Sky Commanders

Sky Commanders is an animated television series created by Hanna-Barbera Studios. It premiered in July 1987 (as part of "The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera") and lasted for thirteen episodes. It also spawned an action figure line from Kenner Toys.

ummary

The storyline of "Sky Commanders" comprises the daily adventures of a multi-racial group of soldiers and mountaineering specialists from all over the world who battle the evil General 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 Phata 7.

This lethal energy source can only be stabilized for containment by exposure to temperatures of 200 degrees below zero. It is known that whoever can control the element and harness it 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 mission only that much more dangerous.

Travel throughout the new continent is only possible by means of high-altitude flight, or by means of using Laser Cables; a specialized version of a rappelling cord emitted from combat backpacks worn by both Radier 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.

Phata 7, the radioactive element that both sides vie for control of, which came from the deepest subterranean recesses of the earth itself has brought with it on its rise to the surface of the world 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 Phata 7'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.

Voice cast

*Charles Adler .... Kreeg
*Richard Boyle .... 'Books' Baxter
*Bernard Erhard .... General Plague
*Paul Eiding .... Raider Rath
*Richard Gautier .... Mordax
*Dorian Harewood .... Jim Stryker
*Darryl Hickman .... R. J. Scott
*Soon-Tek Oh .... Kodiak
*Robert Ridgely .... Mike Summit
*Tristan Rogers .... 'Spider' Reilly
*Lauren Tewes .... Red McCullough
*B.J. Ward .... Dr. Erica Slade
*William Windom .... 'Cutter' Kling

Episodes

Season 1
#Assault on Raider Stronghold
#Back In the Fold
#Fresh Recruit
#Marooned
#Divide and Conquer
#One On One
#Rescuers Need Rescuing
#Terminal Tembler
#S.O.S.
#Turncoat
#Deep Freeze
#Firestorm
#The Agony of Defeat

ee also

*List of animated television series

External links

*imdb title|id=0192930|name=Sky Commanders
* [http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/895-sky-commanders/ Sky Commanders @ Retrojunk.com]
* [http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/62195-Assault_On_Raider_Stronghold.html Sky Commanders @ Big Cartoon Database]
* [http://www.virtualtoychest.com/mediawiki-1.8.2/index.php?title=Sky_Commanders Sky Commanders Toy wiki @ virtualtoychest.com]