Rankin/Bass followed up their successful ThunderCatsseries with this animated series about a team of heroes in the 29th century, with the animation provided by Japanese studio Pacific Animation Corporation.
In the year 2839, Mon*star (voiced by Earl Hammond), the evilest of beings, escapes from a prison in the distant galaxy of Limbo, hell-bent on destroying the universe.
Grizzled old space enforcer Commander Stargazer (Bob McFadden) recruits five people to assist: Captain Jonathan Quick (Peter Newman), who was codenamed “Quicksilver”; twins Emily and Will Hart – codenamed Steelheart (Maggie Wheeler) and Steelwill (Bob McFadden); Bluegrass (Larry Kenney), a country-singing cowboy who pilots their ship, the Mirage; and the Copper Kidd (Pete Cannarozzi), a being from the Planet of the Mimes.
To withstand the enormous pressures of space, the team is transformed into the SilverHawks – a part metal and part human galactic crime-fighting force with hawks’ wings.
Stories related the efforts of the SilverHawks – led by Stargazer, who commanded from his orbiting base, Hawk Haven – to stop Mon*star and his evil army – Melodia (Maggie Wheeler), Mo-Lec-U-lar (Doug Preis), Mumbo Jumbo (Peter Newman), Hardware (Bob McFadden), Windhamer (Doug Preis) and Buzzsaw (Bob McFadden again) – from destroying the universe
Each episode comprised riotous action, high-tech shootouts, explosions, creatures and spaceships chasing each other across space, and violent destruction of all kinds. The good guys always won, of course, but until the young viewers had seen scary creatures doing menacing things that threatened innocent people.
The final moments of each episode were taken up by a quick little science lesson, usually with an outer space theme.
Comic relief was provided by a native New Yorker space cabbie named Seymour (voiced by Peter Newman).
Commander Stargazer
Bob McFadden Mon*star
Earl Hammond Quicksilver (Captain Jonathan Quick)
Peter Newman Bluegrass
Larry Kenney Steelheart (Emily Hart)
Maggie Wheeler Steelwill (Will Hart)
Bob McFadden Copper Kidd
Pete Cannarozzi Mumbo Jumbo
Peter Newman Melodia
Maggie Wheeler Hardware
Bob McFadden Windhammer
Doug Preis Mo-Lec-U-lar
Doug Preis Buzzsaw
Bob McFadden Seymour
Peter Newman
