i'll get there eventually

[Image Description: 14 comic pages from the She-Ra mini-comic, “The Story of She-Ra”.

Page 1: A sun sets behind Castle Grayskull. We pan in to find the Sorceress, wearing a pink version of her Filmation design, sound asleep. A yellow caption box reads, “Night falls on Castle Grayskull and the Sorceress sleeps…”

A second yellow caption box continues, “… her pleasant dreams turning into a terrifying nightmare!” over a thought bubble, the Sorceress thrashing beneath it as her dreams become disturbing. Within the thought bubble, we see she’s dreaming of a shadowy figure, whose rough speech bubble reads, “Growwl!”, and Hordak, his shirt white but otherwise matching his toy design. In his arms is a struggling human infant, reaching out as though for help. 

“Suffer, all Eternia! I, Hordak, ruthless leader of the Evil Horde, have come to claim my prize! Your most precious treasure– the princess..:” says Hordak, “is MINE!”

The bottom of the page has the title, a vibrant purple: “The Story of She-Ra”. 

End Page 1.

Page 2: The Sorceress’s dream continues, an Eternian guard chasing after Hordak as he runs into a portal, still holding the infant princess. Hordak laughs, “Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” In the bottom right corner of the panel, an additional thought bubble from the Sorceress (tail pointing to panel 5) reads, “The child! Noooo! Stop him!” 

Hordak lifts the infant princess over his head victoriously, in blatant defiance of child safety practices. The Horde emblem stands out against his silhouetted form. He laughs again, “Ha! Ha!”

The portal closes, Hordak’s laugh of, “Ha! Ha! Ha! Haaaa”, trailing off as it does. The Eternian guard yells, “Too late! The way into his evil world is closed to us!”

A close up of an Eternian guard, possibly the same as before, saying, “We have lost the little one… perhaps forever!” and then, “Only the sword can protect her now!”

A yellow caption box reads, “The Sorceress awakens and cries out, a single word escaping her lips…” over a panel of the Sorceress doing precisely that, yelling, “Adora!”

We pan out to show the Sorceress about to bolt from her bed, a glowing sword hanging in the air above her. Looking on in wonder, she says,  “But wait! What is this? The gleaming sword… it beckons me to follow!” 

End Page 2.

Page 3, panel 1: The sword guides the Sorceress into a darkened hallway, lined with doors.

Page 3, panel 2: The sword points at one of the doors, turning bright pink as it releases a beam into the now-open doorway. The Sorceress stands in the foreground, exclaiming, “This door of mystery… closed for oh so many years, its secret unrevealed!”

Page 3, panel 3: The sword dissolves as the doorway solidifies into a portal. The Sorceress says, “Now, the sign of the sword returns and magically it opens!” and, “Could it be? After so long?”

Page 3, panel 4: Another close up of the Sorceress’s face, looking bewildered and concerned. A yellow caption box reads, “Summoning He-Man, the Sorceress tells the hulking hero of her astonishing vision!” 

Page 3, panel 5: He-Man runs in with the Sword of Power. The Sorceress stands before the open portal, cape and hair blown back. He-Man, seeing this, says, “The door… it’s open! What… why…?”

End Page 3.

Page 4, panel 1: He-Man and the Sorceress stand facing one another. “Long ago, a child most beloved was spirited away from Eternia by forces so evil, no one dared dream of her return! But she is alive! This very day, a sign came to me… and the door opened!” the Sorceress tells him, “He-Man, go quickly! You must find her!”

Page 4, panel 2: The angle shifts, so we’re looking at He-Man directly. “But how will I find her? And how will I know her?” he asks, “Surely she is no longer a child!”

Page 4, panel 3: “I can tell you no more! Let the Sword of Power be your guide!” she tells He-Man, “Now, be off… Time is of the essence!”

Page 4, panel 4: He-Man stands with his back to the portal, taking a step as though towards us, silhouetted black except for his harness, which stands out white against him in a mirror of Hordak’s earlier pose on page 2. 

Page 4, panel 5: He-Man continues into the portal, towards us still, surrounded by swirls of orange and magenta. 

Page 4, panel 6: He-Man walks closer to us, and further into the portal. The colors are cooling, pale blue swirls over a magenta background, and the line art has become fuzzier, less defined.

End Page 4.

