Hordak trapped in Despondos

[Captain Sea Hawk]

I just finished watching the entire 2002 He-Man series, and I have a question about Hordak. If he was trapped in Despondos since his battle with King Grayskull and was never released, then how could he have kidnapped Adora and take her to Etheria? Thanks for your help.

[Neo]

I just finished watching the entire 2002 He-Man series, and I have a question about Hordak. If he was trapped in Despondos since his battle with King Grayskull and was never released, then how could he have kidnapped Adora and take her to Etheria? Thanks for your help.

It was never said he did such a thing in the MYP continuity..
But people have speculated that he had one of his henchmen do it. Perhaps Keldor, perhaps Pravus. Who knows... Maybe Adora had another backstory this time.

[gbagok]

Emiliano said that MVC had worked it out that the spell was backfired, and it was actually Eternia that was trapped in Despondos, or at least separated from the rest of the universe, which is where Hordak really went. So he's off on Horde World or Etheria while Eternia is locked away from him through a dimensional rift.

RE the possibility that Adora/She-Ra had a different origin in MYP, that's one reason I'm glad the show stopped. The other being the Fisto-daddy thing. I was okay with Skeletor as Adam's uncle though.

[Neo]

Emiliano said that MVC had worked it out that the spell was backfired, and it was actually Eternia that was trapped in Despondos, or at least separated from the rest of the universe, which is where Hordak really went. So he's off on Horde World or Etheria while Eternia is locked away from him through a dimensional rift.

That doesn't make any sence.. Hordak specificly asks Skeletor to free him from the acursed dimention. Besides, an entire planet trapped in an alternate dimention is pretty far out threre imo.

I love the MVC comics, but that and the anti Eternia thing just isn't very apealing to me.

[gbagok]

I love the MVC comics, but that and the anti Eternia thing just isn't very apealing to me.

I understand, although it was a nice break from the formula of a villain trapped somewhere. Skeletor was trapped on the Dark Hemsiphere after fighting Randor in the past, King Hsss trapped in another dimension after fighting Zodak in the past, and then Hordak was trapped in another dimension after fighting King Grayskull in the past (to say nothing of Marzo and Evilseed being trapped in other forms after fighting someone in the past). Although I suppose Hordak could look at it as having freedom to be on Eternia where he wants to be rather than not being there.

[Neo]

I understand, although it was a nice break from the formula of a villain trapped somewhere. Skeletor was trapped on the Dark Hemsiphere after fighting Randor in the past, King Hsss trapped in another dimension after fighting Zodak in the past, and then Hordak was trapped in another dimension after fighting King Grayskull in the past (to say nothing of Marzo and Evilseed being trapped in other forms after fighting someone in the past). Although I suppose Hordak could look at it as having freedom to be on Eternia where he wants to be rather than not being there.

Yeah there kind of was a "being trapped" theme going on...
But there wasn't really another option I guess. Killing a character is pretty definitive so trapping them is a good way of getting rid of some characters and putting them on ice for when they are needed. I am surprised they killed Webstor btw.

[Tallstar]

Besides, an entire planet trapped in an alternate dimention is pretty far out threre imo.

In the original story concept for MOTU, The Fighting Foe Men, Eternia was sent into a space/time warp and held in timeless limbo.

[Neo]

In the original story concept for MOTU, The Fighting Foe Men, Eternia was sent into a space/time warp and held in timeless limbo.

Still I find this a strange concept. What would it add to the story? Just Keep Eternia at the centre of the universe... The place were gods reside without knowing they are in fact gods.

[Raider of Shadows]

It was never said he did such a thing in the MYP continuity..
But people have speculated that he had one of his henchmen do it. Perhaps Keldor, perhaps Pravus. Who knows... Maybe Adora had another backstory this time.

I think that a problem with the idea that some of Hordak's Eternian bound henchmen kidnapped Adora and sent her to Hordak is that I'd have a hard time believing that somehow he'd ask for a portal to be opened to him in Despondos but not want to be freed from said "accursed dimension". Also if it was Skeletor who had already opened a portal to Despondos, why could he be so shocked that Hordak wants to be freed through one?

