SilverHawks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SilverHawks |
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| Developed by | Rankin/Bass |
| Directed by | |
| Voices of |
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| Composer(s) | Bernard Hoffer |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 65 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
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| Running time | 23 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
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| Distributor | Lorimar-Telepictures |
| Release | |
| Original network | Syndication |
| Original release | September 8 – December 5, 1986 |
SilverHawks is an exciting animated TV show from 1986. It was made by Rankin/Bass Productions and had 65 episodes. The show is set in space and is like a space version of their earlier series, ThunderCats.
Just like ThunderCats, SilverHawks also had its own comic book series. These comics were published by Marvel Comics under their Star Comics brand.
Contents
Story of the SilverHawks
The story begins with Commander Stargazer, a bionic policeman. He gathers a special team called the SilverHawks. These heroes are "partly metal, partly real." Their mission is to stop the evil Mon*Star. Mon*Star is an alien mob boss who escaped from prison. He can turn into a huge, armored monster with the help of Limbo's Moonstar.
Mon*Star has a group of bad guys working for him. This intergalactic mob includes:
- Yes-Man, who looks like a snake and always agrees with Mon*Star.
- Buzz-Saw, a robot with sharp blades.
- Mumbo-Jumbo, a strong "bull"-headed creature.
- Windhammer, who can control the weather.
- Mo-Lec-U-Lar, a shapeshifter.
- Poker-Face, a robot who loves cards and gambling.
- Hardware, who carries many weapons.
- Melodia, who uses a special "keytar" to fire musical notes.
The SilverHawks team is led by Quicksilver, whose real name was Jonathan Quick. He has a metal bird friend named Tally-Hawk. Twins Emily and Will Hart become Steelheart and Steelwill. Steelheart is the team's technician, and Steelwill is the strongman. Bluegrass, a country-singing pilot, flies their ship, the Maraj. The youngest member is "The Copper Kidd" from the Planet of the Mimes. He is a math genius who "speaks" in whistles.
The SilverHawks wear special metal armor that covers their bodies, leaving only their faces and one arm showing. Their armor has a mask that can hide their face, wings under their arms (except Bluegrass), thrusters on their heels for flying, and laser weapons in their shoulders.
Meet the Characters
The SilverHawks Team
Main SilverHawks
- Commander Stargazer (voiced by Bob McFadden) - He is a tough, experienced police officer with bionic parts. He was the one who caught Mon*Star before. Stargazer is the team's "eyes and ears," guiding them. His armor is gold, and his left eye is a special telescopic lens.
- Quicksilver (voiced by Peter Newman) - Captain Jonathan Quick is the leader of the SilverHawks. He is known for being very fast and smart. His armor is silver.
- Bluegrass (voiced by Larry Kenney) - He is the second-in-command and the main pilot of the Maraj ship. Bluegrass loves country music and uses a special weapon that looks like an instrument. He wears a cowboy hat and a red bandana.
- Steelheart & Steelwill (voiced by Maggie Wheeler and McFadden) - Emily and Will Hart are twin siblings. They are the strongest members of the team and handle all the machines. They have artificial hearts and feel what the other feels. Their armor is a dark steel color.
- The Copper Kidd (vocal effects by Pete Cannarozzi) - The youngest SilverHawk, he is from the Planet of the Mimes. He is a math genius and communicates with whistles and computer sounds. He has blue skin with white mime-like markings. His armor is copper-colored, and he throws sharp discs.
Other SilverHawks
- Hotwing (voiced by Adolph Caesar and Doug Preis) - A gold SilverHawk who joined later. He is a skilled magician and can create illusions. He gets his powers from a mystical energy force.
- Flashback (voiced by Newman) - A green SilverHawk who can travel through time from the future. He has saved the team from danger many times by going back in time.
- Moon Stryker (voiced by Kenney) - A turquoise SilverHawk who can create powerful cyclones from his waist to fly through space. He is a great shot.
- Condor (voiced by McFadden) - An old friend of Stargazer's. He used to be a private investigator but returned to help the SilverHawks. He uses a jetpack instead of wings and has an energy whip.
Weapon-Birds
These are cyborg animal companions that help the SilverHawks.
- Tally-Hawk (Quicksilver's companion)
- Side Man (Bluegrass's companion)
- Rayzor (Steelheart's companion)
- Stronghold (Steelwill's companion)
- May-Day (Copper Kidd's companion)
- Sly-Bird (Stargazer's companion)
- Gyro (Hotwing's companion)
- Backlash (Flashback's companion)
- Tail-Spin (Moon Stryker's companion)
- Jet Stream (Condor's companion)
- Sky Shadow (Mon*Star's companion) - a bat
- Prowler (Hardware's companion) - a green flying dragon
- Volt-Ure (Mo-Lec-U-Lar's companion)
- Shredator (Buzz-Saw's companion)
- Airshock (Mumbo-Jumbo's companion)
Supporting Characters
- Seymour (voiced by Newman) - A space taxi driver who often says "Y'know what I mean?" He is usually seen with his bird-like alien friend, Zeek the Beak.
- Professor Power - He works at and controls the Artificial Sun, which provides light and heat to parts of the galaxy. He is a friend to the SilverHawks.
- Warden Lockup - He runs Penal Planet 10, where criminals are kept. He looks like a bird.
