The Herculoids

"The Herculoids" was a favorite of mine as a kid back in the late 70's during its later runs on various networks. (I remember it being included in a large block of various other series headlined by the "Harlem Globetrotters" and later in new episodes as part of the "Space Stars" series. Like what was said, the artwork was high quality...superior to many other TV series of the time, and the story lines, while always formulatic, did the job of entertaining the viewer. A typical 10 minute episode was as followed:*First 30 seconds, some alien or invader arrives, unleashing a fleet of attack crafts or robots. *The next two minutes...the Herculoids and their humans discover the bad guys, either by them attacking or issuing a threat. The next 30 seconds...the good guys make a plan. *The balance of the episode: backed by a jazzy soundtrack, the Herculoids turn the bad guys' equipment into junk ending with the said bad guys being sent away or escaping with their pride seriously wounded. The only thing that I always wondered about...why didn't Zandor and company open up a scrap yard...they sure cornered the market!!

The Hurculoids was one of the most unique creations to come from Hanna-Barbara in the 60's. The Ghost Master Alex Toth brought life to this creation as well. The show was going to be known a Zartan but, CBS legal dept found problems with reworking Tarzan so obviously. Still it remains one of the most original and innovative cartoons to this day. I loved watching when I was a kid. I loved the strange creatures that where good and loyal. I loved the villains they were so strange and interesting. It's a shame that these cartoons don't see much air play any more. Maybe someone will see this and change that?

I wonder where the original idea came from.

Sci-fi animation at it's best. For the time anyhoo.

A family of three with several super pets. Zandor is the Father, Tarra the Mother, and Dorno the son. A basic family except they have great athleticism and futuristic weapons. And for some reason Dorno refers to his parents by their first names.

Zok is a flying dragon that fires bolts of energy from his eyes and tail.

Tundro looks like a triceratops that fires shots from his horn. Has armor plates as well.

Igoo is a giant ape made of rock. And yes that is Ted "Lurch" Cassidy doing the voice.

Gloop and Gleep were jellylike blobs.

Zandor also had a slingshot that was more powerful than most weapons that REALLY exist.

There was no sentimentality here. But you still saw all of them support each other. It comes off like a Japanese monster anime at times.

Why don't they do more like this?

This was probably the second most and best action packed cartoon to Jonny Quest. It packed action, monsters, sci-fi and aliens into some short episodes. It wasn't bad actually. I liked its action and fast paced. I remember a teacher telling me this was one of the shows that made a lot of people decide to protest and gradually get rid of the more violent cartoon for the wussie cartoons of the late 1960's and early 1970's. I liked the Herculoids. I thought Zandor was pretty cool with his slingshot too.As a cartoon though, it really rocked. Besides being second to JQ in action and adventure isn't a bad thing.

I can not get over how well the Herculoids series have stood up over time. I watch it every chance I get (it drives my wife crazy)! The art work is still wonderful and fantastic. The stories are full of action and (the real reason it works) it's short stories of good over evil are quite compelling. I went to the 2008 Comic-Con with my son (who is an illustrator) and did not see the Herculoids represented at all. This series deserves major front burner attention. For such a short plot line it's got all the stuff to make it to the big screen. A strong family theme mixed with self reliance and Dorno's sense of responsibility taught by his farther Zandor. Yeah it has a little Tarzan twist to it's flow but that's why it works, keep it simple stupid ! Zandor seems to understand the line between what machinery and technology can and can't do for you. Even though he is surrounded by it he is not a slave to it and prefers his and his family simple life in the Forrest of Amzot. I would love to see The Herculoids adapted for the big screen. Just imagine a live action seen with Igoo (The Rock Ape) pounding his metal foe into the ground. Hulk, Iron Man, Batman watch your back. The Herculoids are the next sleeping Si-Fi giant ! ! !