There is some incredible super team animated shows by Filmation in the late 70’s. First, who was the first black female superhero on tv? Filmation had some brilliant early action cartoons. One of them is Space Sentinels (1977), a pivotal year in fantasy and sci fi. It ran for 13 episodes. The introduction says "many centuries ago three young Earthlings were transported", they were Hercules (George DiCenzo), Astrea (Dee Timberlake), and Mercury (Evan Kim).
The Space Sentinels were transported from Earth as teenagers, but now in the year 1985 look like adults. Their powers, of course Hercules has super strength, Astrea, shapeshifting!, and Mercury, super speed. The trio has “eternal youth” which inspired the mythological figures. Astrea is the first black female superhero, Black Vulcan debuted the same time on Super Friends! The group protects Earth from aliens, time travelers, and other threats. They are guided by Sentinel One (DiCenzo), he is a giant holographic head, I don't know, like Zordon in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers?
Also there is the robot MO (Maintenance Operator) voiced by Filmation co-creator Lou Scheimer! MO looks like a squat robot similar Artoo, but reminds me more of the robots in Silent Running (1972). He is in love with Astrea who happens to be the leader of the team! I don't know many team leaders like Astrea except Storm leading the X-Men for a time. They have belts that allow them to fly like the Legion flight ring. Their base is a white, saucer-like spaceship at the base of an island volcano. Tubes send the team out to fly with the belts.
A year later there was a segment called The Freedom Force in the show, Tarzan and the Super 7. There were five episodes that latest 12 minutes each. Hercules joined this team from Space Sentinels. The new voice actor was Bob Denison and the character rode on Pegasus. The leader of this team is Isis, the superhero from the live action Filmation show, The Secret of Isis (1975-1978). High school science teacher, Andrea Thomas, played by Joanna Cameron, found the Tutmose amulet in Egypt. This transformed her into the Egyptian goddess, Isis, now voiced by Diane Pershing.
The main trio was Isis, Hercules, and Toshi (voiced by Michael Bell), a young Japanese hero who could transform into the giant Super Samurai. The other team member is Merlin, also voiced by Bell, who rode a magic carpet. Bell also voiced Sinbad, the legendary hero only made occasional appearances. His side kick was the squat and silly, Lamprey, who appeared in only one episode. So it was a team of five members. Their base is a golden pyramid in the Valley of Time. It had a dock next to a river, the River of Time?, and set in a clearing of a forest.
The Freedom Force battles dragon riders, wizards, and even Morgan le Fey. In 2006, all of the Space Sentinels episodes and The Freedom Force episodeswith interviews and other material. The third episode, “The Plant Soldiers” was released on the The Secrets of Isis DVD in 2007. It is availabe with Fandango at Home, The Roku Channel, and Tubi TV. I would love if these shows were adapted into comics and especially re-run of tv. What happened to Astrea and Mercury? How did Hercules end up with the Freedom Force?
Here’s some fan speculation. The Space Sentinels investigate a rift that is destroying the Sentinels. The rift starts to engulf the team, but Sentinel One uses the last of his power to protect the team in force bubbles. The trio are lost in time! On The Freedom Force’s Earth, Isis travels to the Valley of Time, and finds about the distruption of the rift. She finds the young Merlin, adult, but not with a long, white beard. Merlin has sensed the threat and says they will need more help. In modern Japan, they find Toshi studying karate, explaining his gi, and Morgan has found Merlin.
Toshi is able to summon Super Samurai for the first time and overwhelms Morgan’s creatures and she retreats. The team has to travel one more time to ancient Arabia. Sinbad the Sailor’s ship is about to be destroyed by the rift. He is able to use his magic carpet to escape with Lamprey. Still, they are about to be taken into the rift, but Merlin’s magic saves them! In exchange for the rescue, Sinbad gives Merlin the magic carpet. They travel to ancient Greece, too late, the winds of the rift is about to consume Athens!
Hercules is swept across the rift and saved by Pegasus! Isis uses the powers of all of the heroes channeled by Merlin to seal the rift. They find that Hercules has lost memory of his past, but still has dreams of Astrea and Mercury lost in time! Filmation is currently owned by DreamWorks Animation with distribution by Universal Pictures. They did release Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003). The closest superhero film was the comedy, Megamind (2010). How about revitalizing a classic show and tell new adventures in series, comic books, or movies?! Have you seen Space Sentinels or The Freedom Force? They have some great adventures!
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