The Ever-Mysterious Horde Prime In She-Ra

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Some openings during the 1980s to 1990s cartoons can be VERY MISLEADING. Who can remember how X-Men: The Animated Series featured Juggernaut among the goons in Magneto's Mutant Terrorists then the show reveals otherwise? Who can remember the catchy jingle of Conan the Adventurer featuring Wrath-Amon as the main villain when the true villain is the serpent god Set? Who can remember Biker Mice from Mars featured Laurence Limburger as the main villain all the while he answered Lord Camembert for his LACK OF PROGRESS? She-Ra says they want to free Etheria from the evil forces of Hordak. 

However, just a few episodes later, Horde Prime's name is mentioned in episode 11 "The Peril of the Whispering Woods". Horde Prime later showed up in episode 18 where the MORAL STORY doesn't match the episode. Horde Prime doesn't really show up all too often but when he does - there's some comedic effect to him showing up!


Horde Prime's family tree is revealed. Apparently, Horde Prime has a son named Prince Zed. Whether or not Zed is adopted is not revealed. However, Hordak is called "uncle" which makes me believe that both Hordak and Horde Prime are brothers. Zed's letter writes "Your nephew..." which may indicate that Horde Prime may either be Hordak's brother-in-law or his brother. I think Hordak is the brother of Horde Prime. It's really getting rather murky though. Zed looks more humanoid than his uncle Hordak.


When Horde Prime first showed up - the only thing that showed up was a GIANT METALLIC HAND and a cloud of smoke. Just a verification that Horde Prime already showed up BEFORE the He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special. Horde Prime may seldom try to get Skeletor back (probably just to infuriate his brother Hordak). 

Horde Prime as a two-headed monster?

Later on, it's revealed that Horde Prime actually has two heads. Yet, we never got to see Horde Prime's two heads. Later comics wouldn't give Horde Prime literal two heads. Grizzlor suggested that they give Horde Prime a pair of bow ties - one for each head. Shadow Weaver did reveal that Horde Prime had two heads. However, Horde Prime seemed to have only ONE MIND in contrast to most two-headed monsters like Two-Bad (who were once two different people fused into one) or how most two-headed monsters tend to be two minds in one body. If so, Grizzlor probably never understood that Horde Prime having two heads was figurative. I guess that's why Hordak dropped Grizzlor. 

A Hanna-Barbera Christmas special did reveal the possible way Horde Prime operates. Take note that it was released in 1987 and the company had NOTHING to do with the He-Man properties...


King Ulvik in the not-so-appreciated The Little Troll Prince operated as a two-headed monster. Apparently, both Ulvik's heads worked in harmony. The eldest son, Bu, has only one head while his next two sons have two heads. It might make sense if Horde Prime was Hordak's brother. Hordak (and Prince Zed) only have one head while Horde Prime has two heads. However, later attempts to give Horde Prime an image behind the smoke (I suspect he's piloting a giant robot BTS as a means to intimidate his minions) gave him only one head. 

Either Horde Prime's two heads were merely figurative. Horde Prime did have Inspector Darkney to do some investigations after all.  If Horde Prime literally only has one head then maybe Grizzlor lacks common sense. Shadow Weaver did mention Horde Prime has two heads after Hordak mentioned Horde Prime has "two of everything, two flagships, two fleets...". I guess Grizzlor doesn't understand figure-of-speech hence the suggestion to give Horde Prime a pair of ties - one for each head. Maybe, Shadow Weaver meant it differently that Horde Prime had two heads. Maybe, it's because Horde Prime has Inspector Darkney to act as a second head. 

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