Skeletor is sometimes seen as a joke of a villain, befitting of the gloriously hammy tone of the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series of the '80s. Because of his silliness, it's easy to forget that Skeletor can be a threat, and occasionally triumph in battle. Such was the case for the first crossover between Superman and He-Man that took place in that same era.
DC Comics Presents #47, written by Paul Kupperberg, penciled by Curt Swan, inked by Mike DeCarlo, and colored by Gene D'Angelo, was released in July 1982, at the height of He-Man hype. The issue begins cheerfully enough, with Prince Adam being his usual goofy self and Clark Kent purposefully maintaining his clumsy public image. But the story escalates into seriousness when Skeletor uses his half of the Power Sword to attempt to break into Castle Grayskull. While he doesn't manage to break into the castle, he does unwittingly succeed in creating an interdimensional rift that sends a patrolling Superman crash landing from Earth to Eternia–and right into Skeletor's path.
Skeletor wastes no time in challenging Superman, believing him to be a "champion" for his hated nemesis. Superman impresses Skeletor with his incredible strength and flight, and makes quick work of his henchman Beastman. But doesn't take long for Skeletor to discover that Superman has a major weakness–a vulnerability to Eternia's magic. Right from the get-go, Skeletor's Power Sword cuts through Superman's otherwise indestructible suit, then tosses the Man of Steel around like a ragdoll.
Luckily He-Man arrives, and the two superpowered heroes hit it off immediately thanks to a common enemy. But Skeletor is able to use this new friendship against them. He takes advantage of Superman's weakness to take control of his body, using him like a puppet against He-Man. Throughout the battle, Superman is powerless to fight against Skeletor's will while engages He-Man in a surprisingly brutal fight. Although the dialogue is a bit on the cheesy side, this battle does highlight Superman's vulnerability and Skeletor's quick thinking.
Thankfully, Superman turns out to have a stronger will than Skeletor expected. Just as the villain is about to use him as a living wrecking ball against Castle Grayskull, the Man of Steel starts to fight back internally against his control. Using his heat vision, he turns the ground molten under Skeletor's feet to distract him and make him lose focus. This proves to be enough for the Last Son of Krypton to break free of the villain's magic. The battle ends with Skeletor making a hasty retreat, leaving Superman and He-Man to part ways on friendly terms.
Although Skeletor didn't succeed in taking Castle Grayskull, his brief control over Superman's body brought him terrifyingly close. It's refreshing to see Superman in an environment where he's out of his element. Even more refreshing is the portrayal of Skeletor in this story. He's as over-the-top and grandiose as always, but his advantage over Superman showcased his often underplayed power. Even though Superman was able to wrest free from his magical grip, the fight between him and He-Man was thrilling, and painted Skeletor as a viable threat.
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