Page 5, panel 1: A yellow caption box reads, “Meanwhile, in the dark forest of Etheria…” over a page-wide image. Four horses, silhouetted black, ride towards and through the foreground from the depths of a forest. The first horse’s rider has a cape and loose hair streaming behind them, and the second has a ponytail, but the third and fourth riders are indistinguishable. In the near distance, we see the Crystal Castle as it appears as a playset, but its doors are bright red. The rider of the rightmost horse says, “Faster, noble Spirit! Faster!”

Page 5, panel 2: “Catra and her ghastly ghouls are on our very heels!” says the rider, revealing the woman we know to be Adora, in full action-figure design glory. She wears a short white dress with an indistinct golden pattern on the front. Her bright yellow hair is loose, but held back from her face by what is ostensibly a tiara, a golden headpiece resembling a vertically-oriented laurel wreath, but made of wings instead of leaves. A red cape with a high collar billows behind her, over the white body of her horse, Spirit. Spirit’s mane and tail are bright pink, and the whites of their eyes are showing as they look back at Adora. Their bridle is the same vibrant red as Adora’s cape. “Whinnnny!” they say, in a wobbly speech bubble. 

Page 5, panel 3: Catra continues to chase after her, left hand still raised. She too is in her toy’s outfit. Her horse, Storm, does not resemble his toy. He has a white coat and a short-cropped blond mane. His eyes are black and his teeth are bared in a very un-horsey snarl. “Hissss! After them, my gruesome goblins! From Catra’s clutches, there must be no escape!” says Catra.

Page 5, panel 4: A close-up of Adora’s face and part of Spirit’s. At this distance we can see that Adora is wearing blue eyeshadow and red-gold lipstick. Both she and Spirit appear to have pale gray eyes. She says, “Steady my swift steed! The palace doors–and safety–lie just ahead!”

Page 5, panel 5: The Crystal Castle’s double doors are half-open, and we pan out again as Spirit runs directly through the open door on the right. They’re silhouettes again, clouds of dust kicked up behind them.

Page 5, panel 6: Spirit rides towards us, Adora leaning to the left (her right) to swipe a lever, placed as though to lower a portcullis. We see the interior archway of the castle’s doors (which are both open now) and the bright pink bricks of the wall behind them.

Page 5, panel 7: The lever apparently controls the doors, as they slam shut with a cloud of dust and a “THOOM!” sound effect. 

Page 5, panel 8: Catra, still pointing with her left hand but now off the horse, stands at the left side of the panel, directing two hunched, shadowy figures with cat ears towards the sealed castle. In profile, her ponytail is more clearly defined, and with her standing we can see she wears a black-furred skirt to her mid-thigh, and appears to have a tail the same color. Though we can’t discern her expression under the mask, her stance is wide and aggressive as she says, “Hisssss! My plans are foiled!”

End Page 5.

Page 6, panel 1: Adora and Spirit peer out a window, down at Catra and her henchpeople. Spirit is now more gold than white. “Safe, are you, pretty princess? Hisss… Not for long!” Catra shouts, raising her hand up in malediction. 

Page 6, panel 2: A close-up of Catra’s face, showcasing how feline her mask is. The whole upper half of her face is just a red cat. “Mark my words, I shall return!” she declares.

Page 6, panel 3: She tosses her hair, clenching one hand into a fit. One of her henchpeople stands in the background, a yellow-green cat creature. “And when I do, I’ll use the power of my evil shield to cast you from your happy home!” says Catra.

Page 6, panel 4: Catra and her henchcats exit page right, leaving the castle behind for the woods. Catra’s not done with threats yet, though: “The Crystal Castle and control of all Etheria shall be mine! And there’s nothing you or your precious pony can do to stop me!” 

Page 6, panel 5: We look in on Adora and Spirit, this time viewing them head-on as they peer out the window. “It’s all right, Spirit! You’re safe! That conniving Catra and her creepy cohorts are gone!” says Adora.

Page 6, panel 6: “For now! But what if she really does return?” asks Spirit, “Oh, Adora, we’re in terrible trouble!” Spirit and Adora turn from the window and walk deeper into the castle, a bare bones affair with similar equipment to the playset. There’s a full length mirror, and a bronze throne encrusted with gems, against which leans a golden shield.

End Page 6.

Page 7, panel 1: A yellow caption box reads, “Keeping her fears a secret, Adora comforts the frightened filly!” Adora approaches the throne, attention still on Spirit. “Courage, Spirit! Catra’s tried these tricks before and failed!” she assures them, “Perhaps her shield is powerful…”

Page 7, panel 2: She takes her seat on the throne, stroking Spirit’s face as she turns to look at the shield leaned against the throne. “… but ours will protect us from that foul feline’s frightful forces! You mustn’t worry!”

