25 IMAGES THAT WILL SLAP YOU IN THE FACE WITH NOSATLGIA
25 IMAGES THAT WILL SLAP YOU IN THE FACE WITH NOSATLGIA -
17 Toys from the 90s that are worth a fortune today
17 Toys from the 90s that are worth a fortune today -
Did you sell all your toys at a garage sale for a couple quarters back in the day? Wanna know how much they might be worth today? I found a list of 90s toys and what they have either been sold for recently, or would be appraised for because (like some Harry Potter books) they’re ultra-rare.1993 Titanus Carrier Zord – $300
Power Ranger Action Figures – >$200
2
Sealed copy of Pokemon Red Version – $405
Sealed copy of Pokemon Crystal Version – $800
3
1995 Megatron – $750
Optimus Prime and Megatron Pack – >$1,000
Abominus Combiner Set – $480
4
Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) – $960
5
1967 Camaro Hot Wheels – $509
Set of 12 Unopened Cars – $1,000-1,550
6
Original 1998 Furby – $700
Kid Cuisine Furby – $130
Set of 12 used Furbys – $500
7
1998 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (by Joanne Rowling) – $56,000
Early Signed Harry Potter Novels – $4,000
8
An Error-Filled Peace Bear Beanie Baby – $4,000
Britannia Bear Beanie Baby – $2,000
Wingless Quacker Beanie Baby – $1,800
9
Super Soaker Monster XL – $500
Super Soaker CPS – $300
1996 CPS Super Soaker – $266
10
Beauty and the Beast, Black Diamond VHS – $10,000
11
Polly Pocket Jewel Case – $600
Polly Pocket Carry ‘N Play Dream Home – $550
eBay lot featuring 169 different Polly Pocket toys – $900
Polly’s Crystal Ball – $600
12
Castlevania: Bloodlines (Sega Genesis) – $750
Castlevania: Darcula X (SNES) – >$1,000
Castlevania (PC) – $585
13
First-Edition Legend of Blue Eyes White Dragon Booster Pack – $1,450
Some cards from the above set can be sold for roughly $550.
14
Unopened Kyosho 4Runner – $700
Used Tamiya RC Ferrari – $140
Nitro RC Car – $2,000
15
Mint-Condition Holographic Charizard Card – >$5,000
Complete First Edition Card Set – $4,600-8,700
16
G.I. Joe Mobile Command Center – $3,000
Starduster Action Figure – $300
Space Shuttle Complex – $600
U.S.S Flagg Aircraft Carrier – >$1,100
17
LEGO King’s Mountain Fortress Set – $500
2007 Star Wars Millenium Falcon LEGO Set – $1,800
15 ICONIC SNACKS WILL MAKE YOU WISH YOU WERE STILL IN THE PAST
15 ICONIC SNACKS WILL MAKE YOU WISH YOU WERE STILL IN THE PAST -
The food industry has undergone numerous changes over the years with many popular snacks being introduced. Many of these popular snacks became an overnight sensation, a rage among the kids and teens in the 1990s. Despite their popularity and huge customer base, many of these iconic snacks were discontinued due to decline in sales and dwindling revenue. Here is a list of the 15 most iconic snacks that were discontinued but many still wish they were currently available. Read on to experience a sense of nostalgia and relive your childhood memories.
1. Altoids Sours: These famous sour, crystalline candies were a major hit in 2004 and came in numerous varieties. However, they were sadly discontinued in 2010 due to low demand.
This crystalline candy with an incredibly sour taste was a hit in the early-2000s. Altoid mints were initially marketed to relieve stomach discomfort, but its unique taste made them a top-selling mint brand in the United States. The breath mints came in small, reusable, aluminum tins. The Altoid Sours were introduced in 2004 in a variety of flavors – raspberry, citrus, tangerine, apple, mango, and sorbitol. In addition to these flavors, the company released a limited edition passion fruit sours in 2005 just before Valentine’s Day.
The mention of the name evokes a sense of nostalgia since it is impossible to taste them. The Altoid Sours range was discontinued in 2010 due to low demand in the market. Though the candy was discontinued, they could be purchased from expensive eBay sellers or from specialty candy stores until 2015. Disheartened fans who wanted the Sours back were advised to contact the company’s helpline. There was also an online petition to bring them back but sadly they never saw the light of the day. (1, 2)
2. 3D Doritos: The 3D puff pockets launched in the 1990s were sadly discontinued in 2000. The company released a revamped version which failed to leave a mark.
3D Doritos were released in the 1990s and described as “Doritos-meets-Bugles.” When compared to the traditional Doritos that were triangular and flat, the 3D Doritos were bite-sized, triangular, puff pockets filled with air. They were released in a range of flavors such as Jalapeño Cheddar, Nacho Cheese, and Zesty Ranch. The 3D Doritos were discontinued in the early 2000s.
