Horde Prime

Horde Prime is the supreme overlord of the Horde Empire in the Masters of the Universe franchise, first created for the cartoon series She-Ra: Princess of Power, but later used in other media, mainly the comics by London Editions.

Filmation series
Horde Prime was the Ruler of the intergalactic Evil Horde from its capital of Horde World. He also travelled the universe and oversaw Horde activity in his flagship, the Velvet Glove; said to be the most powerful ship in the universe. He was a mysterious figure, shrouded by a cloud of glowing green smoke. Nothing on Horde Prime's true form was ever revealed; his only distinguishing features being a huge metallic arm and a pair of glowing red eyes. Horde Prime was said to have two heads.

Horde Prime was often frustrated with Hordak's inability to rid Etheria of the Great Rebellion. He also held a grudge against Hordak for having lost one of his flagships in the past.

Horde Prime had a son named Prince Zed who referred to Hordak as his uncle, implying that Hordak was, in fact, his own brother.

Horde Prime was so feared throughout the universe that he was able to hold authority over other villains who were not officially part of the Horde, such as the Monstroids. On one occasion, he enlisted the former Horde member, Skeletor, in a plot to rid the galaxy of the spirit of Christmas. Unfortunately for Prime, Skeletor himself was susceptible to the spirit of Christmas, and instead sided against Prime, blasting his ship into space and leaving a furious Horde Prime hurtling out of control.

London Edition UK Magazines
Horde Prime was the founder of the Horde Empire; a yellow skinned alien who wore a helmet adorned with insect-like antenna. He most desired to capture conquer the planet Eternia, seeking the secrets of Castle Grayskull in order to become master of the universe.

Horde Prime used both Skeletor and Hordak as his servants in this goal, monitoring their efforts from his space station. Both villains ultimately reported to Prime and greatly feared and respected him.

Prime travelled the cosmos using the station, recruiting new followers and selecting new worlds to conquer.

Masters of the Universe Classics
The man who would become Horde Prime was once known as Annilus Kur, the eldest son of Horde Lord, founder of the Horde Empire. Together with his brother, Hordak, Annilus overthrew Horde Lord and seize the throne for himself.

Kur made an enemy of the Cosmic Warrior, Ro, and infected him with the Techno Organic virus. Kur cast Ro through a portal to the remote world of Eternia. He soon grew wary of his brother's own ambitions and sent him to Eternia to finish Ro, believing he would die in the attempt.

Thousands of years later, the Horde was challenged by the combined forces of the Galactic Protectors and the Mutants of Denebria - a combined effort led by He-Man, She-Ra and Skeletor. The alliance fought its way to Horde World itself, where She-Ra fought Horde Prime alone, ultimately destroying the armour which prolonged his life and slaying him in combat. Though dying, Prime lashed out and bound his soul to her armour, remaking her as Despara. Prime soul's was later trapped within a red gem by Orko, who freed She-Ra from his influence.

DC Comics (2012)
Horde Prime was the ruler of the supreme leader of the Horde Empire, reigning for eons. He was the father of Hordak, who eventually killed him to claim the throne for himself. Hordak kept his father's skull as a trophy, which later became known as the Skull of Power.

Behind the Scenes

 * For the Filmation series, the animation model for Horde Prime's giant metallic hand was designed by character artist Dale Hendrickson.
 * It has not yet been confirmed whether Filmation's writers conceived Prime as Hordak's brother. However, he is referred to as such in the Character Profiles in Disc 6 of the She-Ra Season One DVD set. Two UK She-Ra annuals in the mid-1980s state that Hordak is Prime's brother, but these operate within a canon independent of the cartoon and also got Horde Prime's name wrong, referring to him as 'Prime Horde'. The UK He-Man comics state explicitly in one issue that Horde Prime is not Hordak's brother, but again these operate within an independent canon and drew Prime with a completely different appearance from the cartoon.
 * Emiliano Santalucia, when asked if the being inside the crystal of the first 200x Masters of the Universe comic series was the Unnamed One from The Powers of Grayskull: The Legend Begins!, he mentioned that the Unnamed One's essence was split in two, one trapped in the crystal and the other taking a mechanical body and becoming Horde Prime.
 * Horde Prime was released as an action figure as part of the Masters of the Universe Classics toyline in 2012. This version of the character resembled an older, bearded Hordak and came with an alternate head modelled after his alternate appearance in the UK magazines. The metal gauntlets the figure wore were based on his giant metallic fist from the Filmation cartoon.

She-Ra: Princess of Power

 * The Peril of Whispering Woods (mentioned)
 * Horde Prime Takes a Holiday
 * A Talent for Trouble (mentioned)
 * The Eldritch Mist
 * Huntara (mentioned)
 * Micah of Bright Moon
 * For Want of a Horse
 * The Inspector
 * Glimmer Come Home (mentioned)
 * Portrait of Doom (mentioned)
 * Assault on the Hive (mentioned)
 * Bow's Magical Gift
 * He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special