The Villains: Mon*Star's Mob
- Mon*Star (voiced by Earl Hammond) - The main bad guy. He is a rich alien mob boss who escaped from prison. He can transform into a powerful, armored monster by using the Moonstar of Limbo. In this form, his left eye can shoot a strong beam.
- Yes-Man (voiced by McFadden) - Mon*Star's loyal helper. He has a half-human, half-snake look and always agrees with Mon*Star. He operates the Transformation Chamber.
- Hardware (voiced by McFadden) - The smartest villain and Mon*Star's weapons expert. He is small but strong, with pink hair, and carries a large bag full of his own inventions.
- Melodia (voiced by Wheeler) - The only female member of Mon*Star's mob. She uses a "Sound Smasher" keytar to cause trouble with musical notes. She wears a unique rock-singer outfit.
- Windhammer (voiced by Preis) - He has a large tuning fork that lets him control or create destructive weather like lightning and tornadoes. He has blue skin and long blonde hair.
- Mo-Lec-U-Lar (voiced by Preis) - A shapeshifter who can change his form. He is made of many spheres and can also turn invisible.
- Buzz-Saw - A robot with sharp circular saw blades all over its body that it can throw.
- Poker-Face (voiced by Kenney) - A robot who handles money for the mob. He has slot machines for eyes and owns the Starship Casino.
- Mumbo-Jumbo (voiced by Newman) - A strong, robotic minotaur who is the muscle of the mob. He can "bulk up" to become even bigger and stronger. He is a sworn enemy of Steelheart.
- Timestopper (voiced by Kenney) - A young villain who has a device that can stop time around him for a short period. He is afraid of the dark.
- Bounty Hunter - A very strong monster with a bulldog-like face. He can absorb energy and grow larger and more powerful. He is very dangerous and has defeated the SilverHawks multiple times.
Where the Story Happens
The Galaxy of Limbo
The SilverHawks adventures take place in the Limbo galaxy. Even though it's in space, characters can breathe and fall as if there's gravity. Many planets are shown:
Stars
- Moonstar of Limbo - A solid star that gives Mon*Star his powers to transform.
Planets
- Bedlama - A planet similar to Earth.
- Hawk Haven - This is the SilverHawks' main base. It orbits Bedlama.
- Brimstar - The planet where Mon*Star's mob hangs out. It's hollow inside, with Mon*Star's hideout. The surface is like a giant spaceship junkyard.
- Starship Casino - Poker-Face's planet, where gambling happens. It's outside the SilverHawks' normal area.
- Automata - A half-planet that is like a giant factory. It's controlled by a supercomputer named Monotone.
- Dolar - A hollow planet that looks like a gem and serves as a bank.
- Fence - A small planetoid with a bar, often visited by criminals.
- Hanging Rock - The Bounty Hunter's planet, full of mountains and dangerous electro-rocks.
Other Places
- The Artificial Sun - A device that acts like a sun, providing light and heat. It needs to be refueled often and is a frequent target for Mon*Star's mob.
- Penal Planet 10 - This is the prison planet where most criminals are kept, including Mon*Star and the Bounty Hunter at different times.
Merchandise and Other Media
Action Figures
Kenner made SilverHawks action figures starting in 1987. Each figure came with a companion bird. The figures had special action features, like other popular toys of the time. Some figures and vehicles were planned but never released, like Ultrasonic Quicksilver and the Hawk Haven Fortress. Many villains, like Yes-Man and Melodia, were also never made into figures.
Other Merchandise
In the 1980s, other SilverHawks items were released. These included a board game, puzzles, bed sheets, and pencil pouches. There were even pajamas that had wing flaps under the arms, just like the characters!
Comics
Marvel Comics' Star Comics imprint, which also published ThunderCats comics, released a seven-issue SilverHawks comic series. Steve Perry, who also wrote for the TV show, was one of the writers.
| Issue | Title | Story Summary |
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| 1 | The Origin Story | Mon*Star escapes prison, so Commander Stargazer calls for help. Five volunteers become the SilverHawks and head to the Limbo Galaxy to fight Mon*Star. |
| 2 | Kidnapped | The SilverHawks try to get secrets from the Mob's computers after Tallyhawk overhears a kidnapping plan. |
| 3 | Clementine | Melodia tries to steal gold on the planet Automata, and Bluegrass gets into trouble trying to stop her. |
| 4 | Copper Kidd Beats The Odds | Copper Kidd helps a gambler win back his money from Poker-Face at the Starship Casino, even though it's outside SilverHawks' area. |
| 5 | Fantascreen | Hardware creates a machine that enslaves people by showing their greatest fantasies. Steelwill becomes a slave, and the other SilverHawks must rescue him. |
| 6 | A Few Laughs With The Old Crowd | Stargazer goes back to Earth for upgrades after a mistake. Mon*Star takes over Hawk Haven, and Copper Kidd is the only one left to call for help. |
| 7 | Darkbird | Hardware creates an evil copy of Quicksilver called Darkbird. The SilverHawks must defeat this fake hero. |
Other Appearances: ThunderCats (2011)
Mon*Star made a brief appearance in the 2011 ThunderCats remake. He was seen on a screen in Mumm-Ra's spaceship in the episode "Legacy."
Images for kids
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The official logo for the SilverHawks TV show.
See also
In Spanish: Halcones Galácticos para niños