In 2015, the company released a revamped version of the discontinued line as “Doritos Jacked 3D,” but they never lived up to their ancestors’ pride. However, some fanatic fans discovered that Doritos 3Ds were being sold in Mexico with many eBay sellers selling them at exorbitant rates. (1, 2)
3. Planters PB Crisps: The peanut-shaped snacks with a crunchy exterior and a soft, creamy, peanut butter filling was discontinued in 1995.
In 1992, Planters launched a line of iconic, peanut-shaped snacks known as “P.B.Crisps.” They were peanut-flavored crisps comprised of a corn-based shell on the outside with a soft creamy peanut butter filling. They were launched in three amazing flavors – PB Crisps, Chocolate Crisps, and PB&J Crisps. The gods must be against us since these tasty treats were discounted without a reason. Though it was discontinued in 1995, a rumor has it that a customer reported purchasing it in 1998.
A campaign has been launched online to bring back those delicious treats by PB Crisps, an online portal. However, the fans can call the company’s helpline or register their wish in social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. In 2011, a couple of lucky guys discovered old packets of the iconic snacks and made everyone go green with envy. (1, 2)
4. Butterfinger BB’s: Bite-sized wonders, this rage among the kids were discontinued without an apparent reason. In 2009, the company released a revamped version, but fans were not impressed with the taste.
Every kid in the 1990s can remember keeping track of the amazing treats which were famously advertised by The Simpsons. The Butterfinger BB’s were candy bars crafted by Nestlé and launched in 1992. The candy bars were marble-sized with an orange-colored wafer and a peanut butter filling. They were discontinued unceremoniously in 2006, and the company received a severe backlash.
In 2009, after facing the customers’ wrath, the company re-released the range of Butterfinger Bites in a revamped version called “Mini Bites.” However, the fans were not impressed with the taste of the revamped BBs. Disheartened fans launched an online campaign, but the company has failed to respond. (1, 2)
5. Dunk-a-Roos: There cookies dunked in icing launched by Betty Crocker were a rage among kids in the 1990s. Sadly, they were discontinued in the U.S but are still available in Canada and Australia.
How can anyone forget the icing-cream-laced cookies that were considered a famous lunch accompaniment for kids? Launched by Betty Crocker in 1990, Dunk-a-Roos was a snack that was comprised of cookies and icing. The cookies had to be dunked in the icing cream before being devoured. The cookies came in various shapes and flavors making them a hit among all.
These amazing snacks were discontinued in the United States as General Mills stopped its production in 2012. However, the snacks are still available in Canada and Australia. They can also be purchased from online sites such as Amazon and eBay. The popularity of the snacks was such that the company, General Mills, launched a campaign called “Smugglaroos” encouraging Canadians and Australians to smuggle the snacks into America. (1, 2, 3)
6. Jell-O Pudding Pops: These chocolate and vanilla ice pops were a hit in the 1980s and were completely pulled off the shelves in 2011. The pudding-pop kits can be still purchased online.
Jell-O Pudding Pops were a famous treat in the United States in the 1980s. These tasty and frosty ice pops were famously marketed as “Jell-O” and launched by Bill Cosby. These tasty treats were launched in 1970 and came in chocolate, vanilla, and chocolate-vanilla swirl varieties. During their peak, the company recorded a whopping sales of $300,000,000 each year. The pudding pops were discontinued in the 1990s due to decreased demand and less profit.
The company re-launched them in under the name of “Popsicles” and were stocked at the grocery stores. However, the newly launched version differed in taste and texture which resulted in them being pulled off the shelves completely in 2011. Fans of the product need not worry as the product is still available as “Jell-O Pudding Pop Kit” and can be purchased from Amazon. (source)
7. Hershey’s Swoops: These chocolate crisps resembling Pringles were launched in 2003. They were discontinued in 2006 owing to poor publicity.
The innovative Swoops were launched by Hershey’s in 2003. Swoops were curved-shaped chocolate slices resembling Pringles and came in classic milk chocolate, white chocolate, almond, toffee, and peppermint flavors.
However, the product was discontinued in August 2006 due to poor publicity. It was reported that customers thought they were chocolate-dipped chips, and many were turned off by this fact. According to a market research study, it was discovered that only 14% of the customers knew about these sweet treats. (source)
8. Pepsi Blue: This famous blue cola was a result of a taste test comprised of 100 flavors and was launched in 2002. Though discontinued in the US, it is still available in the Philippines.
Can anyone forget this tinted beverage that resembled a bottle of glass cleaner and heavily promoted by Britney Spears? This blue cola was launched by PepsiCo before the launch of a vanilla-flavored soft drink by its rival Coke. Pepsi Blue was a blue-colored, berry-flavored cola that was launched in 2002. It was the result of a taste-tasting experiment that was held over a period of nine months and chosen from among the hundred flavors.
