DIC previously crafted the groundbreaking science fiction miniseries "Ulysses 31" (a French-Japanese co-production).
For "StarCom," they had nearly impeccable subject matter: a toy-line with fantastic vehicles and weapons, plus myriad characters with detailed biographies.
This was coupled with the presence of such old-school sci-fi novelists as Arthur Byron Cover (he wrote the novelization of 1980's "Flash Gordon") and Steve Perry (not to be confused with Journey's lead singer).
The result should have been a far better TV show.
Tragically, as with "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," the producers spend too much effort watering the material down for kids...and too little effort maintaining the appeal for parents and elder siblings, who grew up with the whole "space opera" genre.
For instance, why does StarCom even need "G.E.N.I.E."--an obvious comedy relief--with Colonels (one more time: that's COLONELS) who act as ridiculous as Crowbar, Dash and Slim? It certainly doesn't help that most of the other characters are such outlandish (no pun intended) stereotypes that they aren't very interesting: the villains are stupid, treacherous bullies; the heroes are lecture-happy wisecrack-artists. In short, the series gives us absolutely no one to root for; did any of our kids notice this, back in the 1980's? Personally, when I first discovered this show, I kept praying for Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (of "Full Metal Jacket" fame) to step in and take charge of StarCom...and show 'em what REAL soldiering is all about.
On the other hand...it WOULD have been nice to see Coleco produce toy-versions of the Ring Station, the ShadowStar and the Shuttle Dock. It also would have been neat to see action figures of Admiral Franklin Brickley, Kelsey Carver, David Hartford, Douglas Kadrey, Jonathan "Flash" Maskowitz, Tim Murphy, Malvanna Wilde, etcetera.
Basically, you gotta be in just the right mood for "StarCom."
For "StarCom," they had nearly impeccable subject matter: a toy-line with fantastic vehicles and weapons, plus myriad characters with detailed biographies.
This was coupled with the presence of such old-school sci-fi novelists as Arthur Byron Cover (he wrote the novelization of 1980's "Flash Gordon") and Steve Perry (not to be confused with Journey's lead singer).
The result should have been a far better TV show.
Tragically, as with "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," the producers spend too much effort watering the material down for kids...and too little effort maintaining the appeal for parents and elder siblings, who grew up with the whole "space opera" genre.
For instance, why does StarCom even need "G.E.N.I.E."--an obvious comedy relief--with Colonels (one more time: that's COLONELS) who act as ridiculous as Crowbar, Dash and Slim? It certainly doesn't help that most of the other characters are such outlandish (no pun intended) stereotypes that they aren't very interesting: the villains are stupid, treacherous bullies; the heroes are lecture-happy wisecrack-artists. In short, the series gives us absolutely no one to root for; did any of our kids notice this, back in the 1980's? Personally, when I first discovered this show, I kept praying for Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (of "Full Metal Jacket" fame) to step in and take charge of StarCom...and show 'em what REAL soldiering is all about.
On the other hand...it WOULD have been nice to see Coleco produce toy-versions of the Ring Station, the ShadowStar and the Shuttle Dock. It also would have been neat to see action figures of Admiral Franklin Brickley, Kelsey Carver, David Hartford, Douglas Kadrey, Jonathan "Flash" Maskowitz, Tim Murphy, Malvanna Wilde, etcetera.
Basically, you gotta be in just the right mood for "StarCom."