Beginning in 1983, a crew of reptilian humanoids began their awesome franchise through four different television series, novels, comic books, a toy, and computer game. Kenneth Johnson, an American writer, producer, and director, first began this loved world of V Visitors. This Sci-Fi world of lizard-like aliens, the Visitors, appear on earth in search of necessities for their home planet. However, the Visitors’ plan takes a turn as they begin to take over the earth. These aliens, disguised as human beings, arrive with advanced technology on fifty motherships. With the hopes of trading their technology for other resources, the Visitors go through many endeavors during their time on earth. Follow along with us through a Retrospective of V Visitors (V).
Join Us in a Retrospective of V Visitors (V)
Follow along with us in our Retrospective of V Visitors (V). We will mention each individual television series that released from 1983 to 2009. Along with this, we will dive into the novels, toys, comic books, and video game that make up this intriguing franchise.
Television Series (1983-2009)
First up on our Retrospective of V Visitors (V), we have the many television series released. Kenneth Johnson created the first series in 1983, V: The Original Miniseries. Since then, V: The Final Battle and V the weekly series both came out in 1984. Along with this, V the remake series came out in 2009. Dean O’ Brien and Garner Simmons produced the 1984 series with Daniel H Blatt and Robert Singer who executive produced. The 1984 series produced through Blatt-Robert Singer Productions as well as Warner Bros. Television. HD Films, The Scott Peters Company, and Warner Bros. produced the 2009 series. With them, Yves Simoneau, Scott Rosenbaum, Scott Peters, Steve Pearlman, and Jace Hall all executive produced the series.
V: The Original Miniseries (1983)
First airing on NBC May 1, 1983, this original V miniseries not only sparked the interest of fans for these reptilian aliens but also began a saga of future V television series. This series begins with the Visitors landing on earth in fifty huge motherships. These alien Visitors reveal themselves on the roof of the United Nations building, but appear as human like as possible. Since they decide to hide their true identities, the Visitors need to wear human-like contacts, sunglasses, and masks. The Visitors reach out to humans for resources they need for their home planet in exchange for their incredibly advanced technology. When the government on earth agrees to this arrangement, the Visitors begin to gain influence with the earthly authorities.
Then, when strange events occur between the Visitors and humans, the television journalist, Mike Donovan takes matters into his own hands. He steps onto one of the Visitors’ motherships and finds a remarkable discovery. Mike uncovers evidence of who these Visitors really are, reptilian humanoids who disguise themselves as humans. However, when Mike Donovan tries to air the evidence on television, the Visitors interrupt him and frame him a fugitive. After this incident, many problems arise including the uncovering of the true reason the Visitors landed on earth. Donovan, Martin, the Fifth Column, and the Resistance all work together to stop the visitors from taking over the planet for good.
V: The Final Battle (1984)
Next up, the sequel to the previous miniseries, V: The Final Battle aired in 1984. This series aired for three consecutive nights as a three-part miniseries from May 6th to May 8th. Part 1 begins with the Renaissance team preparing for a raid to fight against the Visitor processing plant to save humans. Unfortunately, the Visitors’ incredible security and armor stop the Renaissance team from getting too close. Meanwhile, Robin Maxwell’s half human/half reptilian pregnancy advances. Then, after a hospital raid and the prevention of a mothership cutting off a live broadcast, the Visitors capture Julie and begin the conversion process on her.
Part 2 then carries on with the conversion process on Julie. She tries to fight against the brainwashing as Diana increases the intensity of the frightening visions in her mind. Julie then tells the group of a plan to steal all of California’s water. Her attempted conversion left her traumatized with side effects. When the water facility attack works out, a firefight emerges between the aliens and rebels. After this, Mike and his son face difficulties while Robin begins labor. At the end of the episode, Robin gives birth to twins, one human looking girl with a forked tongue and a reptilian looking boy.
Lastly, part 3 begins with Robin’s reptilian boy passing away while her girl, Elisabeth, grows fast. Julie and Robert then take remainder bacteria “red dust” from the boy’s corpse to use as a potential weapon. They later find out the dust is non lethal to humans but not to the aliens. Then, after many battles and obstacles, the red dust goes over the face of earth which forces the Visitors to evacuate earth.
V: The Series (1985)
From October 26, 1984 to March 22, 1985, this next series of V featured more episodes and more characters for this incredibly loved franchise. This series continues from the previous one and begins with Donovan and Tyler going after Diana to try and stop her. However, when they try the red dust on her, it appears the bacteria no longer holds power or effect on the Visitors. The baby girl, Elisabeth keeps growing and the Visitors can come back to earth. As Diana begins to guide the Visitors back to earth, she also plans to capture Elisabeth who has metamorphized into a young adult within a couple of hours. However, when the Visitors attempt to capture Elisabeth at her mountain ranch, they realize the red dust stays effective only in colder portions of the earth and the Visitors all died.