The launch of the cola timed with 2002 New York Mets games to support the ball club and 2003 Cricket World Cup making it famous among youngsters. It was discontinued in the United States in 2004 after it was declared as a “commercial flop.” However, it is still available in Manila, the Philippines as “Pepsi Pinas” and is a hit among the natives. (1, 2)
9. Keebler Magic Middles: These fudgy, chocolate-filled cookies launched in the 1980s were discontinued due to the launch of another product line.
These awesome and magical shortbread cookies filled with fudgy chocolate and peanut butter was the perfect accompaniment for a warm glass of milk. These amazing treats were launched in the 1980s and were a rage among kids in the 1990s. However, the sales of the shortbread cookies declined gradually and met a quiet end since the equipment that manufactured them was required for making another product.
Ardent fans of the cookies created a dedicated Facebook page for their beloved snacks and managed to garner support from 2,500 users. A few lucky ones were able to buy the cookies from Walmart, but the retail giant has discontinued the product from its site. (1, 2)
10. Squeeze-It: These iconic, juice-filled squeeze bottles were a favorite among kids in 1985 but discontinued in 2001. They are still available in U.K and can be purchased online.
These plastic bottles filled with fruit-flavored juices were a rage among kids in the 1990s. General Mills launched these squeeze, themed bottles in 1985 in four amazing flavors – red punch, orange, cherry, and grape. From 1992 onwards, they were launched featuring the faces of whacky characters representing various flavors.
The company also launched a limited edition “mystery” flavor marketed inside black bottles and one had to guess the flavor. Sadly, these drink bottles were discontinued in 2001 owing to a decline in sales. But there is good news for fans. They are still available in the United Kingdom known as “Twist N Squeeze” and marketed under the name “Squeeze-It.” They can also be purchased online from Amazon. (1, 2)
11. Mickey’s Parade Ice Pops: These iconic, ice pops were a popular summertime treat in the 1990s but were sadly discontinued in the early 2000s.
These Disney Ice Pops were packed with a punch and launched in the 1990s amid wide fanfare and pomp. They were sold out of the ice cream trucks on hot summer days and also in Disneyland. These cool treats were vividly colored and shaped in the form of Goofy, Mickey, Donald, Daisy, and Minnie.
One tasting the ice pops had the satisfaction of biting Mickey’s ear off. However, the taste of the sweet treats is no longer available since the product was discontinued in the early 2000s. The subsequent generations have been deprived of the chance to sample these delicious treats. (1, 2)
12. McDonald’s fried apple pies: crispily fried apple pies were discontinued in 1992 and replaced with healthy baked pies. However, the original pies are still available outside the U.S.
Fried apple pies were the first dessert to be featured on McDonald’s menu in 1968. These fried treats had a crunchy exterior and consisted of a gooey filling with soft apple chunks flavored with a hint of cinnamon. In 1992, the restaurant chain revamped its menu and switched the fried treat for healthier, baked counterparts.
The change was attributed to a healthy makeover and to suit the customers’ taste. However, the baked apple pies failed to make the cut leaving customers disappointed. The good news is that these fried treats are still available at McDonald’s outlets in Mexico, Brazil, Greece, Ireland, Egypt, and Hong Kong. Make sure to keep your eyes open if you are traveling to any these countries to experience the original taste. (1, 2, 3)
13. Willy Wonka’s Oompas: These were named after “Oompa-Loompas” from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The colorful candies resembled M&Ms and were discontinued in 1983.
The discontinued candy was released by the famous chocolate brand Wily Wonka in 1971. These colorful candies were shaped in the form of giant M&M’s and named after “Oompa-Loompas” from the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The candies were comprised of a hard candy shell with a half chocolate/half peanut butter filling.
After nearly a decade, the brand discontinued these candies in 1983. The Willy Wonka Company was acquired by Nestlé who revived the candy, but they resembled the famous “Skittles.” However, these revived candies did not live up to its predecessor’s taste, and the company has no plans of bringing it back again. (source)
14. Ouch! Gum: Wrigley’s sugar-free bubble gums resembling band-aids were a rage in the 1990s. However, due to declined sales, the gums were discontinued in 2009.
Considered to be pioneers in the bubble gum industry, the Wrigley Company launched its sugar-free bubble gum under the brand name Hubba Bubba. The Ouch! Gums were released in the 1990s and came in a variety of flavors such as grape, watermelon, and strawberry. The gum sticks were wrapped in paper to resemble bandages stacked in colorful, metallic containers.
The company revamped the bubble gum and released it in October 2009. However, the product was sadly discontinued gradually and was rumored to be on sale outside the U.S by a few redditors and online. The online sites such as Walmart, eBay, and Amazon have listed the product as unavailable. (source)
15. Whistle Pops: These quirky lollipops designed to make whistling sounds were launched in the 1970s but were discontinued due to reasons unknown.
Have you heard about a lollipop capable of making noise? These famous and quirky lollipops were launched in the mid-1970s by Spangler Candy Company. The lollipops were launched in a variety of flavors such as green apple, blue raspberry, watermelon, strawberry, and coffee.
