Sky Commanders, the 1987 animated series
Sky Commanders is an animated television series created by Hanna-Barbera with the co-production of Toei Animation. It first premiered in July 1987 as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera and ran for thirteen episodes. It was based on Kenner Toys' line of action figures.
History
The Sky Commanders storyline includes the daily adventures of a multinational group of soldiers and mountaineering specialists from all over the world who fight the evil general Lucas Plague and his team of evil mercenaries and disbelievers, "The Raiders", whose goal it is to take control of the planet. The series is set on a new continent deep in the South Pacific, created by the emergence to the surface of a new and powerful unstable radioactive element called Phaeta Seven.
This lethal energy source can only be stabilized for containment by exposure to temperatures of 200 degrees below zero. It is known that anyone who could control the element and harness its enormous power would be the ruler of the world; a goal that the amorous General Plague strongly wants. It is up to General Mike Summit and his highly trained soldiers to stop him.
Complicating the Sky Commanders 'goal of stopping the Raiders' criminal ambitions is the fact that the new continent (collectively referred to in the series as "The High Frontier") is regularly plagued by sporadic, unstable and highly dangerous weather conditions and by environmental risks such as landslides, earthquakes, collapses, whirlpools, etc. There is also a need for monthly shipments of fresh supplies, new advanced technology and weapon systems. The constant attack by intriguing and underhanded raiders and the aforementioned environmental dangers only make the mission of the Sky Commanders much more dangerous.
Traveling across the new continent is only possible by means of high-altitude flights or using laser cables: a specialized version of a double rope emitted by combat backpacks worn by both Raider and Sky Commander. When used, the cables come out of the combat backpacks in the form of energy beams. When contact is made with a solid object, the laser cable solidifies into a solid line of metal cable over which it can travel.
Phaeta Seven, the radioactive element that both sides fight to control, originated from the deepest underground recesses of the Earth itself, and brought with it, during its ascent to the Earth's surface, not only the new continent itself, but also a savage and voracious, bizarre menagerie of absolutely hideous creatures inhabiting it. These life forms are either the product of long-term mutative radiation exposure from Phaeta Seven or were naturally generated as they are. Occasional violent encounters with these monstrosities are another danger awaiting both sides in this battle for the future freedom or bondage of the world.
Episode
1 "Assault on Raider Stronghold"David Schwartz July 5, 1987
2 "Back in the foldTony Zalewski and Kelly Ward July 12, 1987
RJ is brainwashed by Slade to eliminate his companions.
3 "Fresh recruitDon Glut and Kelly Ward July 19, 1987
4 "Abandon yourselfDon Glut and Kelly Ward on 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 versus oneTony Marino and Kelly Ward August 9, 1987
7 "Rescuers need to be rescuedJohn Bates August 16, 1987
8 "Temblor TerminalJack Hudock, August 23, 1987
9 "SOSAndrew Yates, August 30, 1987
The Raiders find a ship that ran aground years ago but is still populated. They trick the population into allying with them.
10 "turn coat"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 between the two teams results in a powerful rock sinking into the ground that could blow up the planet. Thus the Raiders are forced to ally with the Sky Commanders.
13 "The agony of defeatJack Hudock and Kelly Ward, September 27, 1987
Characters
General Mike Summit, leader of the Sky Commanders
"Cutter" Kling, a man whose daughter has gone missing and is reportedly on the new continent.
Kodiak, an Eskimo man
"Spider”Reilly, an Australian man
"Books" Baxter, a Canadian man and electronics expert
Jim Stryker, a Jamaican man
Red McCullough, an Irish woman
RJ Scott, the youngest commander of the sky
General Lucas Plague, leader of the Raiders
Dr. Erica Slade, the scientist of the Raiders
Kreeg, the green-haired Raider
Raider Rath, the black-haired Raider
Mordax, the rugged Raider and brother-in-law of Plague
Technical data
Gender Adventure, Action, Drama
Developed by Jeff Segal
Regia Ray Patterson
Music Hoyt Curtin
country of origin United States
Original language English
No. of episodes 13
Executive producers William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
Producer Kay Wright
Editor Gil Iverson
Duration 22 minutes approx.
Production company Hanna-Barbera Productions, Toei Animation
Distributor World Vision Enterprises
Original network Syndication
Original release date 5 July - 27 September 1987
