Succubus

source: _Toon_ Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 5, Fall 1994 Hanna-Barbera's SWAT Kats: The Best New Action-Adventure Series To Come From Hanna-Barbera In Years! by Michael Swanigan Hanna-Barbera's _SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron_ already has proven to be a bonafide hit. Arriving nationally in syndication and on TBS Superstation in September of '93, the thrills and tactics have put Hanna-Barbera squarely back at the forefront of action-adventure genre they pioneered in the 1960's with _Jonny Quest_. The crew at Hanna-Barbera wanted to create a cartoon pulsing with sensory overload. SWAT Kats takes passengers into the thingypit with two feline daredevils and their jet as they rip through skyscraper canyons and dash across the skies of Megakat City in pursuit of the world's baddest kats. Replete with nonstop video-game action, high-tech laser gadgetry, heart-stopping danger, daring rescues and a driving soundtrack, the all-kat world of SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron arrived on television. Two ex-pilots have assumed secret identities and taken to the skies in their incredible Turbokat jet. Creators and executive producers, Yvon and Christian Tremblay, wanted a world infused with vibrant colors and roaring action. "SWAT Kats leap to life in comic book style taking viewers along for the ride, solving crime like no other superheroes ever have," said Christian Tremblay. Each episode finds the heroes, Jake and Chance, challenged by one of the myriad of unique villains who inhabit the huge city populated only by cats. Jake and Chance transform themselves into the SWAT Kats, Razor and T-Bone, who battle Dark Kat, overlord of crime; the Pastmaster, a time-traveling evil creature; the Metallikats, a bionic clawing couple, and other larger-than-life foes. This super-team distinguish themselves from other heroes with two qualities: inventiveness and speed. Instead of weapons, the SWAT Kats have developed a stock of devices that assist them in capturing criminals. New gadgets play a major role in the action and include the crook-catching Octopus Missile, Glovatrix and Cyclotron, among others. "Our Kats use their wits and ingenuity in settling the score. They use gadgets that stop villains rather than go after crime with brawn and armor," says Christian Tremblay. "Ultimately their schemes and devices find more excitement and adventure than mere fighting would." As the world's foremost expert fighter pilots, Jake and Chance bring determination, flair and skills to the skies. They met during Enforcer training and flew many combat missions together. An unlikely looking pair, they established a friendship in the thingypit, where it was camaraderie at first flight. Together, they were their own "Radical Squadron." But they disdained all the rules and regulations that Commander Feral and the Megakat Force laid on them. Feral, in turn, hated them for their independence, stubbornness and superior skills. On one fateful day, Commander Feral cut them off when they were in pursuit of Dark Kat. Feral's reckless move clipped the tail of Chance and Jake's jet which crashed into Enforcer Headquarters, almost destroying it. Afterwards Feral destroyed their careers, drumming them out of the service and relegated them to pay off their societal debt by running the Megakat City Salvage Yard. The two mechanics eventually invented crime-fighting mechanisms from the junk surrounding them, and built their own one-of-a-kind Turbokat jet. Now they combat villains on their own terms. Music helps set the tone for the SWAT Kats' mighty feats. According to Christian Tremblay, "How better to rev up the adrenaline than with a score that captivates the mood and accentuates the action." The music selection relies on Queen (the rock band) influences and adds effects that may be heard emanating from a neighborhood arcade. Since the SWAT Kats' escapades speed along at video-game pace, the sound effects of the Kats' missions could be mistaken as edits from the latest Nintendo craze. Long regarded as the expert in animation sound effects (from the scrambling of Fred Flintstone's feet to Jerry's pulling of Tom's whiskers), Hanna-Barbera continues its tradition with the soaring, roaring, dashing, crashing audio antics for the SWAT Kats' series. CHANCE/T-BONE Big-framed, burly Chance springs into action as a leap-before-you-look daredevil who loves danger and daring-do. The riskier the enterprise, the happier he is. As pilot of the Turbokat, he jettisons the plane to heights never before imagined. His hard-core ways contrast his partner Jake's naturally cautious bent. Secure and thingyy, Chance likes to ignore Jake's warnings. He fancies himself a ladies man, but generally has more success in a maniac in the [skies]. JAKE/RAZOR As co-pilot, navigator, gadgets expert and idea kat, Jake has designed most of the special unique firepower the Turbokat carries. More comfortable around technical wizardry, Jake gets nervous around a pretty girl. Further clashing with Chance's style, the smaller Jake conducts business in more laconic manner. But when confronted with danger and villains, Jake bursts into the situation, as agile as his partner. COMMANDER FERAL A lean, tough, by-the-book police veteran, Commander Feral displays his militant, power-hungry way to prevent anyone from going around him. However, the SWAT Kats go around, up and over him. Furious that the SWAT Kats always end up doing his job, Feral boils over seeing his Enforcers look bad against Megakat City's villains. MAYOR MANX Always ready to come up with an excuse for getting out of a prickly situation, Mayor Manx happily leaves all the dirty chores to Callie Briggs. Despite his coward, he remains in office largely because the SWAT Kats always manage to bring Megakat City back from total catastrophe and destruction. CALLIE BRIGGS The fearless, strong-willed right-hand woman to do-nothing Mayor Manx, Callico (Callie) Briggs pounces on any situation that may put her beloved Megakat City in danger. Callie often becomes the trouble shooter who gets sent into dangerous situations so the Mayor can get information without endangering his life. Though she does not know the true identity of the SWAT Kats, Callie has a 'hot line' that can summon them when trouble arises. SWAT KATS: THE RADICAL SQUADRON EPISODE LIST AND CREDITS Executive Producer ..................................... Buzz Potamkin Producer ................................................... Davis Doi Story Editor ........................................... Glenn Leopold Director .............................................. Robert Alvarez Creators/Production Designers ...... Christian Tremblay, Yvon Tremblay Storyboard Supervisors ................ Barrington Bruce, Vic DelChele T-BONE/CHANCE/MURRAY ................................... Charlie Adler RAZOR/JAKE .............................................. Barry Gordon COMMANDER FERAL ........................................... Gary Owens CALLIE BRIGGS ........................................ Tress MacNeille MAYOR MANX .............................................. Jim Cummings BURKE .................................................... Mark Hamill ----- SEASON #1 (1993) ----- THE GIANT BACTERIA When Dr. Viper creates a giant bacteria to help him break into Megakat Biochemical Labs, it is up to the SWAT Kats to stop him... before Megakat City is destroyed! THE METALLIKATS Two mobsters, Mac and Molly, return from the grave as deadly robots. As the "Metallikats", these metal fiends terrorize city hall with an arsenal of amazing gadgets even the SWAT Kats find tough to beat. THE PASTMASTER ALWAYS RINGS TWICE The SWAT Kats race against time to stop an "undead" evil sorcerer named the Pastmaster, who intends to send Megakat City back into the Dark Ages. But first our heroes must battle their way back from the prehistoric past. DESTRUCTIVE NATURE Doctor Viper is back with a hideous army of plant monsters. Only the SWAT Kats can stop him from turning Megakat City in Mega-Swamp [City]. THE WRATH OF DARK KAT In their most desperate mission ever, the SWAT Kats battle Dark Kat, who has created a Doomsday Device to destroy Megakat City. It is not their first encounter with the villain -- because of him they were booted out of the Enforcers. BRIDE OF THE PASTMASTER When the SWAT Kats are accidentally brought back into the Dark Ages, they save the Queen of ancient Megalith City from the Pastmaster's mythical monsters... and his wedding proposals. NIGHT OF THE DARK KAT Dark Kat uses a techno-villain named Hard Drive to lure the SWAT Kats into a deadly trap, then steals the Turbokat and wreaks havoc on Megakat City. THE GHOST PILOT When a ghostly Megawar II pilot returns from a watery grave and targets Mayor Manx, the SWAT Kats must do battle with this ancient air ace... who is almost impossible to destroy. CHAOS IN CRYSTAL When a freak accident turns a hardened criminal into a giant crystal colossus with a mineral "Midas Touch", it is up to the SWAT Kats to stop him before Megakat City is destroyed. THE CI-KAT-A A space probe returns to Megakat City carrying a deadly cargo -- an alien insect determined to take over the world. The SWAT Kats must stop the Ci-Kat-A before he turns every citizen into bug-eyed slaves. ENTER THE MADKAT Madkat is a supernatural jester, who pops out of an ancient Jack-in-the- Box to start wreaking havoc on Megakat City. Armed with giant razor sharp playing cards, spiked dice, and the ability to appear and disappear anywhere (including the Turbokat thingypit), Madkat seems unstoppable. Somehow the SWAT Kats must find a way to destroy him before they disappear into his giant Jack-in-the-Box. METAL URGENCY The Metallikats are back, and this time they are in the drivers seat of two giant attack robots. Even the Turbokat seems helpless against these armored leviathans -- who can only be destroyed by each other. The SWAT Kats use a desperate scheme to gain control of one of the robots to defeat the Metallikats. KATASTROPHE The SWAT Kats face their toughest challenge when Dark Kat forms an evil alliance with Dr. Viper and the Metallikats. The fate of Megakat City hangs in the balance. ----- SEASON #2 EPISODES (1994) ----- MUTATION CITY When Dr. Viper submerges half of Megakat City in a mutation filled swamp, the SWAT Kats must venture through "Mutation City" to get the anti- mutagens to stop him. One problem: T-Bone can't swim. A BRIGHT AND SHINY FUTURE The Pastmaster propels the SWAT Kats into a sinister future world he has prepared for them: a world where the evil Metallikats and their giant robot Enforcers rule. WHEN STRIKES MUTILOR It's a deadly "close encounter" when Razor and T-Bone defend Megakat City from the awesome threat of Mutilor, the interstellar water pirate, as he tries to steal the oceans from the planet. RAZOR'S EDGE When innocent Kat civilians are apparently injured during a SWAT Kats pursuit, Razor loses his nerve. CRY TURMOIL The SWAT Kats tangle with the elite fighter squadron of Turmoil, evil Empress of the Air, who falls for T-Bone. SWAT KATS UNPLUGGED When electro-villain Hard Drive renders the Turbokat's high-tech gadgets useless, the SWAT Kats must rely solely on their skill and smarts to defeat him. THE DEADLY PYRAMID The Pastmaster returns, raising an ancient pyramid full of giant warrior mummies, who are going to help him conquer Megakat City. But the SWAT Kats have other ideas. CAVERNS OF HORROR The SWAT Kats are the only ones who can rescue newscaster Ann Gora from a mine cave-in, but when they go underground, they find more than they bargained for: a cavern of giant mutated rock scorpions with an unhealthy taste for kats. VOLCANUS ERUPTS! When the evil fire demon Volcanus is accidentally released from his island prison, it's up to the SWAT Kats to put out the fire. THE ORIGIN OF DR. VIPER When Dr. Elrod Purvis tries to steal a regenerative growth formula, it spills on him and transforms him into the insidious Dr. Viper. Only the SWAT Kats can stop him from turning Callie and Mayor Manx into mutations, too! THE DARK SIDE OF THE SWAT KATS The SWAT Kats find themselves in an alternate universe, where evil SWAT Kats are in league with Dark Kat, in a plan to destroy the Enforcers. UNLIKELY ALLOYS The SWAT Kats battle a giant intelligent machine that consumes other machines. And this time, they have an unlikely ally... one of the Metallikats.