DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH! Appreciation AND Continuity Order

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I need to look out for other continuity points that may have escaped me when I first assembled the list. You’ll notice that when compared to the original airdate/DVD order, some episodes have been moved about quite some way, but there’s usually a purpose to it, as I’ve indicated already with some of my notes.

Just while we are on the Defenders topic a really annoying thing with the toy line was the figures inability to hold any other weapon aside from this awful thin handles which broke very easily.

[QUOTE]

Now you mention it, I do remember that happening, certainly with Ming’s pistol. And Lothar’s rope seemed to collapse into nothing rather quickly.

[QUOTE]
Also speaking of the toys, the two spaceship toys had a silly play feature becoming a child’s sword. They didn’t really look like the ships on the cartoon. For a toyline for such a cartoon Flash’s swordship should have been like the main must have flagship toy of line like The Thundercat’s Thundertank or the A-teams van etc. It’s like the first thing people see in the cartoon intro. Compared to the cartoon it’s a pretty poor representation of it.

Not only that, but using something like that as an offensive weapon could have done some serious injury! I think we have the answer as to why the toyline didn’t take off!

You’re absolutely right, Flash’s ship should have been the centrepiece of the toyline (and I did have it), but they didn’t do a very good job with it. The figures couldn’t even “sit” in the ships, they had to just lie down in them. That never pleased me. And the fact that you could only put one figure into each vehicle - even allowing for the scaling down, you could still get two figures into the Thundertank (although I didn’t have that toy as a kid :frowning: )

That was one good thing about the Visionaries toyline - between them, the vehicles could hold most of the figures.

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The more it wasn’t perfect I would have loved to have had both of the ships in my collection as a child (I would want it in my collection now if I started collecting them again LOL;)). Also the ****pit on it was pretty far back.:eek:
The line would have worked great a 3.75" line. More characters, more accurate and larger vehicles and playsets.
I can see what the 2011 Thundercats series was going for with the 4" line with vehicles etc and larger more detailed and articulate figures for display.
I had the Thundertank as a child and it was awesome.

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Yes, I remember that too, the cocpkit (deliberately spelt wrong here!) was near the front in the show but right at the back on the toy.

The line would have worked great a 3.75" line. More characters, more accurate and larger vehicles and playsets.

I had the Thundercats miniatures as a kid, as well as many of the full-size toys. I had the miniature Cat’'s Lair playset, Sword Chamber and Thundertank (into which you COULD put four figures, unlike the larger version!). With the full-size figures, I remember getting Bengali before Tygra, and using him as a substitute for the latter (not knowing at that time about the second season additions because those episodes were never shown here!).

I had the Thundertank as a child and it was awesome.

I can well believe it. I remember some of the other kids in school had it, but I didn’t. I did have the Fistpounder though - although again, like Bengali, it wasn’t something I recognised from the show.

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I had the Fist Pounder also. I never had any of the miniatures. I can’t say I ever actually seen any in the shop here back then.

If Flash’s ship had been done right as a proper flagship toy. It would have been bigger and more screen accurate. The nosecone could maybe extend very slightly and light up as it did in ‘Bits’N’Chips’. Be able to seat at least 2 figures. Some clip on/removable blasters on the side. Maybe some spring firing missiles and engine and laser gun noises.

One thing I really liked about the DOTE cartoon is the artwork just before the show starts. Thundercats was just the episode title in front of the logo and He-Man’s was just the title in front of a random background/landscape of Eternia. But Defenders had the episode title in front of a fully illustrated piece of artwork relating to the episode.

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I’m not strictly sure I ever did, all the miniatures I had were birthday/christmas presents, as far as I recall. I think I had Lion-O and Tygra twice over (duplicated in the Cat’s Lair playset) and likewise Monkian (duplicated in the sword chamber playset). Oh hang on, I know I got the Vultureman miniature separately, that might have been in a shop; likewise the Tuska figure. And the Snowman (trying to remember if he came with Snowmeow), yes, I definitely did see them in the shops!

If Flash’s ship had been done right as a proper flagship toy. It would have been bigger and more screen accurate. The nosecone could maybe extend very slightly and light up as it did in ‘Bits’N’Chips’. Be able to seat at least 2 figures. Some clip on/removable blasters on the side. Maybe some spring firing missiles and engine and laser gun noises.