The lollipop sticks were designed as hollow straws with a sliding plunger capable of making whistling sounds. The company gradually discontinued the lollipop after nearly two decades. However, the Spanish company, Chupa Chups, reintroduced the lollipops as “Melody Pops” in the United States but they missed the iconic touch. (1, 2)
HAVE SOME NOSTALGIA FOR BREAKFAST! 20 Cool Cereal Boxes From Your Past
HAVE SOME NOSTALGIA FOR BREAKFAST! 20 Cool Cereal Boxes From Your Past -
26 Pics That Will Take You Back To 'Back In The Day'
26 Pics That Will Take You Back To 'Back In The Day' -
25 Awesome Vintage Lunchboxes
25 Awesome Vintage Lunchboxes -
Being a child of the 80’s that I am, one of the best memories I have is that of the kick-ass metal lunchbox. From the time I began school until their sad and untimely demise probably in the mid to late 80’s, I had a metal lunchbox. Everything from Star Wars to ET, I had them all. And besides the coolness of the box itself had to be the even cooler Thermos nearly everyone came equipped with. Aladdin was the standard in lunchbox makers, and Thermos (the company) was the cool decanter inside that my mom used to fill with Spaghetti-O’s. Oh yeah, they stayed nice and warm till lunch. Memories, man… memories. Anyway, here are 25 cool lunchboxes to jog your nostalgia. Enjoy!
57 Of The Most Nostalgia-Inducing '80s Toys
57 Of The Most Nostalgia-Inducing '80s Toys -
The 1980's was a great decade for toys and entertainment. Everything was bright, loud, neon, and totally fun. Even years later, many toys, games, movies, and TV shows draw their inspiration from '80s pop culture. Toys, however, were what captured the imaginations of kids in that time before home video game systems, the Internet, and DVR. Saturday morning cartoons dictated the top '80s toys that kids played with, and there was never a shortage of inventive and creative new toys for children to entertain themselves with. The '80s was the golden age of toys.
Who could forget some of the most popular dolls and stuffed animals from the 1980s, like Cabbage Patch Kids, Teddy Ruxpin, and Pound Puppies? For kids who were more into action figures, He-Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were super fun to play with. Interactive toys like Rubix Cubes, Legos, and Guess Who? encouraged kids to use their noodles to solve puzzles, strengthen their memories, and build new creations with their imaginations. And outdoor toys like Roller Racers and Pogo Balls allowed kids to get out of the house and have a good time in the fresh air.
Which toys and games make you the most nostalgic for the '80s? Vote up the most popular toys of the 1980s below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section!
25 Things Everyone Was Doing 10+ Years Ago
25 Things Everyone Was Doing 10+ Years Ago -
1. Getting to Blockbuster as early as possible on Friday before all the good new movies were taken.
2. Cleaning out your mouse. AKA: mouse surgery.
3. Watching movies on a portable DVD player. That thing came on every single vacation.
4. Taking pictures with that one awful photo-booth filter.
5. Getting a new phone and/or losing your old one and asking for everyone’s phone number one Facebook.
6. These group shots were all the rage.
7. Having that one cool white Macbook that got dirty in like 3 days.
8. People would “poke” you on Facebook. Thank God that’s over.
9. You had to have both.
10. Every girl had these horrible zebra highlights.
11. Internet Explorer would crash the shit out of your computer.
12. Watching countless people try the Diet Coke and Mentos challenge.
13. Using the super-cool lighter app on your phone.
14. Those really were the good times.
15. Ending a conversation by shutting your flip phone. Ending a call nowadays just isn’t the same.
16. Buying an entire DVD show collection to you could binge it.
17. The horror of someone scratching (ruining!) your CD.
18. Dad’s rules.
19. Watching all of the “2 Girl 1 Cup” reaction videos.
20. Clicking endless tabs to get where you wanted – which was usually Solitaire.
21. Deciding what you’re gonna listen to on your car ride.
22.
23. Ordering a movie from Netflix and waiting to get it in the mail.
24. Blowing on anything that wasn’t working, including but not limited to video games, DVD players, and CD players.
25. printing out MapQuest directions ahead of time.
37 Nostalgic Pics Going 88 MPH Right Back To The 80s
37 Nostalgic Pics Going 88 MPH Right Back To The 80s -
20 Problems Only 90s Kids Dealt With
20 Problems Only 90s Kids Dealt With -
1. Trying to play your Game Boy in poor lighting was just impossible.
2. Constantly hoping to the lord that your favorite VHS didn’t get taped over.
3. Putting too much frosting on a Dunkaroo, leaving you with not enough left for the rest of the pack.
4. Girls just getting CLOCKED by these.
5. Having someone walk by and kick the chord out of your N64 was the definition of high treason.
6. Having the fabric start to rip off of your snap bracelet, exposing the plastic within and cutting you up.
7. When some jabroni didn’t rewind the VHS so you had to close your eyes and rewind it so that you didn’t see anything before you were supposed to.
