Travel through time with us to the 22nd century through this Retrospective of Captain Power. The franchise first began in 1987 through the television series, Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future. This series starred Tim Dunigan, Peter Macneill, and Sven-Ole Thorsen and featured 22 episodes of 20 minutes each. The story begins in the year 2147 after machines defeated man in the “metal wars”. These faceless machines then run the world with the evil CGI robot, Soaron, who takes the remaining humans and turns them into computer data. Lord Dread, after defeating his best friend, Dr. Power, became the cyborg leader of the evil robots. After Dr. Power’s death, his son, Jonathan Power, takes on the role of defending against the evil robots with the help of his friends.
Join Us in a Retrospective of Captain Power
Along with the series, a movie, toys, and comic books all released to complete the Captain Power franchise. Follow along with us through this Retrospective of Captain Power as we travel through time and explore the franchise.
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future released in 1987 by Landmark Entertainment as well as Ventura Pictures. This 22 episode series, written by J. Michael Straczynski and Larry DiTillo, consisted of one season. Since it featured the first regular appearances of CGI characters within a live action series and held many innovative special effects, Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future leave significance for the technological world. Although VHS tapes for all episodes released in the 80s, VSC produced official DVDs for the entire series in 2011.
The series begins after the effects of the Metal Wars in the year 2147 with machines defeating man. The leader of all evil robots, Lord Dread, dreams of ending war and crimes by taking humans and turning them into powerful machines. Since he desires to concur the world, he sends out evil machine armies to capture the humans after fighting his best friend, Dr. Powers. Jonathan Powers, the son of Dr. Powers, becomes the captain to defend against these machines with the help of other human survivors. Captain Powers and his group carry on the battle, armed with power suits that also make them immune to their enemies’ weapons. Unfortunately, these only last so long before they run out of power. This then leads Jonathan Power and his group to use their power wisely to fight off the evil robots.
Near the end of the series, Power and his team uncover Dread’s new evil plan. This plan consists of sending a digitizer into orbit to capture humans from space. Power and his team then take on the task of stopping the satellite and crashing it into Dread’s volcanic base. The series released with a line of toys, including two jets that held the ability to interact with the series.
Captain Power Toys
Next, on this Retrospective of Captain Power we will mention the toys released by Mattel, beginning in 1987. The first wave of toys featured six figures, two spaceships, and two accessories which split evenly between good and evil. More toys released later for the franchise and included more figures, playsets, vehicles, and role play toys. The first two spaceships hold the most nostalgia with their epic ability to interact with the television through light-sensitivity and certain colors on the screen.
Interactive Spaceships
Captain Power’s XT-7 power jet and Dread’s Phantom Striker were not only toys themselves but could also interact with the television. These two toys became the first and last toys to be TVI (Televideo Interactive). These battery-powered ships, equipped with photo diodes, featured the ability to detect the orange and yellow lights shown on the screen. The interactive game worked when the player points their ship at the TV during battle sequences. With the player starting at five points, the orange lights (typically found under opponents ships) help the player gain more points by aiming at them. The yellow lights, shown as laser blasts, then aim back at the player and remove points if hit. If the player reaches zero points, the cockpit of the ship “explodes” which sends the figure flying out of the ship.
Japanese company, ARTMIC, released three high-quality VHS animated mission tapes. The intro and outro for these tapes were live action and featured the characters from the original series. Each VHS videocassette contained a different level of difficulty within the mission. These mission tapes took place in the cockpit which allowed the player to not only chase and shoot at enemy ships but also dodge their explosions. Unfortunately both the series and mission games only work with the toys when using a CRT television.
Action Figures, Vehicles, Playsets, and Role Playing
Mattel released a total of 10 action figures for the Captain Power franchise. The first wave of toys featured six figures, three good guys and three evil guys. The second wave of toys released featured four more figures. The figures stood at 10cm or about 4 inches tall with many points of articulation. The first wave of figures includes the characters: Captain Power, Lt. Tank Ellis, Major Hawk Masterson, Blastarr Ground Guardian, Soaron Sky Sentry, and Lord Dread. The second wave includes: Corporal Pilot Chase, Sergeant Scout Baker, Colonel Stingray Johnson, and Tritor Ocean Attack Warlord.
Along with the XT-7 Power Jet and Phantom Striker spaceships, Mattel also released 7 other vehicles for Captain Power. The Interlocker, Magnacycle, A.T.R. Proton Cannon, Dread Stalker, Mobile Sky Bike Launcher, Anti-Personnel Patroller, and Blastpack 1200 released by Mattel. The five playsets for Captain Power featured the Power on Energizer and Power Base in the first wave. The Trans-Field Communication Station, Trans-Field Base Station, and Wind-Up Soaron Beam Deflector also released by Mattel in the second wave. Many role playing toys also came out for Captain Power including the Power Laser. Other role playing toys include target game sets, the Water Pistol/Rifle, and the Lt. Tank Ellis Protonblaster as well as others.
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future Comics
Through this Retrospective of Captain Power, we will now dive into the comics. Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future comics came out a year after the series released. This comic line includes three volumes which follow the characters and storyline of the series. These comics, published by Continuity were written by Neil Adams and Peter Stone. Neil Adams also did the art and cover of the comics with Janet Jackson and Eva Grindberg as the colorists. Each volume released with 32 pages of the futuristic and technological world of Captain Power.
Captain Power Video Game
The Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future video game comes next on our Retrospective of Captain Power. This game released on Commodore 64 and also on PC and Apple 2 by Box Office. The Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future video game came out later in 1988 and featured action shooting abilities. The one player video game starts a mission for the player to first set up a flight sequence and then put an end to Lord Dread and his evil robotic empire. Although the graphics appear different throughout the separate game consoles, the game itself follows the same controls and mission while also following the premise of the series.
Captain Power: The Beginning Movie
Continuing on our Retrospective of Captain Power, we mention the movie released for the franchise. Captain Power: The Beginning runs for a time of 1hr and 34 min and released on February 23, 1991. The movie was directed by Otta Hanus and Jorge Montesi. Tim Dunigan, Peter MacNeill, Sven-Ole Thorsen, Maurice Dean Wint, Jessica Steen, and David Hemblen all starred in this film.
The plot of the movie begins in the year 2099 with Dread and Dr. Power developing robots. With Dread’s master plan to turn the future of humans completely into robots and Dr. Power’s plan to use them only for good, Dread sends the robots out into the world to begin the Metal Wars. The mission to turn humans into robots fulfills Dread’s plan when the robots shoot out beams that disintegrate the humans and stores them in the A.I Overmind. Jonathan Power and his team defend against these evil robots to save the human race and the planet.
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Made in Collaboration with:
Chris Ingledue
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Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab Pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!