Blackstar: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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''"I am John Blackstar."''|[[Opening Narration]]}}
''"I am John Blackstar."''|[[Opening Narration]]}}


'''''Blackstar''''' is a 1981 fantasy-adventure cartoon from [[Filmation]]. A precursor to the far more successful ''[[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe|He-Man]] ''(only 12 episodes were produced), ''Blackstar'' followed the adventures of an [[Fish Out of Water|Earthly astronaut]], the eponymous John Blackstar, and his "allies": Klone, the [[Our Elves Are Different|elf-like]] [[Voluntary Shapeshifting|ShapeShifter]]; Mara, the [[Green-Skinned Space Babe|lavender-skinned]] [[Magical Girl]]; Warlock, his [[Our Dragons Are Different|dragon-like]] [[Cool Horse|Cool Steed]]; and the [[Captain Ersatz|Trobbits]], seven magenta-skinned little men who tended the Sagar tree on which the planet's environment depended -- Balkar, their magical leader; the [[The Voiceless|speechless]] Poulo; Carpo; Gossamer, [[Ear Wings|who flew by means of his huge ears]]; Burbil; Rif, who talked like Walter Brennan and whose hat was permanently afire; and Terra. All these were in rebellion against the [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Overlord]] and his allies, such as the sorcerous [[Evil Chancellor|Vizier]], a horde of dinosaur-shaped stone robots, the [[Mecha-Mooks|Lavaloks]], and a series of one-shot villains such as Kadray, the "Time-Lord" (no, not [[Doctor Who|that one]]).
'''''Blackstar''''' is a 1981 fantasy-adventure cartoon from [[Filmation]]. A precursor to the far more successful ''[[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe|He-Man]] ''(only 12 episodes were produced), ''Blackstar'' followed the adventures of an [[Fish Out of Water|Earthly astronaut]], the eponymous John Blackstar, and his "allies": Klone, the [[Our Elves Are Different|elf-like]] [[Voluntary Shapeshifting|ShapeShifter]]; Mara, the [[Green-Skinned Space Babe|lavender-skinned]] [[Magical Girl]]; Warlock, his [[Our Dragons Are Different|dragon-like]] [[Cool Horse|Cool Steed]]; and the [[Captain Ersatz|Trobbits]], seven magenta-skinned little men who tended the Sagar tree on which the planet's environment depended—Balkar, their magical leader; the [[The Voiceless|speechless]] Poulo; Carpo; Gossamer, [[Ear Wings|who flew by means of his huge ears]]; Burbil; Rif, who talked like Walter Brennan and whose hat was permanently afire; and Terra. All these were in rebellion against the [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Overlord]] and his allies, such as the sorcerous [[Evil Chancellor|Vizier]], a horde of dinosaur-shaped stone robots, the [[Mecha-Mooks|Lavaloks]], and a series of one-shot villains such as Kadray, the "Time-Lord" (no, not [[Doctor Who|that one]]).