Now you’re talking - I want one!

When we were talking about the “sword function”, I did think back to “Bits ‘N’ Chips”, as that’s about the only time it was used (with the possible exception of “The Men Of Frost”, I’ll have to look it up. I remember Flash saying something about “deploying laser sword”, so maybe).

But yes, it should definitely have lit up, definitely been able to seat a second figure (not a requirement that would need to extend to the roboships), and yes, they should have been able to SIT DOWN in it!

I have a very vivid memory of buying that ship; in the toyshop, I’d seen it priced at £13 (ah, 1980s prices!), and one day I had £13.15 in my piggybank. I went into town with mum, just taking the whole pounds, we went to the shop, and as irony would have it, the price turned out to be exactly £13.15 - obviously mum was able to cover the difference there and then, and I think she let me off owing her the coppers when I got back. And I do remember being a little disappointed with it when I took it out of the box, for the reasons we’ve already moaned about.

One thing I really liked about the DOTE cartoon is the artwork just before the show starts. Thundercats was just the episode title in front of the logo and He-Man’s was just the title in front of a random background/landscape of Eternia. But Defenders had the episode title in front of a fully illustrated piece of artwork relating to the episode.

Now you mention it, I can’t think of another show that really did that!

Visionaries and Spiral Zone just had the title and writing credit over the opening wide shot of the action, as it were.

Thundercats, as you say, just the Thundera symbol. Bravestarr, something similar too. I think Pirates Of Dark Water did something like you describe about He-Man.

King Arthur & The Knights Of Justice has two versions of the episode titles; I saw them as a kid over a static shot of Arthur (from the title sequence), but some versions do the same as Visionaries & Spiral Zone.

The only think I can think of that might possibly have had varying episode title cards would be The Legend Of Prince Valiant. And even that’s been three years since I saw it on youtube! (I downloaded it, but if a DVD comes out I will still buy that!) And even then, it’s not to quite the same extent as DotE. That said, I think LoPV was possibly the first American action cartoon to have proper long-term storylines and real character development - or “proper continuity” to put it another way!

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I just realised I still have one piece of DOTE merchandise. A small illustrated story book of the ‘House Divided’ episode. I remember getting it at the school book fair.

I got all my DOTE figures from a ‘Cash and Carry’ or traders wholesalers in Coleraine. They mainly did industrial tools but they also did some furniture and home items and they had a small toy section. It was the only shop as a child I ever seen the figures. This was the late 80’s maybe even 1990 and the prices were pretty cheap. As this was a whole sales they were even cheaper. According to my Dad they were only about £2-£3 each. We had to go up there nearly every other week so I usually ended up getting something as the toy isle was very close to the tills lol. It was also in there I got all of my Visionaries and the vast majority of He-Man figures. I also got the Galaxy Rangers figures there.

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A few years ago I picked up the annual from a third-party seller on amazon - paid more for the postage then I did for the book! And it still came to less than the original value of the book in the shops!

It has a comic-strip version of the first two episodes, with some minor differences:

Firstly, Flash, Mandrake and Lothar recruit The Phantom BEFORE setting off to Mongo. Significantly, in this version, we get to see Flash and Mandrake explaining their position to persuade him to join them, which is an improvement on the TV episode where that bit is glossed over completely!

Once they get back from Mongo, the scene shifts right into “The Creation Of Monitor” - that last five minutes of “Escape From Mongo” (which felt like a bit of an add-on anyway) is missing from the comic version.

Kro-Tan comes to Earth with Ming. He doesn’t have a major part to play in the story, but it might have been interesting all the same to see how that panned out. If they had done his “Movie” adventure from this starting point, Ming would have just had to send Kro-Tan to Mongo to get replacement Ice Robots at the start, so no major changes required there!

I got all my DOTE figures from a ‘Cash and Carry’ or traders wholesalers in Coleraine. They mainly did industrial tools but they also did some furniture and home items and they had a small toy section. It was the only shop as a child I ever seen the figures. This was the late 80’s maybe even 1990 and the prices were pretty cheap. As this was a whole sales they were even cheaper. According to my Dad they were only about £2-£3 each. We had to go up there nearly every other week so I usually ended up getting something as the toy isle was very close to the tills lol. It was also in there I got all of my Visionaries and the vast majority of He-Man figures. I also got the Galaxy Rangers figures there.

