Sky Commanders
| Sky Commanders | |
|---|---|
 Title screen | |
| Genre | Adventure Action Drama |
| Developed by | Jeff Segal |
| Directed by | Ray Patterson |
| Composer | Hoyt Curtin |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Producer | Kay Wright |
| Editor | Gil Iverson |
| Running time | 22 minutes approx. |
| Production companies | Hanna-Barbera Productions Toei Animation |
| Original release | |
| Network | first-run syndication |
| Release | July 5 – September 27, 1987 |
Sky Commanders is an animated television series made by Hanna-Barbera with the co-production of Toei Animation. It premiered in July 1987 as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera and lasted for thirteen episodes.[1] It was based on the action figure line from Kenner Toys.[2]
Plot[edit]
"Deep in the South Pacific, a tumultuous and untamed new continent has erupted. Spawned by a highly unstable new element, known as Phaeta Seven. If this powerful new element could be controlled, whoever possessed it would be the undisputed ruler of the world. One man, General Lucas Plague, is determined to hold that title. And it's up to a rugged team of mountaineering experts, led by commander Mike Summit to stop him. Employing revolutionary new gravity-lock and laser-cable technology to traverse the ever-changing terrain of the High Frontier, Mike Summit's Sky Commanders and General Plague's Raiders are locked in mortal combat with the fate of the entire world hanging in the balance!"
- opening narration.
The storyline of Sky Commanders comprises the daily adventures of a multi-national group of soldiers and mountaineering specialists from all over the world who battle the evil General Lucas Plague and his goon squad of villainous mercenaries and miscreants, "The Raiders", whose aim is to seize control of the planet. The series is set on a new continent deep in the South Pacific, which was created by the emergence to the surface world of a new and powerful, unstable radioactive element, called "Phaeta [3] Seven" (θ-7).
This lethal energy source can only be stabilized for containment by exposure to temperatures of −200 °F (−128.89 °C). It is known that whoever can control the element and harness its enormous power would be the ruler of the world; a goal that the amoral General Plague wants strongly. It is up to General Mike Summit and his highly trained soldiers to stop him.
Complicating the Sky Commanders' objective of stopping the criminal ambitions of the Raiders is the fact the new continent (collectively referred to in the series as "The High Frontier") is routinely beset by sporadic, unstable and highly dangerous weather conditions and environmental hazards, such as: landslides, earthquakes, cave-ins, whirlpools, etc. There is also the need for monthly shipments of fresh supplies, new advanced technology and weapon systems. Constant attack by the scheming and underhanded Raiders and the aforementioned environmental dangers make the Sky Commanders's mission only that much more dangerous.
Travel throughout the new continent is only possible by means of high-altitude flight, or by using Laser Cables: a specialized version of a rappelling cord emitted from combat backpacks worn by both Raider and Sky Commander. When used, the cables shoot out from the combat backpacks in the form of energy beams. When contact is made with a solid object, the Laser Cable solidifies into a solid metal cable line upon which travel is possible.
Phaeta Seven, the radioactive element that both sides fight to control, came from the deepest subterranean recesses of Earth itself, and it has brought with it, on its rise to the surface of Earth, not only the new continent itself, but also a wild and voracious, bizarre menagerie of utterly horrific creatures to inhabit it. These lifeforms are either the products of long-term mutative exposure to Phaeta Seven's radiation, or were just naturally brought about the way that they are. Occasional violent encounters with these monstrosities is yet another danger waiting for both sides of this battle for the future freedom or enslavement of the world.
List of episodes[edit]
| # | Title | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Assault on Raider Stronghold" | David Schwartz | July 5, 1987 | |
| 2 | "Back in the Fold" | Tony Zalewski and Kelly Ward | July 12, 1987 | |
| R. J. is brainwashed by Slade to take out his comrades. | ||||
| 3 | "Fresh Recruit" | Don Glut and Kelly Ward | July 19, 1987 | |
| 4 | "Marooned" | Don Glut and Kelly Ward | July 26, 1987 | |
| Books and Kodiak look for ways through a very windy part of the continent. | ||||
| 5 | "Divide and Conquer" | Mark Cassutt | August 2, 1987 | |
| 6 | "One on One" | Tony Marino and Kelly Ward | August 9, 1987 | |
| 7 | "Rescuers Need Rescuing" | John Bates | August 16, 1987 | |
| 8 | "Terminal Temblor" | Jack Hudock | August 23, 1987 | |
| 9 | "S.O.S." | Andrew Yates | August 30, 1987 | |
| The Raiders find a ship that ran aground years ago but is still populated. They trick the populace into allying with them. | ||||
| 10 | "Turncoat" | David Schwartz | September 6, 1987 | |
| 11 | "Deep Freeze" | Mark Cassutt | September 13, 1987 | |
| 12 | "Firestorm" | Tony Zalewski and Eric Lewald | September 20, 1987 | |
| The battle of the two teams results in a powerful rock sinking into ground which may cause the planet to explode. Thus the Raiders are compelled to ally with the Sky Commanders. | ||||
| 13 | "The Agony of Defeat" | Jack Hudock and Kelly Ward | September 27, 1987 | |
Characters[edit]
Sky Commanders[edit]
- Bob Ridgely as General Mike Summit, leader of the Sky Commanders
- William Windom as "Cutter" Kling, a man whose daughter is missing and is reportedly on the new continent.
- Soon-Tek Oh as Kodiak, an Eskimo man
- Tristan Rogers as "Spider" Reilly, an Australian man
- Richard Doyle as "Books" Baxter, a Canadian man and electronics expert
- Dorian Harewood as Jim Stryker, a Jamaican man
- Lauren Tewes as Red McCullough, an Irish woman
- Darryl Hickman as R.J. Scott, the youngest Sky Commander
Raiders[edit]
- Bernard Erhard as General Lucas Plague, leader of the Raiders
- B.J. Ward as Dr. Erica Slade, the scientist of the Raiders
- Charlie Adler as Kreeg, the green-haired Raider
- Paul Eiding as Raider Rath, the black-haired Raider
- Dick Gautier as Mordax, the stout Raider and Plague's brother-in-law
Home media[edit]
On August 28, 2012, Warner Archive released Sky Commanders: The Complete Series on DVD in region 1 as part of their Hanna-Barbera Classic Collection. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.[4]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 750. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 557. ISBN 978-1538103739.
- ^ or Theta
- ^ "Sky Commanders - 'The Complete Animated Series' Now Available: Box Art, Cost, More". Archived from the original on 2012-10-01.
External links[edit]
- 1980s American animated television series
- 1980s toys
- 1987 American television series debuts
- 1987 American television series endings
- American children's animated action television series
- American children's animated adventure television series
- American children's animated science fiction television series
- Anime-influenced Western animated television series
- American English-language television shows
- Fictional special forces personnel
- Fictional military organizations
- Fictional soldiers
- The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera
- Television series by Hanna-Barbera
- Television shows based on Hasbro toys
- Television shows set in San Francisco
- Toei Animation television