Interestingly, the eponymous hero was designed as an African-American (this was in keeping with Filmation's predilection for [[And Knowing Is Half the Battle|socially positive messages]] in its shows), but was subsequently changed to a deeply tanned Caucasian. It has been asserted that this was done [[Executive Meddling|at the behest of the network]], but Filmation producer Lou Scheimer has disclaimed all memory of any such directive. Many fans assume that Blackstar is a Native American, but there is no mention of this in the original series, and he differs somewhat in appearance from Filmation's later Native American hero, [[Bravestarr]].
Interestingly, the eponymous hero was designed as an African-American (this was in keeping with Filmation's predilection for [[And Knowing Is Half the Battle|socially positive messages]] in its shows), but was subsequently changed to a deeply tanned Caucasian. It has been asserted that this was done [[Executive Meddling|at the behest of the network]], but Filmation producer Lou Scheimer has disclaimed all memory of any such directive. Many fans assume that Blackstar is a Native American, but there is no mention of this in the original series, and he differs somewhat in appearance from Filmation's later Native American hero, [[Bravestarr]].
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* [[Our Indians Are Different]]: Though it is nowhere stated in the original series, many fans consider Blackstar a Native American.
* [[Our Indians Are Different]]: Though it is nowhere stated in the original series, many fans consider Blackstar a Native American.
* [[Our Vampires Are Different]]: The Vampire-Men in "The Air Whales of Anchar".
* [[Our Vampires Are Different]]: The Vampire-Men in "The Air Whales of Anchar".
* [[Pure Magic Being]]: Mara -- when the Overlord uses a spell to leach all the magic out of Sagar, Mara's life-force grows weaker and weaker as it is drained away.
* [[Pure Magic Being]]: Mara—when the Overlord uses a spell to leach all the magic out of Sagar, Mara's life-force grows weaker and weaker as it is drained away.
* [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old]]: The Emerald Knight in "The Quest".
* [[Really Seven Hundred Years Old]]: The Emerald Knight in "The Quest".
* [[Rotoscoping]]
* [[Rotoscoping]]
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* [[Soul Power]]: In "The Zombie Masters", Shaldemar uses this in conjunction with a [[Soul Jar]] to turn people into zombies.
* [[Soul Power]]: In "The Zombie Masters", Shaldemar uses this in conjunction with a [[Soul Jar]] to turn people into zombies.
* [[Stock Footage]]
* [[Stock Footage]]
* [[Stripperific]]: Most of the women's outfits -- Mara's is typical.
* [[Stripperific]]: Most of the women's outfits—Mara's is typical.
* [[Super Strength]]: Blackstar is stated to possess this, though the show offers rather slim evidence of it.
* [[Super Strength]]: Blackstar is stated to possess this, though the show offers rather slim evidence of it.
* [[The Voiceless]]: Poulo
* [[The Voiceless]]: Poulo

Revision as of 08:16, 13 July 2021

"John Blackstar, astronaut -- is swept through a black hole -- into an ancient alien universe. Trapped on the planet Sagar, Blackstar is rescued by the tiny Trobbit people. In turn he joins their fight for freedom against the cruel Overlord -- who rules by the might of the PowerStar. The PowerStar is split into the PowerSword -- and the StarSword. And so, with StarSword in hand, Blackstar, together with his allies, sets out to save the planet Sagar. This is his destiny."

"I am John Blackstar."
—Opening Narration

Blackstar is a 1981 fantasy-adventure cartoon from Filmation. A precursor to the far more successful He-Man (only 12 episodes were produced), Blackstar followed the adventures of an Earthly astronaut, the eponymous John Blackstar, and his "allies": Klone, the elf-like ShapeShifter; Mara, the lavender-skinned Magical Girl; Warlock, his dragon-like Cool Steed; and the Trobbits, seven magenta-skinned little men who tended the Sagar tree on which the planet's environment depended—Balkar, their magical leader; the speechless Poulo; Carpo; Gossamer, who flew by means of his huge ears; Burbil; Rif, who talked like Walter Brennan and whose hat was permanently afire; and Terra. All these were in rebellion against the Overlord and his allies, such as the sorcerous Vizier, a horde of dinosaur-shaped stone robots, the Lavaloks, and a series of one-shot villains such as Kadray, the "Time-Lord" (no, not that one).

Interestingly, the eponymous hero was designed as an African-American (this was in keeping with Filmation's predilection for socially positive messages in its shows), but was subsequently changed to a deeply tanned Caucasian. It has been asserted that this was done at the behest of the network, but Filmation producer Lou Scheimer has disclaimed all memory of any such directive. Many fans assume that Blackstar is a Native American, but there is no mention of this in the original series, and he differs somewhat in appearance from Filmation's later Native American hero, Bravestarr.

Should not be confused AT ALL with the Soul Eater character. Nor should he be confused with BlackStar, the hip-hop group consisting of Talib Kwali and Yasiin Bey. Or David Bowie's final album.

Tropes used in Blackstar include:


  1. ↑ the first of several
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