Page 7, panel 3: Adora lays her hand against the shield, showing off long blue-gray nails. The shield itself is the same design as her toy’s, a sun icon and wings around a raised center shape. “This shield has been our saving grace, but can it match Catra’s dark magic!..” Adora thinks to herself.

Page 7, panel 4: “… and the power of her evil shield as well? If only there was something I…” Adora’s thoughts trail off and the shield shakes as a large sfx “Rumble!” takes over the bottom of the panel. 

Page 7, panel 5: We pan out to see Adora beginning to stand from the throne, both she and Spirit looking up to the ceiling, where rocks are beginning to fall.

Page 7, panel 6: “Ohhh! Adora! It’s Catra!…” says Spirit, rearing back in distress as Adora cringes to avoid debris now falling in earnest.

End Page 7.

Page 8, panel 1: Adora grabs the shield and Spirit’s bridle, ducking more debris. “…She’s back! What ever will we do?” Spirit asks, panicked. “I don’t know, but we’d best get out of here! We’ll take the shield with us!” says Adora.

Page 8, panel 2: She runs for a hidden door, Spirit hot on her heels. “Follow me… and watch your head!” she says.

Page 8, panel 3: Catra is standing outside the Crystal Castle, holding a red shield up in front of her. It’s emitting a bright golden beam, hitting the red doors. 

Page 8, panel 4: Catra raises her free hand (the left) and shakes her fist, in a sinister mirror of She-Ra’s iconic pose. Her tail is curled loosely around her own leg, seemingly implying it’s a real tail. We can see the shield better from this angle; it’s the one that came with her original toy, a hissing cat with a jewel on its forehead, here in reds and golds instead of its classic silver. Behind Catra, 6 of the green, catlike henchpeople lurk behind her. “Beyond these walls lies all the power I have ever dreamed of!” Catra declares, “Mine now for the taking! Purrrrr!” 

Page 8, panel 5: Five more henchcats, now silhouetted, begin to scale the steep cliffs around the Crystal Castle’s base. 

End Page 8.

Page 9, panel 1: Clouds gather above the Crystal Castle, and we see Adora and Spirit’s silhouettes reach the roof.

Page 9, panel 2: Adora lifts the shield to the sky, saying, “If there be a greater good in all Etheria, please show us your power…”

Page 9, panel 3: “Now!” A light shines from the clouds, illuminating the Castle.

Page 9, panel 4: Adora reaches over her shoulder with her right hand, drawing a previously unseen sword from her back. Its blade is shining gold, and there’s a gem in the fuller–it’s the Sword of Protection, in its pre-toy design (before they decided to reuse the mold from the Sword of Power).

Page 9, panel 5: Adora lifts the sword to the sky, lighting up with magic and power, and yells, “By the honor of Grayskull… I am She-Ra!” Yeah, ‘by’. They were still working it out. Her cape disappears, and her tiara is flipped upside down to become a mask. Behind her, Spirit sprouts a pair of brilliant blue-and-green wings, and gains a mask of their own, complete with a unicorn horn that curves forward with a ball on the tip, like a fool’s cap. Magic swirls around Adora’s body in a rainbow spiral.

Page 9, panel 6: She-Ra rides atop Swift Wind, casting a beam of what appears to be fire at the henchcats. “Time to put an end to your black magic, Catra!” she says, “Behold the beauty that abounds and blossom, even from the hearts of your dark minions! There!” 

Page 9, panel 7: The henchcats scatter, running from She-Ra. 

Page 9, panel 8: Her magic envelops something, and she says, disembodied, “And there!” 

Page 9, panel 9: A peaceful meadow. A deer, a rabbit, and two birds stare placidly at the magic of the previous panel. She-Ra continues, “And there! The wretched creatures are free at last from your dark spell… and are now beautiful animals once again!” which feels subjective, to me.

End Page 9. 

Page 10, panel 1: Catra, angered, hurls her shield out of the panel. “Fools! Your simple folly is mere child’s play–no match against a far mightier foe!” she says, “Why not try a little tornado on for size! Hissss!”

Page 10, panel 2: A close-up of the shield, glowing with pink energy. A tornado materializes beneath it. 

Page 10, panel 3: The tornado surrounds She-Ra and Swift Wind. “Hold fast, She-Ra!” says Swift Wind.

Page 10, panel 4: The shield returns to Catra’s arm like a boomerang.