8. Lunches and Recesses could be absolutely destroyed if this happened.
9. Having to get off the damn computer because someone wanted to use the home phone like it was 1850.
10. These fancy erasers were always fun, but they did shit all when it came to actually erasing things.
11. These things smelled amazing but if you tried using one without noticing that the felt tip was damaged, you really f*cked up your piece of paper.
12. When you woke up too early for cartoons and had to sit through a bunch of other stuff until your toons came on.
13. When a DJ would talk over the last bit of a song you were trying to record from the radio.
14. Being distracted for a second and missing the one channel you were trying to check for on the TV listings then having to wait for it to roll around again.
15. This.
16. Stepping on one of these without shoes on.
17. Feeling like a legend trick or treating with one of these only to find out they really don’t hold much candy at all.
18.
19. This is what watching porn was like if you wanted to try and use the wonders of the internet to crank one out.
20. If you wanted to be creative at school, this was pretty much your only option.
26 NOSTALGIC CHRISTMAS IMAGES FROM THAT SPECIAL DECADE KNOWN AS THE 80s
26 NOSTALGIC CHRISTMAS IMAGES FROM THAT SPECIAL DECADE KNOWN AS THE 80s
27 Nostalgic Pics To Bring Back The Good Ol' Days
27 Nostalgic Pics To Bring Back The Good Ol' Days -
MORE NOSTALGIC IMAGES TO GET YOUR OLD MEMORIES GOING
MORE NOSTALGIC IMAGES TO GET YOUR OLD MEMORIES GOING -
31 Nostalgic Things To Take You Back.... MEMORIES! MISTY WATER COLORED MEMORIES!
31 Nostalgic Things To Take You Back.... MEMORIES! MISTY WATER COLORED MEMORIES!
48 Nostalgic Pics To Take You Back You Old Fuddy Duddy
48 Nostalgic Pics To Take You Back You Old Fuddy Duddy
15 Superhero TV Shows You Completely Forgot About
15 Superhero TV Shows You Completely Forgot About
In an era of the Arrowverse, Daredevil, Jessica Jones and the like, it’s hard to remember a time when superheroes didn’t dominate television. Agents of Shield kicked off the current era, in a post-Avengers frenzy for Marvel to cross over into television. Before that, shows like Smallville had been hits, but in the grand scheme, very few superhero TV shows ever took off with the public. For every Batman or Wonder Woman, several failed superhero outings ended up on the ever-growing garbage heap of cancelled TV series.
Which brings us to today’s little expose. The shows detailed here all tried for superhero glory at different times in history, and but for the odd cult show, all of them eventually ended up forgotten. Some tried daring moves to attract audiences. Some tried spinning off from other shows. Others…well, who knows what the networks thought when they green-lit some of these stinkers! For that matter, the technical restrictions of the eras also hindered the ambition of the shows—had they hit the air today more polished, they might have caught on. As it is, they’ve fallen into obscurity, which might be for the best.
15. MANIMAL
![Simon-MacCorkindale-in-Manimal[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Simon-MacCorkindale-in-Manimal1-700x350.jpg)
Long before Beast Boy became a darling of the geek-o-sphere, another shape shifter vied for TV stardom. Manimalfollowed the adventures of Dr. Jonathan Chase—played by actor Simon MacCorkindale—a man who could change himself into any animal! For the most part though, Chase like to shift into a hawk or panther…largely due to budget and effects restrictions of the time. Armed with this secret power, Chase would aid his beautiful detective friend Brooke Mackenzie in solving cases and bringing criminals to justice.
Manimal ran eight episodes in 1983 on NBC before getting the ax. Critics of the time attacked the ridiculous premise, obvious budget restrictions and overall air of camp of the show. Creator Glen A. Larson had a strong pedigree of creating sci-fi shows for TV, having conceived Battlestar Galactica and Knight Rider, both for NBC. Manimal, however, went down in history as one of the worst shows to ever air, a dubious honor it still holds among critics today.
14. THE MAN WITH THE POWER
![The-Man-With-THe-Power[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/The-Man-With-THe-Power1-700x350.jpg)
Once upon a time, networks used to air TV movies as a way of kicking off a new series, and to promote it with grand fanfare. That still happens on occasion today—the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries being just one example. In 1977, NBC tried to do just that with a weird sci-fi take on the superhero genre called The Man With The Power.
Not to be confused with the Outer Limits episode of the same name, the telefilm The Man With The Power followed the adventures of a man who learned his father was an alien, which imbued him with telekinesis. Mild mannered school teacher Eric Smith discovered his abilities while trying to rescue a turtle from some train tracks (seriously). Throughout the film, Eric learns to use his powers for good, and gains contact with his father’s alien homeworld. After protecting an Indian princess (played by Persis Khambatta of Star Trek: The Motion Picture) from an assassination attempt, the US government enlisted Smith as a secret agent. The creative team behind the film had hoped to produce a show in the vein of The Six Million Dollar Man. Unfortunately, audiences found the premise too ridiculous, and the series never got to a second episode.
