On The Toy Shelf
This week’s Throwback Thursday post is a little bit strange. Why? Because I’m throwing back to a toyline based on a cartoon that I never personally watched but I still fell in love with the action figures because they were so friggin’ cool. Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light was a syndicated cartoon that was released in late 1987. Unfortunately for me, the series never found its way to my little black and white television in rural Louisiana. The figures, though, did manage to find a home on the shelf of my local Wal-Mart (before the super versions of Wally World existed).
Based on my quick web research, the toys were actually released after the series was cancelled. The show lasted for only thirteen episodes and centered around Leoric, the leader of the Spectral Knights, and his allies as they fought against the evil Darkling Lords headed up by a dude named Darkstorm. A short-lived comic book was also published.
I never learned why the Spectral Knights and the Darkling Lords were at odds with one another. I only knew that the action figures had holograms in their chests and carried around totem staffs with holograms on them as well. Much like a crow to a coin, I yipped, “Shiny!” and had to buy as many of the figures as I could.
The only problem with purchasing the figures was that they were very expensive. I don’t remember the exact cost, but it was around five or six bucks at my local Wal-Mart. That was about double the price of a G.I. Joe figure from around the same time.
The figures cost more than Joes but they were also bigger than the Joes as well. Clocking in at 4.5″ tall and articulated just as good the Joes, the Visionaries were true works of art in my eyes. They featured brightly colored armor, cool accessories that included a helmet, a totem staff and a weapon unique to each character.
I managed to buy four of the twelve figures that were released. I remember the exact order that I purchased them in as I slowly built up enough allowance to acquire them. The first figure that I purchased was the wise Arzon, whose totem was an eagle. Then I picked up Leoric, the leader of the Spectral Knights who had a mighty lion emblazoned upon his chest. Next was Cryotek, the bulkiest Spectral Knight, who battled the Darkling Lords with the power of the bear. My last and most sought after Spectral Knight was Witterquick. Not only was he the fastest member of the group (his totem was a cheetah, after all), his main weapon was a boomerang. That made my little heart flutter with excitement in 1987. As far as I was concerned at the time, a boomerang was as exotic and rare as a unicorn!
While purchasing these figures was costly, they were definitely worth it. I played for countless hours with these figures and having no knowledge of the show to base my adventures upon, I quickly developed identities and voices unique to my playtime. Witterquick became my go-to guy and the unofficial leader of the group. Cryotek was his best friend in my little world and provided the muscle. Leoric was brave and a good soldier, but not as fast, strong, or intelligent as Witterquick. Arzon was just kind of happy to be there.
Sadly, I’ve lost all of my Visionaries figures. The last time I remember seeing any of them was during my college years when Arzon and Witterquick somehow managed to end up in my dorm with me for a little while. Witterquick still had his helmet and boomerang and Arzon still had his helmet. Neither of them had their totem staffs.
Perhaps one day I’ll find one of these figures in the wild at a convention or a flea market. Rumors have been bouncing around for years that the series might be revived or that a film is in the works, but nothing has come to fruition. It would be really cool to have at least one of these toys back in my possession, as I truly loved them.
As always, thanks for reading. Did you have any Visionaries toys as a child? Let me know in the comments. I hope that all of you had a wonderful Halloween. The next big holiday is Thanksgiving here in the States. I also have some big plans for this blog once December hits. Be on the lookout for hints about what is to come in the next few weeks.
Note: All photos taken from the web.
Ken's Alternate Universe! 