[gbagok]

So much of the timeline is vague, we really don't know what the circumstances would be for a more Filmation-faithful origin for Adora. We don't even know when the twins were born in relation to events involving Keldor/Skeletor. He may have been totally uninvolved behind the Mystic Wall, or he may have been involved prior to becoming Skeletor. Who knows how the magic works, the connection Keldor has with Hordak may have required a sacrifice (Adora). My own theory is that Keldor used his connection to Miro to abduct one or maybe both children, and it was all kept secret from Randor to prevent him from recklessly attacking Keldor out of vengeance. But the timeline is really not clear, and neither are the rules of the magic.

[bcrduke]

I've wondered, since volume three of the MVC comic, whether the need for a baby (female) was necessary... Keldor did go back in time to take baby Evil Lyn to the future with him... it's too coincidental.

[Neo]

I think that a problem with the idea that some of Hordak's Eternian bound henchmen kidnapped Adora and sent her to Hordak is that I'd have a hard time believing that somehow he'd ask for a portal to be opened to him in Despondos but not want to be freed from said "accursed dimension". Also if it was Skeletor who had already opened a portal to Despondos, why could he be so shocked that Hordak wants to be freed through one?

You've got a point.. Maybe Adora wasn't taken to Despondos afterall. Perhaps she is being trained in another location, the Frightzone maybe. Where Hordaks remaining forces are waiting for his return. They probably lack the means to get him back though. We know that only powerfull magic can open a portal.

I don't think Skeletor opened a portal though.

The thing that I don't understand is why Hordak waited this long to collect on Skeletors dept. Couldn't he just get Keldor to open a portal before He-Man "returned"?

[Emiliano]

That doesn't make any sence.. Hordak specificly asks Skeletor to free him from the acursed dimention. Besides, an entire planet trapped in an alternate dimention is pretty far out threre imo.
I love the MVC comics, but that and the anti Eternia thing just isn't very apealing to me.

You're right, but you see, we must admit we wanted to change a 2 or 3 things from the MYP cartoon.
Since we were diverging, something sooner or later would have turned out to be different.
And Despondos was one of these.

All Vol.3 is about that.
Despondos is not a dimension, but more like a barrier.
Eternia is still at the center of the Universe, exactly in the same location, but trapped in this pocket dimension/barrier. No one can see it, and no one can find it.
Plus, Despondos is poisonous. Enybody trying to pass through it will become sick and die eventually.
Exactly what happens to Evil-Lyn in Vol.3.

But Despondos is an old spell, and who created it also created some keys the allow for a safe passage in and out of it...

It was never said he did such a thing in the MYP continuity..
But people have speculated that he had one of his henchmen do it. Perhaps Keldor, perhaps Pravus. Who knows... Maybe Adora had another backstory this time.

Most of that happened in the never released Randor miniseries, where we see Keldor and Prhavus kidnapping Adora and using one of the key to Despondos to pass her to Hordak...

I've wondered, since volume three of the MVC comic, whether the need for a baby (female) was necessary... Keldor did go back in time to take baby Evil Lyn to the future with him... it's too coincidental.

Hehe, we through lot of hints and lot of confusing clues there
Looks like Keldor was there for the baby, but he was actually in the past to retrive the Havoc Staff, and taking Evil-Lyn and save her was the price for the trade with the Faceless One.

now, if you've been reading carefully the post so far you should know what the Havoc Staff actually is... and doing some links unveil lot of more stuff (i'll you guys try to figure all this again before adding more)

You've got a point.. Maybe Adora wasn't taken to Despondos afterall. Perhaps she is being trained in another location, the Frightzone maybe. Where Hordaks remaining forces are waiting for his return. They probably lack the means to get him back though. We know that only powerfull magic can open a portal.

I don't think Skeletor opened a portal though.