For me it would be Woolworths, Hamley’s, The Golden Cot and possibly somewhere else that I can’t remember. I don’t remember paying much more than £3 for a figure usually. But it’s so long ago, I can’t remember exactly.

I do know that the Visionaries figures were only a couple of quid, I guess the toyline didn’t do well over here either and they were reducing them to clear. I managed to get everything except Reekon and the Dagger Assault, the only one I could never find. Somewhere in my boxes full of Lego, there’s the odd accessory from Visionaries even today.

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Oddly enough The Dagger Assault with Reekon was the first Visionaries toy I got. I got it the same day as DOTE Flash and Phantom. I had no idea what Visionaries was I just thought it was cool looking.

I remember getting Mongor and the Claw-Copter from markets. Well, Monger was from Mac’s Indoor Market. The Claw-Copter was from a Sunday market and even though I was very young the memory of getting it still stands out in my mind as it wasn’t a regular market stall. It was actually a really big camper/caravan with a load of old shop stock in it.

Speaking of Mongor his toy box art was a really beautiful piece.

The Cash ad Carry was the only place I seen Visionaries back in the 80’s. The only exception was finding the Skyclaw with Mortredd at a petrol station in southern Ireland around 97. I still regret not buying it that day.

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It certainly was that. The changing into different animals thing was a memorable idea, and the power staff spells . . . Visionaries was kind of unlucky, the company that made the toyline was going out of business I think, if they’d been with a different company, it might have really taken off. Although from what I’ve seen of the designs for the proposed “second wave” toyline, new characters etc, perhaps it’s as well it ended when it did.

I wrote some Visionaries fanfics a few years ago (keep meaning to redraft them actually); one of them, “Shape Of The Mind”, I knew I’d pinched the basic premise from some other action cartoon from back then but I couldn’t think which! Not that that’s an issue, look at all these cartoons from that era, they all recycle each others ideas to teach kids the same little moral lesson! It was only in 2010, when I looked up King Arthur And The Knights Of Justice on youtube, that I discovered the answer, the episode “The Warlord Knight” - the initial setup was identical! When my best friend came over in the new year, we watched the first season, and he said of that episode, “that’s a lot like Shape Of The Mind” - and I said yes, now I remember where the idea came from! Of course, Darkstorm’s evil plan in my story is nothing at all like Morgana and Viper’s plan in that episode; it’s just the first five minutes or so that, allowing for the differences in format, is absolutely identical!

I remember getting Mongor and the Claw-Copter from markets. Well, Monger was from Mac’s Indoor Market. The Claw-Copter was from a Sunday market and even though I was very young the memory of getting it still stands out in my mind as it wasn’t a regular market stall. It was actually a really big camper/caravan with a load of old shop stock in it.

Speaking of Mongor his toy box art was a really beautiful piece.

Not an expert in that field, but I’ve just done an image search. Interesting!

Having just done another image search for the whole toyline, it’s curious looking at it now - the Claw Copter is the only vehicle that doesn’t name a specific defender as its pilot. Obviously I put Lothar in mine (Flash was in his Swordship, Lothar was the only other hero I had), but he’d have probably been the natural choice anyway, he was the master mechanic, and after Flash (and Rick, but the kids weren’t in the toyline) the most competent combat pilot they had.

Actually, when you think about it, Lothar is basically just Panthro!

The Cash ad Carry was the only place I seen Visionaries back in the 80’s. The only exception was finding the Skyclaw with Mortredd at a petrol station in southern Ireland around 97. I still regret not buying it that day.

I find it interesting that the vehicles came with their drivers, and that the concept was worked into the show that knights with staffs couldn’t be the main drivers of vehicles.

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Hasbro made Visionaries. It just wasn’t a big success like Transformers and G.I. Joe. In fact a lot of their late 80’s shows just didn’t take off. Visionaries, C.O.P.S., Robotix and Inhumanoids.

That’s a good one, Lothar is Panthro. :panthro: Now we know why Lothar was cool.
Personally I would have had Mandrake fly the copter. Although I had Flash fly mine as I had no swordship and he did fly it in Revenge of Astra. I believe there is an episode where Mandrake pilots the copter.
The Gripjaw would have been a great vehicle for Lothar. It could fit 2x figures.

