Line #22 WesternAnimation/SkyCommanders


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Sky_Commanders_6385.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Left to right: RJ Scott, Mike Summit and Spider Reilly at work.]]
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4	->''"Deep in the South Pacific, a tumultuous and untamed new continent has erupted, spawned by a highly unstable new element, known as Phaeta-7. If this powerful new element could be controlled, whoever possessed it would be the undisputed ruler of the world! One man, General Lucas Plague, is determined to hold that title. And it's up to a rugged team of mountaineering experts, lead by commander Mike Summit, to stop him. Employing revolutionary new gravity-lock and laser-cable technology to traverse the ever-changing terrain of the High Frontier, Mike Summit's Sky Commanders, and General Plague's Raiders, are locked in mortal combat, with the fate of the entire world hanging in the balance . . ."''
5	--> -- '''''OpeningNarration'''''
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7	''Sky Commanders'' was a MerchandiseDriven animated television series made by Creator/HannaBarbera that premiered in July 1987 as part of ''The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera'', lasting for only thirteen episodes. It was based on a Creator/{{Kenner}} action figure line.
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9	The story of ''Sky Commanders'' follows a diverse group of soldiers and experts from all over UsefulNotes/{{Earth}}, led by General Mike Summit, who battle the evil General Lucas Plague and his force of baddies, "The Raiders," whose aim is to TakeOverTheWorld. What's their plan? The series is set on a new continent deep in the South Pacific -- "the High Frontier" -- which was created by the discovery of a new, unstable radioactive element called Phaeta-7. This unusual energy can only be stabilized for containment by exposure to temperatures of 200 degrees below zero. Whoever could manage to harness it would be the ruler of the world; a goal that General Plague is dedicated to. It is up to General Summit and his crew to stop him.
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11	As if things weren't already bad enough, the Commanders and Raiders both have to routinely deal with lots of bizarre weather patterns, natural disasters, and horrifying, mutated creatures -- all aftereffects of Phaeta-7's instability and the High Frontier.
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13	Thankfully, travel throughout the High Frontier isn't a problem. You could either fly, or use "Laser Cables"; a specialized rappelling cord emitted from specialized backpacks worn by both forces. When used, the cables shoot out from the backpacks in the form of energy beams. When contact is made with a solid object, the Laser Cable solidifies into a solid metal cable line upon which travel is possible.
14	----
15	!!Tropes:
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17	* AwesomeAussie: Jack 'Spider' Reilly.
18	* BadassBookworm: Books Baxter, the technician.
19	* BrainwashedAndCrazy: In "Back in the Fold", the Raiders do this to RJ Scott after they capture him. RJ eventually almost cuts a cord that holds a few Commanders from falling into a pit, until General Plague orders him to stop.
20	* CallingYourAttacks: "Hot wire!" Not an attack, but is the term they use when they quickly travel on the wires.
21	* UsefulNotes/ColdWar: Likely to be the cause of tension between leader Mike Summit and new recruit Yuri Androv from the Soviet Union. They eventually get along.
22	* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: The Sky Commanders wear uniforms with bright primary colors, while the Raiders wear green and purple.
23	* CoolOldGuy: Some of the Sky Commanders appear aged, but in "Welcome to the Fold", the younger-looking Spider Reilly's age was brought up, indicating he's a lot older than most of the Commanders.
24	* CutShort: Only thirteen episodes were done.
25	* DeathWorld: The High Frontier is a dangerous, geologically unstable environment, even without the monsters. [[http://issuu.com/orangeslime/docs/kenner_1987/3?e=2195851/1265843 Kenner's 1987 dealer catalog]], which introduced the toy line to retailers, describes it in vivid detail:
26	-->''"A terrifying new continent emerged from the earth's core -- deadly and ever-changing. Hurricane-force winds and tornadoes of poisonous gas veil the bizarre new continent. Within lies a nearly endless variety of mutating environments, all different, but all sharing one sobering quality: man can survive only in the peaks and highlands. The horrors of the surface promise certain death! Christened the 'HIGH FRONTIER', towering chunks of stone rise up out of molten rocks and float like icebergs, topped with spires and columns that soar to dizzying heights. This is a volatile and unpredictable land, where mile-high plateaus can rise and fall in a single day. Whole islands can form overnight -- then disappear as the thin crust riding on the elemental ocean breaks apart like a shelf of melting ice."''
27	* DumbMuscle: Mordax.
28	* TheEighties: Very much a product of it, including the theme tune and [[EightiesHair hair styles]].
29	* EldritchAbomination: The creatures formed in the High Frontier. One of them is a ManEatingPlant that gobbles Cutter Kling, until the others save him.
30	* EnemyMine: A very difficult mission requires both the Sky Commanders and the Raiders to work together. While the leaders (Mike and Lucas) keep their differences aside, their deputies (Reilly and Raff) can't stop squabbling. Subverted, however, when this is the case only during the mission -- outside of it, the remaining Raiders attack the other Commanders.
31	* EpisodeTitleCard: Each episode begins with one.
32	* FakeDefector: Books Baxter, the Sky Commanders' GadgeteerGenius, turns against the Sky Commanders and joins the Raiders because the Commanders have rejected his new technology -- or so it seems. Eventually, it turns out that Books is a [[TheMole Mole]] in the enemy camp.
33	* FiveTokenBand: The Sky Commanders are composed of characters of varied backgrounds, including an Eskimo (Kodiak), Soviet (Yuri), Australian (Spider Reilly), Jamaican (Striker), a technician who sounds British (Books) and a FieryRedhead Irishwoman (Red [=McCullogh=]).
34	* TheGimmick: ''Sky Commanders'' was similar to Kenner's earlier line ''WesternAnimation/{{MASK}}'' (and later lines ''Shadow Strikers'' and ''[[WesternAnimation/VorTechUndercoverConversionSquad Vor-Tech]]'') in that the toys were tiny figures that came with gimmicky vehicles. Here, the gimmick is pretend {{Flight}} -- a child could fasten the Laser Cables and larger vehicles to the furniture, then attach the smaller vehicles and let them "fly" around.
35	* MadScientist: Dr. Erica Slade from the Raiders.
36	* ManEatingPlant: The first episode has Cutter fall victim to one of these briefly. Fortunately, the others are able to rescue him before he can be digested.
37	* MerchandiseDriven: While a few have good memories of their ''Sky Commanders'' toys, this toyline was a poor seller and the toys are now very hard to find.
38	* MultinationalTeam: Both the Sky Commanders and the Raiders.
39	* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: General Lucas '''Plague'''.
40	* {{Nepotism}}: One episode reveals the only reason General Plague keeps Mordax around is that Mordax is his brother-in-law.
41	* OpeningNarration: It was added after the first few episodes; the announcer was Danny Dark [[note]]a promo VO guy for Creator/{{NBC}} in the 80s and 90s, the original [=StarKist=] Tuna guy, and Franchise/{{Superman}} in ''WesternAnimation/SuperFriends''[[/note]].
42	* PowerArmor: Not so much armor as they are high-tech backpacks for rappelling across the High Frontier.
43	* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Each faction had one female member (Red [=McCullough=] from the Sky Commanders, Dr. Erica Slade from the Raiders). Both of them were {{Toyless Toyline Character}}s.
44	* StevenUlyssesPerhero: Mike Summit.
45	* SurferDude: RJ. Even Raider Kreeg calls that one out.
46	* TechnologyPorn: Too much of it, as well as SceneryPorn (and SceneryGorn).
47	* {{Unobtainium}}: Phaeta Seven.

Context WesternAnimation / SkyCommanders