O2D
It's weird how you can remember things one way and then find out your memories are wrong.I have recently been watching old stuff I liked as a kid and most of it is unbearable crap.The Herculoids isn't unbearable, it's just really strange.These people live in some sort of nuclear wasteland where nothing grows and every other being in the universe wants to invade their barren wasteland.They never even explain the relationship between the characters.The man and boy do and say lots of things to lead you to believe that they aren't father and son.One really good thing about this cartoon is that they kill people.That's always refreshing.
cairn6
"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!!
jetsetrj
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 ! ! !
stumpmee77
Next to Jonny Quest, this was the first cartoon I could recall before or since that didn't continuously waste time telling me what the people/creatures were going to do. Don't these action-oriented cartoon makers of the present day realize that the bulk of the fun is in seeing the resolution happen not laying out the scenario? Oftentimes I was riveted surprised cheered over the victories the principles had over the bad guys. You weren't let in on this menagerie's thought processes other than their characteristic sounds which could have meant anything (Or Tundro's occasionally triumphant smile). When resurrected in the 80's they tried to make some herculoids puppy-dog cute (particularly my favorite the once aloof, brutal to the bad guys Zok which irritated me)and toned down on the violence and make Zandor's family more like us American Earthlings. But who cares it was still good versus bad and not spoiling the surprises of what these adorable creatures did.