Thundarr the Barbarian

I came across this gem the other day in the kids section of an old 'mom and pop' video store. You know, the store that has titles on the shelf that you won't find at Blockbuster. Stuff that hasn't been rented in YEARS. One such tape was Thundarr.

I had heard of this title before, but I don't think I ever watched it. Man, what I was missing!

Thundarr. Look at that name. I like the extra 'r.' It just looks cooler with the extra 'r.' Let's try that with other cartoon icons: Hagarr the Horrible... hmmm. My brain seems to be stuck, the only other cartoon I can think of is Pogo.

So, Thundarr stands alone (or with Hagarr, actually) and that is pretty fitting. He is a truly unique character. It is as if someone ate every fantasy movie, TV show and comic book and then vomited Thundarr!

Based on the title, there is some OBVIOUS Conan the Barbarian similarities, but he also looks a lot like He-Man (whom he predates.)

Like He-Man, Thundarr has a buddy who is a cat. Only, unlike Cringer/Battlecat, Thundarr's sidekick doesn't let him ride him. Or maybe he does and they cut that scene out.

Still, Ookla rides his own horse. Oh yeah, the cat/man's name is Ookla! The cast list is starting to look like a useless hand in Scrabble!

Thundarr also has a female sidekick (Ariel) who seems a little like Teela. She too wears a once piece swimsuit all the time. EVEN WHEN SHE RIDES HER HORSE! The girl must sleep in a pool of aloe.

Thundarr also has a lightsaber, only he doesn't call it a lightsaber and he wears it on his wrist.

The show takes place 2000 years after mankind is wiped out. Yup, we are all dead. We died in 1994. I can only hope that was AFTER we all got a chance to see the live action Flintstones movie.

I saw the episode entitled 'Secret of the Black Pearl', not to be confused with Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl or even that black lady named Pearl that lives on Secret Lane.

In the episode Thundarr and company travel to Manhat. Manhat is the ruins of Manhattan. I wish they had gone to Hollywo, Memphi, Detro, Miam, Bosto and Chica as well, but one ruined city was enough. On one of the walls a torn poster for a Jaws sequel (I think it was Jaws 9.) Oddly enough, buildings around it have crumbled but the poster survived. If only we had made the buildings out of semi glossy paper, this whole 1994 thing could have been averted!

Thundarr meets some rat people who are terrorizing some old guy. Then Thundarr fights dozens of rat people including a few who have motorcycles.

After that a boss villain named Gemini arrives in Manhat.

Using magic, Gemini makes the Statue of Liberty rise up and fight Thundarr!

Thundarr defeats the Statue of Liberty, Ookla flies a helicopter and justice is served to the rat people.

I LOVED THIS TAPE!

Now, I just have to wait for the live action Thundarr.