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They did COPS as well? Wow - I remember seeing that a few times on ITV!

As for Visionaries’ demise, according to Wikipedia:

“Hasbro didn’t want to continue with the first [toy] set after the thirteenth and last episode ‘Dawn of the Sun Imps’ which brought the cartoon series to an end at the same time the Transformers cartoon came to its demise after Headmasters: The Rebirth and when the G.I. Joe cartoon ceased production after the movie when Sunbow lost its contract to keep its cartoons running.”

That’s a good one, Lothar is Panthro. :panthro: Now we know why Lothar was cool.

Well, think about it - they both serve the exact same function in their respective shows - mechanical master and muscle man. Put Lothar in the driving seat of the Thundertank, and Thundercats would not really be any different. Likewise, Panthro as Mandrake’s assistant would change nothing!

Personally I would have had Mandrake fly the copter. Although I had Flash fly mine as I had no swordship and he did fly it in Revenge of Astra. I believe there is an episode where Mandrake pilots the copter.

Well, obviously Flash was the main pilot (!), but as for Mandrake, he’s the last person to take the controls of an air/space craft. Excepting “The Gods Awake”, he never takes the controls when someone else is available to. And in that episode he uses magic to fly them to the Himalayas (to the College Of Magic, whose location is known only to him anyway).

Episodes where Mandrake is seen at the controls:

Hall Of Wisdom - at the start all eight are seen flying individual ships.
The Mystery Of The Book - all the other adults are statues at this point (and the kids are back in Monitor), as he flies the Terry again to the College Of Magic.

And I’m struggling to think of any more, so just those three then!

The Gripjaw would have been a great vehicle for Lothar. It could fit 2x figures.

Lothar was seen driving it in “The Drowning World”, and I can’t think who (if anyone) drove it in “The Time Freezer” or “Suspended Sabotage”.

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I must be getting confused with the College of Magic.

It’s a shame Visionaries didn’t last longer. Personally though it is no surprise that G.I. Joe ended as that got awful in it’s last season and when DIC took over and did their show…:o I have lost so much interest in G.I. Joe I can barely stand it anymore, I must change my Avatar on here.

I was just thinking about Lothar. I sometimes used to use him as a Mr T figure. He was a really nice figure and had the most detailed sculpt of the 6 figures.

The Defenders figures by Galoob were pretty simplistic sculpts overall but they were very accurate to their animation models. In comparison to a lot of other toy based shows. For example look at Bravestarr. All of the figures were VERY different to how they looked on the cartoon. Although personally I think its better in Bravestarr’s case that they were more detailed and interesting looking compared to the animation models.

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How so?

It’s a shame Visionaries didn’t last longer. Personally though it is no surprise that G.I. Joe ended as that got awful in it’s last season and when DIC took over and did their show…:o I have lost so much interest in G.I. Joe I can barely stand it anymore, I must change my Avatar on here.

I never saw GI Joe as a kid, although a friend of mine showed me their movie adventure once, about a decade ago. I’ve heard Spiral Zone described as a bit like GI Joe, and also I’ve noticed a DotE influence (their base is inside a mountain).

Ah, DIC - the people that brought us Jayce And The Wheeld Warriors (6am on weekday mornings, channel 4!), Pole Position (initially on Going Live, then later migrated to that same slot on C4), Ulysses 31 (again, originally on the Beeb but later resurfaced at, you guessed it, 6am), and a few others I can’t think of!

I was just thinking about Lothar. I sometimes used to use him as a Mr T figure. He was a really nice figure and had the most detailed sculpt of the 6 figures.
From what I remember, I can’t argue with that. The A-Team was another one I’ve never seen.

The Defenders figures by Galoob were pretty simplistic sculpts overall but they were very accurate to their animation models. In comparison to Bravestarr as all of the figures were VERY different to how they looked on the cartoon.
Just had a look for the Bravestarr figures, I see what you mean.

And I’ve just gone and had a look at the Visionaries figures while I was at it - brought back some memories, I can tell you!

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I knew I seen him pilot something. But it was Terry and not the copter.

