I'm a comic book fan by heart and have always enjoyed reading comics whenever I could. Thanks to a collection of paperback comics that got passed down to me, I was exposed to the industry when I was basically in elementary school. It helped that there were animated shows like X-men and Batman on during my youth, that only made me enjoy the stories even more. There have been other comic book series that have been turned into animated series, but not many have been revered back then as they have been today. With that said: Ultraforce!
(Wow, this intro is so 90s.)
Ultraforce was a comic book series made by Malibu Comics, who was soon bought out by Marvel. There wasn't much of any other information I was able to pick up on the book series, other than it ran for 2 different volumes before being canceled. The animated series was made in 1995 by DiC Entertainment and ran for 13 episodes. Hm, wonder why?
Anyway, the intro itself is pretty cool to watch (if the quality was good enough), the music just scream 90s, and it does its part to introduce the members of Ultraforce in about a minute. The team is as follows: Hardcase (leader of the team), Contrary (senses stimulator), Ghoul (self-explanatory), Prototype (offspring of Iron Man and Spider-Man), Topaz (standard warrior woman) and Prime (kid turns into giant meat-head). Oh boy, we are in for a treat.
The first episode is known as 'Prime Time'. Great, this will definitely end well. Anyway, we see Hardcase, as well as a few minor characters getting their butts handed to them by a robot called NM-E. Really, I'm just getting flashbacks to 'X-men: Days of the Past'.
However, it turned out to be just a dream, as Hardcase is now an actor whose team was lost some time ago. Apparently, NM-E is back as well, as a news report shows him attacking military bases. This prompts Hardcase to take up his costume once more and fight his old foe. I actually like Hardcase, since he's a veteran hero and understands the risks it takes to be a hero. Though, it wouldn't hurt for him to relax just for a little while.
Elsewhere, a kid name Kevin Green also sees the news reports, heading out under his superhero guise of Prime. Really, I hate this character. He's a lot like DC's Captain Marvel: he's a kid with superhuman powers with an identity that makes him look like an older man. Unlike Captain Marvel, Prime is making himself out as kind of a jerk. While he does get better as the series progresses, I don't think I could ever respect him as much as the other members of Ultraforce.
(Honestly, that physique scares me.)
Also, Protoype gets introduced as a tester for a new power armor to take on NM-E himself. Like I said before, he's like Iron Man mixed with Spider-Man. He's young, bit of a jerk, but still tries to do good. Not much to say else wise. Will research more later.
Of course, the three meet up while fighting NM-E and don't like each other. All that bickering prevents them from preventing all the nuclear missiles from the base being stolen. The military, geniuses as they are, blame the trio and attack them. However, they get rescued by Contray, Ghoul and Pixx. Who is Pixx? I'll explain later. Right now, Contray suggests that they form a new team to fight evil and such. Of course, Hardcase objects, words get thrown around, and another base starts getting their missiles stolen. The trio head down to help (with Ghoul in tow), but all of the missiles get swallowed up by the ground. With Ghoul staying topside, the three head into the bowels of the Earth. Here, we see the Big Bad that is behind is all: Atalon, king of the Fire People!
(Uh, I don't think that is normal royalty wear)
The three of them get royally owned and sent back packing, with Atalon setting off several missiles to try and destroy the surface world! Thus ends 'Prime Time'.
Second episode begins, titled 'The Stuff of Heroes' with the team bickering amongst each other once more. Contray breaks up the little fight, while Pixx does her best to shut down as many missiles as possible before they explode. Wow, she's pretty useful on the sidelines as a tech expert. Glad she's part of the team, yeah?
After that bit, 3 missiles are left to be shut down. As Ultraforce shuts them down, Hardcase and Prime keep butting heads. I'd say get a room, but that would be way to squicky in this kind of context. So, Prime heads out on his own, with the team trying to get him back. However, Ghoul gets a premonition of Pixx dying, tries to warn her, but fails.
As Hardcase, Ghoul, and Prototype go to retrieve Prime, Contray and Pixx watch the arrival of Topaz. Since Topaz grew up in a place where women ruled the world, of course she would hate men with the passion. Doesn't explain why she will join the team later on, though it helps that Ultraforce isn't a complete sausage fest.
Anyway, Prime rebuffs Hardcase's plea to help Ultraforce and even fights with them for a bit. However, NM-E comes back to fight them once more. During the scuffle, Ghoul gets taken by the Fire People while NM-E gets taken down by Hardcase and Prime.
Unfortunately, all that exertion has Prime turn back into Kevin Green, which makes Hardcase realize that Prime is basically a kid in superman-sized shoes. He accepts Kevin's secret and wishes to help him become an even better superhero. I like to think that Hardcase sees a chance at redeeming himself as a leader and mentor by helping Kevin/Prime. Its pretty good narrative-wise and fits with the character.
Anyway, the team regroups, now with Topaz joining the team, and soon realize Ghoul's disappearance. Episode two ends with Atalon getting Ghoul to try and communicate with deceased Fire People to show that the surface would should be theirs and such.
Moving on to episode 3 'Armageddon', as Ghoul does just what Atalon wants him to do: contact the spirits of the past Fire People kings. However, they don't seem too kind to Atalon's plans to conquer the surface world. Atalon doesn't take it too well and lies to his people to keep his own plans from stopping. Hm...
(We need to conquer the surface world.)
Ultraforce, tired of sitting on their butts, take the fight straight to Atalon, who is apparently staying on an island that he formed himself. Rather egocentric of him. Anyway, Ultraforce decide to take out the missiles that Atalon has stockpiled, preventing him from destroying the surface world. Pixx offers to disarm them and Hardcase, rather reluctant, accepts as long as she is wearing an anti-radiation belt. Hopefully, they got the warranty on that.
Anyway, big fight occurs as the Ultraforce battle Atalon and his Fire People force. During a scuffle between Pixx and a Fire People soldier, her belt gets damaged. Ghoul manages to meet up with her and leads her to where the missiles are stockpiled. Apparently, the missiles are leaking radiation (guess moving them damaged their hull or something) as Ghoul tries to warn Pixx. She knows the risks and continues trying to disarm to the missiles. She succeeds, but at a great cost.
(The worst part would probably be that her comic version outlives the animated version)
Anyway, Atalon gets banished by the Fire People spirits, peace is made with the Fire People and the Ultraforce says goodbye to their teammate. Such is the ending of episode 3 of Ultraforce!
So, did Ultraforce deserve more credit than it got? This series surprised me a bit. The characters have a bit more shape to them and it took its time to introduce the members of the team, rather than just introducing them all at once. However, the villains tended to fall a bit flat at times and were mostly one-offs. Overall, I'm surprised that this only had 13 episodes. I wouldn't mind seeing more of the show.
Though now that I think about it, compared to what else was being featured back then, it probably wouldn't have made a big impact under the 'Malibu' logo. Having backing by 'Marvel' or 'DC' could go a long way.
Well, that's the end of this review. Until next time...ULTRAFORCE!
Ultraforce is owned by Marvel Entertainment
Thanks go out to Superspoon21 for the Ultraforce intro
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