The Resistance once again reassembles in order to fight the Visitors across the nation however they can. Even with the red dust taking up a portion of the earth, the Resistance knows of it’s long term toxic effects. This then leaves it up to Elisabeth to control both humans and Visitors and decide the outcome for everyone. Unfortunately, this series ended abruptly with a cliffhanger and just 19 episodes.
V Remake Series (2009)
Next up, this V remake premiered in November of 2009 and ran for two seasons with ABC canceling the series in May of 2011. The main cast of this series includes Elizabeth Mitchell, Morris Chestnut, Joel Gretsch, Charles Mesure, and Lourdes Benedicto. Along with these, Logan Huffman, Laura Vandervoort, Scott Wolf, and Morena Baccarin also starred in this series.
This series remake takes the same plot as the original 1983 miniseries, yet with some adjustments. The series begins with the character, Erica Evans (played by Elizabeth Mitchell), an FBI agent. Erica discovers a secret about these reptilian Visitors that can possibly put the entire human race in danger. Erica, as well as Father Jack Landry and others decide to take matters into their own hands when it comes to finding out more on these humanoids. They work together while Erica’s teenage son, Tyler, works in the opposite direction as he sees the Visitors as a sign of hope and unison among mankind. Although this series canceled, the two seasons that released for it gave the V franchise another spark and featured this epic storyline once again on screen.
V Visitors (V) Novels (1984-2008)
Next up on our Retrospective of V Visitors (V), we will mention the novels released. Many different novels came out for the franchise which featured the humans and Visitors in the well known adventures as well as new ones. When the series aired, new novels released every month that followed the same plot. These novels released by Pinnacle Paperbacks while a new series of novels released by Tor from 1987-1988. From 1984 to 2008, a total of seventeen books released for the V Visitors (V) fandom.
A total of six thematic books released which included V (May 1984), V: East Coast Crisis (September 1984), and V: The Pursuit of Diana (December 1984). Also, V: The Chicago Conversion (January 1985), V: The Florida Project (February 1985), and V: The Crivit Expiriment (May 1985) all released as thematic novels. Then, eleven other non-thematic novels released from 1985-2008. V: Prisoners and Pawns, V: The Alien Swordmaster, and V: The New England Resistance all came out in 1985. Along with these in 1985, V: Death Tide and V: The Texas Run came out that same year. Two books, V: Path to Conquest and V: To Conquer the Throne came out in 1987. V: The Oregon Invasion, V: Below the Threshold, and V: Symphony of Terror came out in 1988. The last book to release in February of 2008 was V: The Second Generation.
V Visitors (V) Toys (1984)
In 1984, LJN released this 12 inch Enemy Visitor figure. This toy stands tall with the iconic red Visitor clothing. The toy features a human-like appearance with a removeable face, revealing the true identity of this Visitor. LJN released this toy and also planned on releasing a line of 4 1/2 inch figures with accessories and two vehicles. However, these smaller scale figures and vehicles unfortunately never released with the twelve inch Enemy Visitor figure. Since the television series canceled due to it not hitting initial popularity as expected, the action figures also canceled and the Enemy Visitor remains the only V toy released.
V The Comic Book Series (1985)
Now, on our Retrospective of V Visitors (V), we have the comic books. From February 1985 to July 1986, DC Comics published an 18-issue series for the V Visitors (V) franchise. The comic series followed the same events as those in V: The Series. Written by Cary Bates, these comics featured the same loved characters and epic plot between the humans and the Visitors. With the art by Carmine Infantino and Tony DeZuniga, these characters come to life on pages through the coloring and graphics. Along with this, Eduardo Barreto did the eye catching cover art. Each comic was edited by Marv Wolfman and consisted of 32 pages across the board.
V: The Computer Game (1986)
Lastly, on our Retrospective of V Visitors (V), we have V: The Computer Game. This Commodore 64 game was programed by Grant Harrison. The graphics by Nik Nig and Kev brought the game to life. In this computer game, the player takes on the role of Mike Donovan and has to go through the computer rooms, causing them to detonate. The player must then bring back the code for the red dust from the mothership’s control center. Using the red dust, the player then releases it into the air throughout the ship. Once the player completes the mission, the character can then return and escape the mothership in a shuttle. Throughout the ship, power doors allow the player to recharge their laser which immensely help with finishing the misison. Other doors also hold the ability to transport from one quadrant of the ship to another.
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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!