13. BIRDS OF PREY
![Ashley-Scott-and-Dina-Meyer-in-Birds-of-Prey[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ashley-Scott-and-Dina-Meyer-in-Birds-of-Prey1-700x350.jpg)
Before the DC TV universe dominated the ratings charts with The Flash, Arrow and a load of spin-offs, the WB tried to expand the TV universe that began with Smallville. While not a spin-off per se, the network decided to produce a Batman-family themed show, Birds of Prey. Based on the popular comic series that found Huntress, Black Canary and Oracle teamed up to fight crime, the show starred noted genre actresses Ashley Scott, Dina Meyer and Mia Sara. What could possibly go wrong?
A lot, unfortunately. The network tinkered about with the characters in an effort to make the series more accessible. Huntress became an amalgam of two versions from the comics—the masked vigilante with metahuman powers, as well as the daughter of Catwoman and Batman. Black Canary, meanwhile, became the daughter of another Black Canary, who struggled to use her powers. The three heroines teamed up to fight a mysterious crime boss—actually a middle-aged Harley Quinn—after Batman and the Joker vanished from Gotham. The series never quite found its footing, and ratings never hit high enough levels to earn a second season. Instead, the show capped off its 13-episode run with a battle royale between Harley Quinn and Barbra Gordon, who regained her ability to walk and donned the Batgirl suit once more. The final episode hinted at the kind of adventure and fun the show could have offered had the producers actually done a full-on superhero show with ongoing battles akin to what would make The Flash and its ilk so successful. Instead, Birds of Prey just teased one.
It did, however, feature a fun little Joker cameo with Mark Hamill himself providing the vocals, so take that for what it’s worth.
12. M.A.N.T.I.S.
![mantis[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/mantis1-700x350.jpg)
Fledgling network Fox tried to wade into the superhero genre in 1994 with this strange premise. As created by two superhero scions—Sam Hamm, who wrote Batman, and Sam Raimi, who created Darkman and would later direct Spider-Man—M.A.N.T.I.S. cast veteran actor Carl Lumbly as a paralyzed scientist, Miles Hawkins, who develops a powerful exoskeleton which restores his ability to walk and grants him super strength. The one problem—Hawkins can only wear the suit for limited amounts of time. Rather than reveal his invention to the world, Hawkins becomes M.A.N.T.I.S., a crime fighting superhero who drives around in a hovercraft.
M.A.N.T.I.S. never quite found an audience, and Fox didn’t help matters by constantly retooling the show. A pair of African students who aided Miles Hawkins in an Alfred-like capacity were replaced after the pilot by a wise-cracking white guy. Other characters appeared only to vanish, as the show’s premise became increasingly outlandish, with Hawkins time-traveling and venturing to parallel worlds. The show ended after one season in 1995, and quickly slipped into obscurity.
11. THE GREATEST AMERICAN HEROINE
![Mary-Ellen-Stuart-in-The-Greatest-American-Heroine[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Mary-Ellen-Stuart-in-The-Greatest-American-Heroine1-700x350.jpg)
Believe it or not, the William Katt cult series The Greatest American Hero actually had a feminist spin-off! Sort of, anyway…
In the final year of The Greatest American Hero, the producers conceived of a new show which would follow-up the original. After Ralph, the lead character from the first series, retired from his superhero duties, he would seek out a new hero to take up the alien suit which gave him his powers. Ralph would stumble onto Holly Hathaway, an elementary school teacher played by Mary Ellen Stuart, and begin training her to become The Greatest American Heroine!
Katt and the other series principals from The Greatest American Hero returned for the pilot film of The Greatest American Heroine with hopes of it going to series several years after the original show ended. Unfortunately, ABC didn’t like the pilot, and opted instead to bury it as part of the Greatest American Hero syndication package. Fans of the show remained devoted to the original spin-off premise though, and it eventually made it to DVD in 2011.
Fox ordered a reboot for the original series late last year, but it remains to be seen whether it will ever see the light of day.
10. HIGHLANDER THE SERIES
![Adrian-Paul-in-Highlander[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Adrian-Paul-in-Highlander1-700x350.jpg)
The Highlander movies, despite their reputation as silly dreck, still boast a devoted cult following. While the series never made a major impression in the US, it became a runaway hit overseas. Perhaps it comes as no surprise then that a TV show based on the films became a worldwide hit, even if it remained little-seen stateside.
Highlander: The Series followed the adventures of Duncan MacLeod, a fellow clansman of Connor MacLeod, protagonist of the film series. Duncan would join in The Game, an ongoing battle of immortal beings for total dominance on Earth. Duncan, a pacifist, had resisted hunting and killing the other immortals, but at Connor’s insistence, came out of hiding to defend the forces of good from Immortals who would enslave humanity.