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I don’t think the copters were used that often in the show. Apart from the Phantom’s Skull Copter, of course. (And I don’t think they had claws in the series either!) Let me think:

The Phantom used a standard copter in “A House Divided” (so for continuity purposes this episode comes before the Skull Copter is seen for the first time!).

Rick uses a copter to get to Ice Station Earth in “Cold War”.
Rick, LJ and Jedda flew them in “Sleeper Awakes”.

Copters were the main mode of transport in “Revenge Of Astra” (in which I’m sure they left a vehicle behind at Ice Station Earth at the end!).

A normal copter and the Skull Copter were used to get to Alaska at the start of “The Thunder Lizards Of Ming” (although oddly, there’s no sign of The Phantom in either cocpkit, he appears from nowhere when they get out - although on the plus side at least their winter garb is now colour-co-ordinated!).

I can’t think where else the regular copters appeared. There must be some more episodes but I can’t think.

The Skull Copter made more appearances of course; in “The Drowning World”, “Fury Of The Deep”, “The Lost Jewels Of Tibet”, “The Panther Peril”, and “The Men Of Frost” - and at least once during the Necklace Of Oros “movie”. Probably others too, but again, I can’t think.

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I didn’t like the live action G.I. Joe movies but the Animated movie is also bad. There are a few good things going on it, but the overall plot is very stupid and is so unlike the rest of the series. Cobra-la, ancient race it was awful. Although the fight with Duke and Serpentor was pretty cool and all the scenes with Beachhead.

I have never seen Spiral Zone. I seen one episode of Pole Position, but it seemed very poor in comparison to M.A.S.K. M.A.S.K. also had a base in a mountain…and Transformers. If I ever form a super group the base will be hid in a mountain.

Nothing against DIC, I believe they also did Starcom :), but the G.I. Joe brand started going down hill when they did their cartoon. This was the start of the even more relaxed uniform code and the start of the bright colours. Even Snake Eyes wore blue and grey. The only good thing was that it finished before the toyline finished. So there was no animated representations of all the bright neon coloured uniforms, echo warriors, space brigade and anti drug groups were introduced.

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Like I said, it was over a decade ago, because it was before I got a DVD player.

I have never seen Spiral Zone.

Not surprising. I don’t think it was ever shown over here, and I only know of it because I saw a couple of episodes in Spain (in English, fortunately!) when on holiday there with my parents in the 1980s. Something about it must have stayed in my memory. Late in 2012 I looked the show up on youtube. Interesting, although not as good as it could have been. For a(nother) toy-driven show, there’s not much to tell the characters apart with when they’re all kitted up. Compared to Thundercats or Defenders Of The Earth, you know exactly who’s who automatically.

The concept was pretty dark for an 80s cartoon, and it’s been argued that it would do better in today’s market. Probably true, but of course people don’t go around remaking flops - which is weird, really. Take something that didn’t take off first time, see if you can correct the mistakes that were made. Surely that’s more logical than remaking a classic, where you’ve got all the old fans just waiting for you to put even a toe wrong and they’ll pounce on you!

Overall, the series is interesting - although if you’re going to give it a go, watch episode 4 first, that’s the pilot, for some reason not aired first. That pilot was written by J. Michael Straczynski (of Babylon 5 fame), under the pseudonym “Fettes Gray” - apparently he didn’t like the way they were taking the series and didn’t stay on. The main writer for the show was Mark Edens (who co-wrote the Necklace Of Oros adventure).

Like Thundercats, it had a small voice cast (seven, including only one woman), but those seven included some big names in the voice-over world:

Dan Gilvezan (Dirk Courage) - also Rolf in Prince Valiant, and apparently someone in Transformers
Neil Ross (Overlord/Bandit/Tank Schmidt) - also Leoric in Visionaries, and Duncan Draconarius in Prince Valiant
Hal Rayle (Max Jones/Ben Franklin/Rawmeat and possibly Crook) - also Arzon in Visionaries and Kro-Tan in DotE
Frank Welker (Dr Lawrence/Razorback/Ned Tucker) - in just about everything!
Michael Bell (Hiro Taka) - I only know him otherwise from the Star Trek TNG pilot (the same year as this show actually!)
Denny Delk (General McFarland/Reaper) - don’t know
Mona Marshall (Katerina Anastacia/Duchess Dire) - the name rings a bell but I can’t place it.