The thing that I don't understand is why Hordak waited this long to collect on Skeletors dept. Couldn't he just get Keldor to open a portal before He-Man "returned"?

That's the important question. All this is linked and tied together. We'll get to an explanation soon!
BTW, in the MVC comic, Adora was brought out of Eternia, and raised on the Horde World and then on Etheria, exactly as in the Filmation series.
We were trying our best to keep the importat element the same without contraddicting too much the new cartoon.

[gbagok]

You're right, but you see, we must admit we wanted to change a 2 or 3 things from the MYP cartoon.
Since we were diverging, something sooner or later would have turned out to be different.
And Despondos was one of these.

All Vol.3 is about that.
Despondos is not a dimension, but more like a barrier.
Eternia is still at the center of the Universe, exactly in the same location, but trapped in this pocket dimension/barrier. No one can see it, and no one can find it.
Plus, Despondos is poisonous. Enybody trying to pass through it will become sick and die eventually.
Exactly what happens to Evil-Lyn in Vol.3.

But Despondos is an old spell, and who created it also created some keys the allow for a safe passage in and out of it...

Hmm. Could that contradiction with the TV show be avoided if Hordak was lying to Skeletor/Keldor that he was trapped? I don't know how much Keldor/Skeletor had to know about Hordak, but it might have served Hordak better to let him and anyone on Eternia think he was trapped somewhere and not that there's a barrier protecting Eternia from him. For one thing, it probably lets them think they'll have some degree of control over Hordak after conjuring him rather than his having a galactic space army waiting to invade like Darkseid in DC comics (oh, and the Cosmic Enforcers are like New Genesis--I love this stuff!!!).

Most of that happened in the never released Randor miniseries, where we see Keldor and Prhavus kidnapping Adora and using one of the key to Despondos to pass her to Hordak...

So Keldor was to be involved with the abduction of Adora! I love that Keldor and Prahvus are both in there too. Oh sob, the Randor miniseries! I'm crying again.

Hehe, we through lot of hints and lot of confusing clues there
Looks like Keldor was there for the baby, but he was actually in the past to retrive the Havoc Staff, and taking Evil-Lyn and save her was the price for the trade with the Faceless One.

now, if you've been reading carefully the post so far you should know what the Havoc Staff actually is... and doing some links unveil lot of more stuff (i'll you guys try to figure all this again before adding more)

Keldor called the Havoc Staff a "key" in Vol 3, and also the Faceless One needed both it and Evil-Lyn's staff to help cure her of the poison from Despondos. Not sure if that means they both were keys, but I'm thinking every staff could have been some kind of key now. Teela's staff of Ka might open Viper Tower? And the Sorceress's staff might have opened Central Tower or a secret door in Grayskull. Maybe He-Ro's and Zodak's were keys too!

We were trying our best to keep the importat element the same without contraddicting too much the new cartoon.

I think you did an excellent job and certainly from what you've described, you were planning to merge a lot more of what I wanted to see in the MYP-verse than MYP itself seemed interested in.

[Sir Reilly]

Plus, Despondos is poisonous. Enybody trying to pass through it will become sick and die eventually.

In that case, wouldn't all of Hordak's Hordesmen have died when being banished from Eternia?

Sort of.
We had also to work Hordak's body being destroyed in the POG episode.

I guess the destruction of his original boy would lead to him getting an artificial one with shapeshifting abilities like he performed in Filmation, wouldn't it?

[vazqjose]

I just finished watching the entire 2002 He-Man series, and I have a question about Hordak. If he was trapped in Despondos since his battle with King Grayskull and was never released, then how could he have kidnapped Adora and take her to Etheria? Thanks for your help.

different series, different story...

[MegaGearMax]

I just finished watching the entire 2002 He-Man series, and I have a question about Hordak. If he was trapped in Despondos since his battle with King Grayskull and was never released, then how could he have kidnapped Adora and take her to Etheria? Thanks for your help.

