The 1980s was the era for what became known as the "toyetic" cartoon series. What is a "toyetic" series? Well, it's a term used to describe a series that is basically used to push a toy line. Some of these series would become iconic franchises that are still going strong today, like Transformers. Some have become a lot less known, like say, the SilverHawks.
SilverHawks was an animated series that consisted of 65 episodes. Developed by Rankin-Bass (the same company behind ThunderCats), the series was set in the far future. The titular SilverHawks were a team of cyborg (the theme song described them as "partly metal, partly real") police officers that patrolled the spaceways, protecting the universe from the evil mob boss Mon*Star and his mob. I first learned of this series thanks to Cartoon Network playing reruns of it in the early 2000s. Like many cartoons of the era, it was used to push a toy line. And it also had a comic book series, published by Marvel as part of their Star Comics line at the time.
You may be wondering what Star Comics is. The Star Comics imprint was started by Marvel in 1984 as a way to attract younger readers, basically. The imprint mainly published licensed titles based on various series, like Care Bears, Heathcliff (the longest-running title in the line), Muppet Babies (Yes, long before Disney bought the Muppets and Marvel itself), and comics based on Rankin-Bass's sister series, ThunderCats. It also published original series like Top Dog, Royal Roy (Which actually got Marvel sued by Harvey Comics, claiming it was a blatant ripoff of Richie Rich, leading to the title's cancellation), and Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham. Yeah, if you ever watched Into the Spider-Verse, you may be familiar with Spider-Ham. The line was short-lived, lasting until 1988.
The comic we're going to look at here is the first issue of their Star Comics series. It, like the Star line itself was short-lived, lasting seven issues. The last two were published under the Marvel banner due to the Star line going defunct. Let's take a look at SilverHawks #1!
The cover is a Mike Witherby and Jim Sanders III piece. It's pretty good, if a bit basic. It shows our heroes flying towards the camera, the villainous Mon*Star in his organic form looming over them, as if promising great pain for our heroes.
"The Origin Story"
Writer: Steve Perry
Penciler: Mike Witherby
Inker: Jim Sanders III
Colorist: John Wellington
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Editor: Howard Mackie
Executive Editor: Tom DeFalco
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter
The story begins on Hawkhaven, the future HQ of our titular heroes.
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| "We originally intended to call it 'The Birdhouse', but the idea was shot down. With fists." |
A Commander Stargazer is reporting a massive prison breakout on Penal Planet 10. This is especially concerning as among the freed prisoner is a feared intergalactic crime boss known as Mon*Star. The "penal planet" is actually a gigantic space station. On February 2839, the station was hit by the rays from the "Moonstar". The staff try to lock down the station, make sure none of its light reaches him. Mon*Star tries to bribe two of the guards, but they're not going for it. The space criminal furiously pounds away at the paneling of his cell and is able to rip open a gap in his cell's wall, allowing some of the Moonstar's light to reach him. And when it does, a transformation occurs.
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| "AHHHHHHH, THIS FRIGGIN' HUUUUURTS!" |
Now transformed into his more powerful robotic form (How does that work?), Mon*Star is able to escape. He finds his space squid Sky-Runner waiting for him. He transforms the squid into his personal transport, then goes to free the rest of his gang.
Back in HawkHaven, Stargazer transmits the files on the other escapees.
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| Hardly as iconic as Batman's Rogues Gallery, but they get by. |
Mon*Star's gang is a motley bunch, each with their own specialties. Mo-Lec-U-Lar is a shapeshifter, able to turn himself into any object. Melodia is a mad mistress of music, whose keytar can really raise some havoc. She's the gun moll of the gang. She also is likely Lady Gaga's descendant.
The robotic minotaur-looking dude is Mumbo Jumbo. He's the strongman. The troll is Hardware, the weapon expert of the group. And the angry yellow robot is Buzzsaw. I imagine he's one of the enforcers. Finally, there's Windhammer. His tuning fork grants him the power to control galactic weather patterns. And speaking of Windhammer, he uses said big ol' tuning fork to cause pink lightning to hit HawkHaven. Windhammer is playing fast and loose with that pink energy there.