Highlander: The Series ran a shocking six seasons, even spawning a short-lived spin-off. Still, for all its success, it gained little notice in the United States. The cult of Highlander continues to keep the series alive, however: after a series of cinematic and TV movies, a reboot is said to be in the works.
9. THE INVISIBLE MAN
![The-Invisible-Man-the-Series[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/The-Invisible-Man-the-Series1-700x350.jpg)
Long before Alan Moore would make The Invisible Man into a superhero of sorts in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, this UK series tried the same thing! Beginning in 1958, The Invisible Man followed the adventures of Dr. Peter Brady (no relation to the character from The Brady Bunch) who finds himself made invisible after exposure to radiation. While he searches for a cure for his invisibility, Brady joins forces with the British government to work as a secret agent.
Running for two seasons, The Invisible Man featured an array of noted British thesps, as well as a number of impressive (and often life-threatening) stunts for the time. Much like The Incredible Hulk in the 1970s, The Invisible Man pitted its hero against spies, saboteurs, the mob and petty criminals. It remained wildly popular long after the series demise, and still retains a devoted cult following. A 2008 DVD release helped popularize the show with a new generation, raising one key question: how long before it gets rebooted?!
8. SHAZAM!
![Jackson-Bostwick-in-Shazam[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Jackson-Bostwick-in-Shazam1-700x350.jpg)
Children of the 1970s might recall this popular flash in the pan series based on the Fawcett Comics-turned-DC Comics hero. Animation studio Filmation produced the show, which incorporated live-action and animated characters. Teen Billy Batson and his caretaker Mentor would travel the California countryside, stopping in various towns and meeting the people there. When a crisis arose, Billy would say his magic word “Shazam!” to become the powerful superhero Captain Marvel (no, not that Captain Marvel.)
Shazam! found popularity as a Saturday morning adventure series, and ran for three seasons on CBS. The show would foreshadow the later success of superhero shows like The Incredible Hulk, as well as future animated series like the Filmation-produced He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. After a brief run in syndication in the late ’70s,Shazam! faded from pop culture until the mid-2000s when DVD brought the show back to its aging fanbase, and to fans of all things superheroic. A film based on Captain Marvel (now officially named Shazam) has long been in development at Warner Bros., and the character is said to be part of the forthcoming DCEU.
7. SUPERHUMAN SAMURAI SYBER-SQUAD
![Superhuman-Samurai-Syber-Squad[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Superhuman-Samurai-Syber-Squad1-700x350.jpg)
In the wake of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers phenomenon of the mid 1990s, other networks raced to develop their own teams of martial artist superheroes. Among those that tried to find an audience was Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad, a strange blending of superhero tropes and 1990s tech fiction. The show followed the adventures of amateur rock singer Sam, who gained the ability to transfer himself into the computer world as the superhero Servo. There, he would do battle with viruses which would take the form of monsters. Sam also could enlist the help of his friends, who could take the form of robotic armor to augment Servo’s powers.
Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad tried to combine the popular Saturday morning action themes of the day—smart ass teenagers, rock bands, amateur computer hacking and giant robots & monsters recycled from Japanese television footage. Despite then-kiddie heartthrob Matthew Lawrence as Sam, and with Tim Curry providing the voice of the show’s mastervillian Kilokahn, Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad never found an audience. It lasted only one season, before landing on the scrap heap of would-be Power Rangers also-rans.
6. SUPER PRESIDENT
![Super-President[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Super-President1-700x350.jpg)
The lone animated entry on this list, Super President, quite simply, needs to be seen to be believed! The show ran for a season and a half on NBC beginning in 1967. It followed the adventures of US President James Norcross, who gains superpowers following a cosmic storm. With the ability to shape shift, Norcross dons a red and white costume to fight crime all over the world, traveling in a flying vehicle (called an Omnicar) and operating out of a secret hideout beneath the White House. Despite being known publicly by the Super President moniker, only Norcorss’ Henry Kissinger-like advisor Jerry knows his secret. The two access Super President’s secret headquarters through a secret passage in the Oval Office!
If the premise sounds totally bizarre, that’s because it is—a fact not lost on audiences of the time. Even in 1968, the show came under fire from media watchdog and parent groups for portraying the President as a superhuman being. They also could have attacked the show for lousy animation, dumb plots and plain weirdness! Decades after its initial run, Super President found a second, infamous life. The show plays every year at Comic-Con as one of the worst cartoons ever!