I always thought that she might have been "sacrificed" by Skeletor (on orders from Hordak) and sent to Despondos. Perhaps it's far easier to enter Despondos than leave it. Randor doesn't know the identity of the kidnapper (although how could something happen without the Sorceress knowing about it--unless it happened during her "time off" during the Great Unrest).

[Angel-T]

This is how I see it. In the Toyfair interview it states that because Horde Prime (A fallen achient) wanted the Twins of Power for himself. Emiliano has now confirmed this was because he knew they were destned to become the champions of grayskull & he wanted to use them as a weapon by twisting them and making Adam & Adora evil & dark in order to distroy the power of grayskull.

The interview said Hordak sent Keldor back in time to get the Havoc staff from the Lord of Zelaysha, so he could use the key to open the poisionus barrier around the pocket / fold in space at the center of the universe, where Eternia was traped to smuggle out the twins of power to the waiting Hordak & Horde Prime. But Keldor (and Pravhus was also involved with the kidnap plot as well, also confirmed by Emiliano) only managed to take Adora. She was then raised on Horde World and then later sent to Etheria. Only Eternia was off limits to Hordak & Horde Prime, protected by the dispondos barrier, everything outside of that Hordak can get to. This is how Adora manages to find herself placed on Etheria as a force captin, as the horde were trying to conqure that world.

So MGM's idea about the kidnapping happening around the time of the Sorceresses vacation during the great unrest sounds just about right to me if Pravhus was involved, perhaps Adora's kidnap or the twins approaching conception or birth was what compelled Teelana to return to Grayskull. She might have felt something big was about to happen and she would be needed, possibly to track the stolen Princess and try to stop her from being taken from Eternia! This randor mini series would have been sooooooooooo cool! >:0(

[13977]

Oh yes this would have been sweet, I so wish we got to see this comic!

The Sorceress must have returned in time to block out the memory of Adora from every ones memory, assuming she does that in this version.
Has it ever be explained what happened to Pravhus after the great unrest?

[bcrduke]

AHHHH!

Emiliano!! THANK YOU for this info. You know that many of us here have been in love with the stories in the MVC Comics, and we've been dying to know all the details.

I had figured out that the Havoc Staff was a key. I think I've forgotten about how that went down... I thought that Keldor OFFERED to take Lyn, and that it was unrelated to the staff-trade? I will have to go back and re-read that issue (it's one of my favorites).

Questions:

Why did Lord Zalesia (later The Faceless One) have one of the keys? Zalesia must have been the home of one of the Ancient Gods then, yes? The god in the Ram Stone? I would imagine that each God left a key behind, and a talisman perhaps?

Evil-Lyn's staff is a key? I remember wondering about that when it was necessary to use it to save her. I also guess that she was supposed to become YELLOW afterwards... as a result of the poison and the spell that saved her. How horrible

I just wonder, too, why Keldor/Skeletor was/is so fond of Evil-Lyn... I suppose it could be because he actually grew to love her, as much as he possibly COULD love anyone, but I am not sure... I don't trust that idea.

I too want to know who Light Hope is, and how the character at the meeting of the Council of Wisdom, that looked like She-Ra, fits into all of this.

[Neo]

I saw the great unrestbeing mentioned a couple of times. What I find interesting about the great unrest is the name. Do we know the reason for it happening? I always assumed it had something to do with the forces of evil trying to rake over Eternia.. but what if that great war was in fact initiated by the good guys? Maybe the war was about Adora and the goal was to get her back.

I just wonder, too, why Keldor/Skeletor was/is so fond of Evil-Lyn... I suppose it could be because he actually grew to love her, as much as he possibly COULD love anyone, but I am not sure... I don't trust that idea.

Well, Keldor was just a guy driven by revenge and the feeling he had been done wrong. Sure he turned out to become a warlord but I don't think he was a unreasonable guy incapable to love someone. Sure he became a maniac when he turned into skeletor and maybe even some time before that.. But I don't think he started out that way.