, Beast Man and Tri-Klops. However, this notion proved unpopular with writers and was never used in the series.
Although featured regularly in the series, her direct involvement in the plots is generally minimal, although she is noticeably featured in episodes that recount her crash-landing on Eternia, in both the early episode "Teela's Quest" and the second season episode "The Rainbow Warrior". Furthermore in "The Rainbow Warrior", she saves the day when she takes her old ship, which is still combat worthy, and defeats Skeletor, who has taken Randor, Adam, and several other heroic characters prisoner. After the battle, Randor proudly reveals her identity while describing her as the greatest pilot Earth ever had. It is very subtly hinted at the end of the episode that Marlena knows Adam is He-Man.
Queen Marlena is usually voiced in the Filmation cartoon by Linda Gary, but in some early episodes is voiced by producer Lou Scheimer's wife, Jay Scheimer. This was due to a contract clause that only allowed Gary to voice a certain number of characters each episode.
In the second season episode "Visitors From Earth", two human space-pilots that land on Eternia and who know Marlena are indicated to be from present times. In the animated TV special He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special, two children from Earth are accidentally teleported to Eternia. From the brief glimpses of Earth shown in this episode, and the children's parents' incredulous reaction to some high-tech gadgets the children return with, there is nothing to suggest a futuristic era.
The New Adventures of He-Man
Queen Marlena appears in the first episode of The New Adventures of He-Man series, "A New Beginning". When her son, Adam, reveals to her and King Randor that he will travel to the future, he also reveals his secret identity as He-Man. Marlena and Randor tell their son they are very proud of him before he leaves. Marlena and Randor look similar to their previous Filmation incarnations, and wear the same robes, they are also seated in the same throne room. Curiously though, Marlena now has blue/grey hair.[4]
Mike Young Productions animated series
In the 2002 Mike Young Productions animated series, Marlena is given a somewhat reduced role, although is characterised much the same way. No mention is made, however, of Marlena having been an Earth astronaut in this continuity. She is, on one occasion, depicted as an accomplished diplomat and competent warrior, wearing battle-armor and defending herself against the Snake Men in episode 33 Of Machines and Men.
References
- ↑ "Anchorage Daily News - Google News Archive". News.google.com. 1987-04-08. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
- ↑ "Review: SDCC Exclusive MOTUC Queen Marlena w/ Cringer". MTV. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ↑ "DVD Review: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Season 2, Vol. 1". The Trades. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
- ↑ "The New Adventures of He-Man Volume 1": Fighting Mutant Slime in a Future Time". Toon Zone. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
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