One curious point that I spotted though, a couple of episodes of this show, the stories are basically adapted from Alistair MacLean novels. “Assault On The Rock” is basically The Guns Of Navarone, and “A Little Zone Music” is just Where Eagles Dare!

BUT BE WARNED - it has possibly the naffest theme song ever, and that’s saying something!

I seen one episode of Pole Position, but it seemed very poor in comparison to M.A.S.K. M.A.S.K. also had a base in a mountain…and Transformers. If I ever form a super group the base will be hid in a mountain.

Pole Position isn’t a classic, but again it has points of interest. I think it must have been written by film buffs, because for one thing about 3/4 of the episode titles are plays on words of Alfred Hitcchock films - Dial M For Magic, Shadow Of A Trout, that kind of thing - and for another, there’s so many bits that come straight out of that “golden age of Hollywood”. “The Trouble With Kuma” has more than a passing nod to The Island Of Dr Moreau, and “The 31 Cent Mystery” has a moment where Dan is hanging off one of the noses on Mt Rushmore, a la North By Northwest!

Nothing against DIC, I believe they also did Starcom :), but the G.I. Joe brand started going down hill when they did their cartoon. This was the start of the even more relaxed uniform code and the start of the bright colours. Even Snake Eyes wore blue and grey. The only good thing was that it finished before the toyline finished. So there was no animated representations of all the bright neon coloured uniforms, echo warriors, space brigade and anti drug groups were introduced.

If you’re OK with the uniform concept for cartoons then you won’t have a problem with my above comment on the Spiral Zone characters!

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The Spiral Zone toys were supposed to be really high quality, especially the Japanese releases.
I can’t say I ever seen the shows but I must look it up. My Dad has a few Alistair MacLean novels.

It does seem more logical to bring back something that wasn’t overly successful and make the appropriate changes to try and make it a success. But I guess it’s the ‘if it isn’t broke don’t fix it mentality’.
They want to keep milking the cash cow until it’s dry.

The uniform concept works in some cases. I like the characters to be individuals but there are ways to do it right. DOTE for example wouldn’t work if they all work matching uniforms. In G.I. Joe’s case when the first series came out they all wore military uniforms. All basically the same (except for Scarlett) with different colour shades. Snake Eyes just had the basic uniform except all black. Same in the comic. So much so around 2003 Hasbro released various sets of the first seriescharacters all in matching comic colour uniforms.
Starcom worked well with everyone having similar uniforms.

I may have to look into Pole Position as I do like Alfred Hitchcok films. I got into Hitchcok years ago thanks to ‘The Three Investigators’ novels. He used to introduce the various books up until his death.

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Alistair MacLean wrote 28 novels between 1955 and 1986. The best include:
HMS Ulysses
The Guns Of Navarone
South By Java Head
Night Without End
The Dark Crusader
The Golden Rendezvous
Ice Station Zebra
Where Eagles Dare

Some of those titles might be vaguely familiar to you because well over half his books were filmed. Half of the above titles were. Film adaptations of his books tend to be hit and miss, the two that are universally acknowledged to be the best films of his books are “The Guns Of Navarone” and “Where Eagles Dare”. If you get a chance to see either one, take it! (Or just get them on DVD, you won’t be disappointed!)

As for Spiral Zone, like I say, I only saw a couple of episodes by chance on holiday in Spain, they would have a section of English TV of an evening, and it satisfied my action cartoon craving. OK, it wasn’t Thundercats or DotE, but it did the job.

For some reason it stayed lodged in my memory, and some time in 2012, I finally looked it up, and had a watch. Has its moments, if done properly could have been a classic, although it can be hit-and-miss at times.

If you have a go, like I say, episode 4 is the pilot!

It does seem more logical to bring back something that wasn’t overly successful and make the appropriate changes to try and make it a success. But I guess it’s the ‘if it isn’t broke don’t fix it mentality’.
They want to keep milking the cash cow until it’s dry.

I think you’re mixing your metaphors there! Yes, the successful ones get flogged to death by remakes, which keep tinkering around with the basic premise, completely ignoring the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” motto!

The uniform concept works in some cases. I like the characters to be individuals but there are ways to do it right. DOTE for example wouldn’t work if they all work matching uniforms.