Page 10, panel 5: Swift Wind begins to careen out of control, She-Ra looking deeply alarmed on their back. “We’re going down! Don’t know if I can break free!” says Swift Wind.

Page 10, panel 6: A close-up of Catra’s snarling face, still mostly covered by her mask. “Purrrrr-fect that ought to hold the little do-gooders fast for quite some time!” she says. You’d think she’d look happier about it. “Now to take the castle!”

End Page 10.

Page 11, panel 1: A portal opens from the sky, and He-Man leaps through. A yellow caption box reads, “Quite magically, the sky above Etheria opens and a mysterious stranger bursts forth, ablaze in rainbow colors! He-Man has reached his destination!” (could use more rainbows)

Page 11, panel 2: He man’s jump carries him past Catra, and he smacks the shield from her hands. “Oof!” says Catra. “Madam, how clumsy of me! Let me retrieve your shield for you!” says He-Man. 

Page 11, panel 3: Catra is furious. She points at Swift Wind in the sky over the Crystal Castle, glowering down at He-Man, who I guess is crouching or something? “Hissss! Barbarian oaf! Get out of my way!” she yells at him, “Adora and her steed are set free! My plans are ruined!” 

Page 11, panel 4: She-Ra, whose identity Catra apparently knows, lifts her sword, rushing in on Swift Wind’s back. “Charge, Swift Wind! It’s time these evil-doers are undone!” she says. There’s an additional speech bubble, though it’s unclear who’s saying, “Look to your lives, foul fiends!”

End page 11. 

Page 12, panel 1: He-Man, alarmed by She-Ra’s aggressive approach, lifts his sword defensively. “Good Grayskull!” he exclaims.

Page 12, panel 2: As Swift Wind touches down in front of He-Man, the Swords of Power and Protection glow, connected by a beam of magical light. “The swords… they glow!” says He-Man.

Page 12, panel 3: Catra runs away from the display, saying, “I must flee!” 

Page 12, panel 4: The Swords of Power and Protection rise, leaving their bearers’ hands to cross each other, glowing brilliantly. He-Man and She-Ra look on in shock (Spirit seems unimpressed, but cowed). “The glimmer of good–it arcs in triumph! Noooo–it can not be!” says Catra.

End Page 12.

Page 13, panel 1: The swords continue to float several feet over their heads. He-Man stares at them in wonder as She-Ra dismounts. She asks, “If you aren’t Catra’s ally, who are you and why are you here?”

Page 13, panel 2: A close-up of He-Man, his expression inscrutable. “Her sword… its power matches my own!” he thinks to himself, “Could it be she is the very one I was sent to find?” Aloud, he says, “Lovely lady, I mean you no harm.”

Page 13, panel 3: They walk nearer one another. She-Ra has lost her mask, although the tiara is still inverted from its ‘Adora’ position, and Swift Wind has not reverted to Spirit. “I come from far Eternia in search of someone lost long ago!” says He-Man, “I know no more!”

Page 13, panel 4: A close-up of She-Ra, who looks thoughtful. “Eternia? I know of no such place…” she says, “But you must agree, our meeting is most strange!”

Page 13, panel 5: She-Ra’s shield lights up, the face of the Sorceress projected onto it. Magical light radiates from the shield’s surface. “Look! The Sorceress! She’s in your shield!” says He-Man. She-Ra looks down at the shield on her arm, alarmed. “The Sorceress?” she asks.

End Page 13. 

Page 14, panel 1: She-Ra lifts the shield, holding it up like a mom facetiming on an iPad. The Sorceress, blurry and indistinct, exclaims, “Precious moment! This glad reunion gives me great joy!” She-Ra looks confused. “Reunion? But I know you not!” she says.

Page 14, panel 2: The Sorceress herself is projected from the shield, fully corporeal. She-Ra is smiling, so this can’t be too surprising. “Long ago, our world suffered a grave loss! It was a fateful day never spoken of!” she says, “The Evil Horde swept down upon Eternia and stole away with one so small, we only hoped her suffering would never match our sadness!”

Page 14, panel 3: The Sorceress puts one arm around He-Man and one around Adora, whose mask is now a tiara again, despite Swift Wind lingering in the background. It’s all very confusing. “Now, our sadness is over!” declares the Sorceress. “You mean…?” asks He-Man.

Page 14, panel 4: A close-up of He-Man and Adora smiling at one another. In red text, the Sorceress says, “The moral be told–the power of good will always triumph!” and then, in black text, “He-Man, meet your sister, She-Ra!”