Anyway, Stargazer could use a hand. Is he the only person there? He doesn't even have a staff?! I mean, he's only one cyborg, he can only do so much.
We then shift scenes to the Federal Interplanetary Force 1 Headquarters in Nevada. A General Rawlings is discussing a project with a Professor Ghemakin. Ghemakin is an alien that looks like what you get when Spock underwent pon farr with a Skrull woman. The alien professor takes the general to a room where they are creating a new weapon against Mon*Star and his band of blackguards.
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| "They also have fridges in those cubes!" |
These five cubes are cybernetically enhancing five volunteers to be cybernetically enhanced into the SilverHawks. Who are these five brave souls? The first is Jonathan B. Quick, codenamed Quicksilver. The second is a pointy-eared redheaded elf-like being from a world known as the "Planet of Mimes". His real name is unpronounceable, so he's just called "The Copper Kid". The third is T. Boone Pickens. A country boy, he's one of the best, if not the best pilot in the solar system. Codename: Bluegrass. Finally, there are the fraternal twins: Emily and Will Heart. ...why aren't their surnames "Hart"? I mean, "Hart" is an actual surname, and you could still do the "heart" pun as they're pronounced the same. Anyway, the two have a Corsican Brothers-like bond. What one feels, the other does, too. Their codenames are Steelheart and Steelwill.
It's discovered the twins have a problem. Their hearts are reacting badly to the cybernetic modifications, so they need to be replaced with artificial ones. Ghemakin isn't worried. They'll still be able to do the job, but just end up a bit...emotionless.
Yeah, emotions come from the brain, not the heart. The next day, the SilverHawks' new craft, the Mirage, takes a flight to engage in some wargames with a combat drone. We get to see the Hawks in action.
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| "*Highway to the Danger Zone intensifies*" |
The Hawks manage to dispatch the drone. This bit of play combat also allows the Mirage to show off its own gimmick: invisibility. The five cyborg heroes easily dispatch the drone. The SilverHawks introduce themselves to General Rawlings' superior, who is impressed with them. The next day, the Mirage is being prepared for a trip to space. Bluegrass shows off how he controls the ship.
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| "🎵 Blue Moon of Kentucky, keep on shinin'...🎵" |
Yup, he does it through his electronic guitar, Hot Licks. You can tell this is from the 80s, ha ha. The Mirage them makes its way to space and to HawkHaven. According to Quicksilver, it will be their home for the next few centuries.
Wait, they'll be there for hundreds of years?! That's not exactly a short time by any measure! Don't any of these people have loved ones back home?! Anyway, the group introduce themselves to Commander Stargazer. He then gives them their mission.
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| "Careful, guys. Mon*Star is a real piece of work. He punched my grandma!" |
Yup, go to planet Brimstar and bring Mon*Star and his mob in. Man, the guy has "stars" on the brain, doesn't he? I'm surprised he doesn't call his blackguard brigade the "Star Mob" or "Mob Stars" or something. In his fortress, Mon*Star is informed of the SilverHawks' coming for him by Yes-Man, his snake-like toady. He transforms into his robotic form and orders him to gather the other members of the mob. They're going bird-hunting!
The Mob makes their way to HawkHaven and engages the SilverHawks in battle.
This battle helps show off what the Silverhawks can do. The twins are shown to be powerhouses, Copper Kidd shows off his skills with his throwing discs, etc. Our heroes manage to turn the tide and send the Mon*Star Mob packing.
Commander Stargazer thanks the group for their good work, but the Mob still need to be captured. Our heroes have quite the work cut out for them.
This comic is...well...basic is how I can describe it. It's a basic origin story for a bunch of cartoon characters for kids. I do wish we got to explore the personalities of the SilverHawks a bit more. That would have been really neat. I got a good chuckle out of the art always showing Bluegrass looking like he is about to bust into a jolly ballad. It's not the worst comic ever, but it's hardly the best.
If you want to read this yourself, you'll have to search out the back issue bins in comic shops. This has never been collected in trade as far as I know. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, wash your hands often, wear a mask, and get your vaccine/booster! See you next time!
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