The Forgotten Heroes of Saturday Morning

Did you know that from the late 70’s to the early 80’s there have been several prominent African American super-powered cartoon characters? 

No?

Well, read on, future cartoon connoisseur, and learn about those that came before Static Shock and Cyborg. Let’s start with the ladies. Astrea from Space Sentinels- Shapeshifter, flier, and arguably the brains of the team, Astrea was a unique voice in the cookie-cutter chorus of Saturday morning cartoons. Although this Filmation series aired on NBC for only one season, the fact that an African American woman was part of a trio of superheroes is embedded in pop, geek, and nerd culture. 

Besides her shapeshifting ability, it is seen a few times in the series that Astrea is the thinker of the group, and helps her team get out of a few jams. Although not a part of every episode, we still get to see just what this lady can do.

Diana from Dungeons and Dragons- Although the foreign animators got it a little wrong, Diana, the acrobat, from the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon was always intended to be a young African American girl. Seen as co-leader to Hank, The Ranger, Diana was the voice of reason and at times the secret weapon for the team.

The influence of such a strong, powerful figure in an 80’s fantasy cartoon is still being felt as even current day cosplayers are inspired to take up Diana’s tiara and staff such as cosplayer, Norica, demonstrates in this video during one of her photoshoots.

Next, we have Super Stretch and Micro Woman. A married husband and wife crime-fighting duo, this couple quite often wound up in the middle of slightly comedic situations alongside their dog/sidekick, Trouble.

Loosely based on the Thin Man movie series, this cartoon was the first ever to feature an African-American superhero duo, let alone, a married couple on Saturday morning. Leaving a lot of ‘jive’ talk, and other stereotypical elements out of the series dialogue and behavior of our heroes, and let them speak like the intelligent married couple they were.

https://youtu.be/wHFu3ZyF09g

Last but not least, in our look at the forgotten super-stars of Saturday morning, we must now take a look at a weird, little, one-season offering, The Super Globetrotters.

Although considered troublesome by some cartoon historians, and groundbreaking by others, this show was helped developed by the then roster of the Harlem Globetrotters from 1979. The first major Hanna Barbera cartoon with an all Africa-American lead voice cast, this was also the first known cartoon series where two of the team members, Fluid Man and MultiMan, were updated versions of Caucasian characters of the same name.

https://youtu.be/Nw9Sm4Rk4rw

This series despite some of its negative attributes was in fact on of the first-ever major animation studios attempts to create a heroic super series with a team of all black superheroes.

Although we take for granted the commonplace leads in both animated and live-action series of the idea of a leading African-American superhero, remember those that led the way.

CHECK OUT: 10 Actors Who Could Star as Aiden Pearce in a Watchdogs Movie

William Robinson
William Robinson
William Robinson Experienced interviewer, researcher, and original content creator. Graduated from MTI Houston TX. Was a solid contributor with Moviepilot.com, currently an Associate Editor for ViralHare.com. I have worked as an interviewer/article writer on the convention scene for over twelve years and covered Wizard World Austin and New Orleans, Comicpalooza, Space City Con, Traders Village Con, Free Comic Book Day, Comic Book Literacy, small press artists and studios, as well as reviews on TV, movies, and other media.

Related articles

The Mysterious Oarfish: A Harbinger of Doom?

The oarfish, a long and enigmatic creature of the deep sea, has captured the imaginations of sailors, fishermen, and storytellers for centuries. Known scientifically as Regalecus glesne, the oarfish is the longest bony fish...

Rey Skywalker’s Crucial Role in the Future of Star Wars

In the ever-expanding Star Wars universe, few characters have generated as much attention and intrigue as Rey, the heroine at the center of the sequel trilogy. Played by Daisy Ridley, Rey Skywalker’s journey from...

Pee V Pee: Dwayne Johnson, Jennifer Lawrence and Media Double Standards

In the world of celebrity news, it’s no secret that certain stories catch fire based on how they align with – or challenge – public expectations. Sometimes, these narratives reveal deeper cultural biases, particularly...

10 Actors Who Could Play Agent Venom in an Upcoming Movie

With the success of Venom and its sequel, fans are eagerly speculating about what’s next for the symbiote in the Spider-Man universe. One of the most intriguing directions a future Venom movie could take...

5 Comic Stories An Agent Venom Movie Could Adapt

With Venom continuing to dominate the big screen, there’s a growing interest in expanding the character’s cinematic universe. One potential direction for a future Venom film could involve the transformation of Eddie Brock into...
spot_img

Latest articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.