Agreed, the characters were all different individuals from different comic strips, so putting them in matching uniforms wouldn’t have worked at all.

Actually, I just had a thought on the DotE episode title cards - and why they are different. I think it goes back to the characters all starting life in the 1930s, back during that glorious time when Hollywood blockbusters used to have beautiful hand-painted posters to publicise them. Some of the DotE episode title cards have that same feel - you could imagine some of those title cards up outside the cinema, “now showing”.

In G.I. Joe’s case when the first series came out they all wore military uniforms. All basically the same (except for Scarlett) with different colour shades. Snake Eyes just had the basic uniform except all black. Same in the comic. So much so around 2003 Hasbro released various sets of the first seriescharacters all in matching comic colour uniforms.
Starcom worked well with everyone having similar uniforms.

Starcom is another one that I never saw but knew of, because at the end of one of my old Visionaries videos, there were trailers (well, excerpts of the title sequences) for a few shows, including that one. Actually, that was how I first heard of Visionaries, that title sequence was shown with others at the end of a Rupert Bear video - I’d have been about 5 or 6 at the time. And I remember not thinking much of that theme song even the first time I heard it. Then I caught the end of an episode on Going Live, and thought, maybe it might be worth watching after all! I still don’t like the theme song, but the show has always been and always will be a favourite.

I may have to look into Pole Position as I do like Alfred Hitchcok films. I got into Hitchcok years ago thanks to ‘The Three Investigators’ novels. He used to introduce the various books up until his death.

Not heard of those.

My favourite Hitcchock film is always going to be “Strangers On A Train” - it is by far and away the most suspenseful film I have ever seen. “North By Northwest” is of course the daddy of the modern action blockbuster (and beats the pants off of most of then, I saw “The Da Vinci Code” just last year, and felt Ron Howard was trying to do “North By Northwest” with it). “Psycho” is the exception to the rule of my not liking the horror genre; and of course all three that he made with Grace Kelly (a legitimate contender for the title “most beautiful woman who ever lived” - an impossible absolute to award, of course, but hers is one name that no shortlist worth its salt would be complete without). “Rear Window” - that phone call at the end, and we know what’s about to happen, one of those jaw-dropping moments that Hitch managed so effortlessly. “Dial M For Murder” was the first of his that I ever saw; and “To Catch A Thief” - flawless.

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I have seen ‘Where Eagles Dare’, ‘the Guns of Navarone’ and I thin I seen ‘Ice Station Zebra’.

When I used the ‘If it isn’t broke don’t fix it’ metaphor I was meaning in the sense of the Live Action Transformers movies. Those have been massive financial successes for Hasbro. But they are awfully bad movies with a lot of faults. Rather than try and fix the various faults they are just keeping doing the same thing. Just because a movie makes money it doesn’t mean it’s a good movie.

For example look at their 1986 Inhumanoids line. Scientists with hi-tech suits fighting massive creatures from the Earth’s core. Did not do well when it was released. Even though they released 4x 6" heroes figures a couple vehicles, a few creatures and 3x MASSIVE 24" monsters. 2013/2014, films like Pacific Rim and Godzilla have been massive success. This would be a perfect time for them to try and capitalize on the Man vs. Giant monster theme, but they are not. Instead they would rather treat us to another Transformers movie…

I really liked seeing the clips for other shows at the beginning and end of various videos. It was on ‘The Return Of Optimus Prime’ VHS I seen Robotix advertised.

Hitchcok made so many good movies. Psycho is still one of the best (if not the best) horror movies made. The second Psycho sequel is very good even though he didn’t direct it. I love ‘The Rear Window’ and ‘Vertigo’. ‘The Birds’ and ‘The 39 Steps’ were also really good. As are the other’s you mentioned although I don’t think I seen all of ‘Dial M for Murder’. I have a book on all his films which shows production photographs and posters etc. I must get it and a few more for the DVD collection.
The Three Investigators books are similar to the Hardy Boys books. They are about three teenage boys in a fictional seaside town in California called Rocky Beach and they run their own investigating firm located in an old caravan in one of the members Uncle’s salvage yard. They ran from the mid 60’s to the late 80’s. I started reading the re-released reprints in the early 90’s. When Hichcok died they referenced it in the books and in that particular book they meet a former detective turned famous mystery writer who the writers use to introduce the books.