5. BLACK SCORPION
![Michelle-Lintel-As-Black-Scorpion[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Michelle-Lintel-As-Black-Scorpion1-700x350.jpg)
Black Scorpion started as a movie (which you also probably haven’t heard of) produced by the great Roger Corman for the Showtime network in the 1990s. Based around a very busty female cop who operates in Angel City (a thinly disguised Los Angeles), the Sci-Fi Channel picked up the show in the early 2000s at the dawn of their original programming block. Black Scorpion followed the adventures of Darcy Walker, a cop by day who moonlighted as the vigilante Black Scorpion at night. Tough in hand-to-hand combat and skilled with hacking computers, Black Scorpion also did battle with her own gallery of rogues, played by some familiar character actors of the superhero genre.
Black Scorpion ran a single season on Sci-Fi in 2001 before getting cancelled. The somewhat intentionally campy tone didn’t endear it to viewers, nor did the strange dominatrix costume of the titular character. With shows like Smallvilleproviding a more serious take on the genre, Black Scorpion quickly faded to black.
4. AUTOMAN
![Chuck-Wagner-in-Automan[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Chuck-Wagner-in-Automan1-700x350.jpg)
Following the success of Tron in 1982, ABC paired with producer Glen Larson to create this superhero show which utilized a character in a glowing suit. Automan revolved around Walter Nebicher, a computer programmer who created a superhero hologram that could exist outside the computer world to fight crime. Courtesy of his mother’s (I Love Lucy‘s Lucille Ball) powerful influence, Desi Arnaz, Jr. won the lead as Neibicher, while Chuck Wagner played Automan. Accompanying them on missions was Automan’s sort of pet, Cursor, who could draw new objects for Automan to use out of thin air. Each week, the two would team up to foil the plots of standard superhero TV baddies like jewel thieves and the mob.
Despite a major rollout by ABC, which included toys, video games and the like, Automan never found an audience. The show only lasted one season, long enough for it to develop a cult following, though, which finally saw the show released on DVD in 2012. Weird, dated, and downright silly, Automan represents a wacky low for the superhero genre.
3. ULTRAMAN
![Ultraseven[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ultraseven1-700x350.jpg)
Though all the rage in Japan, Ultraman remains almost totally unseen by American audiences. The show first debuted in the 1960s, and has run consistently since. Featuring lots of standard Japanese sci-fi tropes, including giant monsters and super powered martial arts heroes, the show followed a force of Earth defenders called The Ultra Garrison, who could combine to form the titular hero.
American broadcasters had shown interest in bringing Ultraman to US audiences since the show debuted. In the 1980s, Turner Broadcasting licensed one iteration of the show (called Ultraseven in Japan) for broadcast in the US. Unsatisfied with the English dub of the series, Turner opted to shelve the project until the 1990s. With Mighty Morphin Power Rangers taking the world by storm, Turner Broadcasting reedited and redubbed the series for broadcast on TNT. 49 episodes ran to audience indifference before the show vanished again.
Since then, the English dub has been released on DVD, owing to the growing interest in Japanese TV and film in the internet age.
2. THE CAPE
![David-Lyons-in-The-Cape[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/David-Lyons-in-The-Cape1-700x350.jpg)
With NBC mourning the disaster of Heroes—acclaimed and popular in the first season, but a mess thereafter—the network opted to try again at creating a popular superhero show. The Cape debuted in 2011. It followed police officer Vince Faraday, who was framed for murder by a mysterious villain called “Chess.” In an effort to foil Chess and clear his own name, Faraday begins training with a gang of robber-circus performers to become The Cape, a superhero in the vein of The Shadow.
The Cape debuted to mixed reviews and mediocre viewership. Audiences didn’t know what to make of the unintentionally ridiculous title, or the bizarre setup for the plot. It aired only 10 episodes before NBC dropped the show. A sort of series finale aired on NBC’s website, rather than during the broadcast schedule. Despite the presence of a number of noted genre actors—Summer Glau, Keith David, and Vinnie Jones—The Cape never generated much interest, and will likely remain an odd footnote in superhero TV history.
1. ELECTRA WOMAN AND DYNA GIRL
![Diedre-Hall-and-Judy-Strangis-in-Electra-Woman-and-Dyna-Girl[1]](https://www.chaostrophic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Diedre-Hall-and-Judy-Strangis-in-Electra-Woman-and-Dyna-Girl1-700x350.jpg)
Kiddie TV moguls Sid and Marty Kroft decided to try their luck at the superhero genre with Electra Woman and Dyna Girl in 1976. Like most Kroft fare, the show adopted a camp vibe rather than take its concept seriously. It also satirized the popular superhero shows to date, like Wonder Woman and Batman. The premise revolved around two reporters, Lori and Judy, who would fight crime as the spandex-clad Electra Woman and Dyna Girl. The two used a variety of Electra-prefixed weapons to battle nefarious supervillians, saving the world each time.
Electra Woman and Dyna Girl lasted only 16 episodes before cancellation, when it vanished into obscurity. The WB tried to revive the show as a parody in 2001, though the pilot failed to generate a series and never aired. In 2016, a reboot aired via YouTube, casting social media personalities as the title characters…to a mixed reception.
Remember one that we didn’t mention? Tell us in the comments!
