Membership:
Ace McCloud;
Jake Rockwell; Max
Ray; Rex Charger;
John Thunder
The Centurions
Membership:
Ace McCloud;
Jake Rockwell; Max
Ray; Rex Charger;
John Thunder
Purpose: To defend the Earth against villains and criminal masterminds.
Affiliations: Crystal Kane
Enemies: Doc Terror; Hacker; Amber
Base of Operations: Centrum (an underground bunker accessible through the back of a bookstore) in New York; Sky Vault space station
First Appearance: Centurions (made by Ruby-Spears Productions, distributed by Warners Bros, 1985)
History: "In the near future, Doc Terror and his cyborg companion Hacker unleash their forces to conquer Earth!
Only one force can stop this evil -- a handful of brave men -- in specially created exoframes, they can be transported anywhere -- to fuse with incredible assault weapon systems -- beamed down from the space station Skyvault -- becoming Man and Machine - PowerXTreme!
Max Ray -- brilliant sea operations commander! Jake Rockwell -- rugged land operations specialist! Ace McCloud -- daring air operations expert!
Whatever the challenge, they are ready!
The Centurions!"
With threats to the peace from high-tech villains such as the evil cyborg Doc Terror on the increase, the government sets up an agency with an international remit to handle these problems. They equip a team of operatives (initially three men, later expanded to five) with "exo-frames", masterpieces of technology that not only allow the wearer to be teleported across the globe to wherever they are needed in seconds, but can also have powerful combat equipment beamed directly on to them. The frames themselves are compact enough to be folded away and carried in briefcases when not being worn. Based out of the space station Sky Vault, the controller of the teleportation system is Crystal Kane, while each of the field operatives has been chosen for their expertise in a given arena, and armed appropriately with equipment that will enhance their combat effectiveness in same:
Max Ray is equipped for aquatic operations; Jake Rockwell handles all terrains land based operations; Ace McCloud is the aerial fighter. The success of these three encouraged the agency to eventually add two more specialists: Rex Charger, energy specialist; and John Thunder, covert operative.
Comments: "Power X-Treme" This was the battle cry of the team, generally used as Crystal was beaming their battle systems to their exo-frames. It's unlikely it actually meant anything (I can't see how shouting something could be a vital part of the teleportation process), so I originally thought the men just thought it sounded cool.
However Thomas Wong recalls that "I think it was explained in one episode that "Power Extreme" is the activation password for the assault weapon systems (AWS). If I remember correctly, in the episode "Battle Beneath the Sea" the Centurions were trapped in Sealab and the shields were up so weapon systems couldn't be beamed to them, but they were able to still access the AWS that were in Sealab by putting the AWS in the right position and saying "Power Extreme"."
The cartoon was created to promote a line of Centurion toys from Kenner - hardly an original idea back in the 1980's (Transformers, He-Man, Thundercats), which of course is why new team members Charger and Thunder suddenly join the team late in the series - they are part of Series Two of the toy line. The series ran for one season of sixty five episodes. DC Comics produced a four issue mini-series based on the characters (#2 of which apparently gave their origins), and at least three issues of a Centurions magazine were printed in the UK, although it's unclear if this was reprints of the DC title, or brand new material.
Comic book great Gil Kane designed the looks for a lot of the characters on the show (and Crystal Kane appears to have been named after him), with an even more famous giant of the comics industry, Jack "King" Kirby, also having a hand in some of the character concepts. The actual art for the cartoon was done by Japanese studio Nippon Sunrise (these days known simply as Sunrise).
Thanks to Andy Thomas of SFXB for providing several images, notably the armour screen grabs.
There is an online petition to ask for the Centurions cartoon to be released on DVD.
Ace McCloud
Identity/Class: Normal human with high tech armour Occupation: Government operative Affiliations: The other Centurions; Crystal Kane Enemies: Doc Terror, Hacker, Terror Bots Known Relatives: None known Aliases: None known
First Appearance: Centurions Episode #1 "The Sky Is on Fire" Powers/Abilities: All of Ace's weapons systems utilise flight capabilities. His standard system is Skynight, as seen in the picture above - this consists of a jet-pack, with arm missiles and a chest mounted bomb, giving maximum maneouverability with reasonable firepower. For increased combat efficiency at the expense of speed, he can use Skybolt, which has far more and heavier weapons. If he wishes to operate in outer space he can switch to the Orbital Interceptor, designed for use outside an atmosphere (but also usable underwater). History: Ace McCloud is the Centurions aerial specialist.
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Jake Rockwell
Identity/Class: Normal human with high tech armour Occupation: Government operative Affiliations: The other Centurions; Crystal Kane Enemies: Doc Terror, Hacker, Terror Bots Known Relatives: None known Aliases: None known Base of Operations: Centrum (an underground Bunker) in New York
Powers/Abilities: Jake's combat systems include Wild Weasel, which effectively turns him into a human motorcycle; Fireforce, his heavy weapons mode, with a chest mounted gatling gun and shoulder mounted bazooka, transforming him into a walking gun platform; Detonator, effectively an armoured tank with a gigantic chest mounted freeze ray and twin back-mounted missiles; and Hornet, which turns him into a human helicopter, armed with sidewinder missiles and equipped with landing skids. History: Jake Rockwell is the Centurion's land operations specialist.
The character owned a dog, called Shadow, which had an exo-frame all of its own. |
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Max Ray
Identity/Class: Normal human with high tech armour Occupation: Government operative Affiliations: The other Centurions; Crystal Kane Enemies: Doc Terror, Hacker, Terror Bots Known Relatives: None known Aliases: None known Base of Operations: Centrum (an underground Bunker) in New York First Appearance: Centurions Episode #1 "The Sky Is on Fire"
History: Max ray was the Centurion's underwater agent. "As a college student at age 14, Max built his own nuclear powered submarine. He is the only person ever to waterski across the Atlantic. For exercise he regularly swims from California to Hawaii ... and back." Comments: Max Ray was voiced by Pat Fraley.
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Rex Charger
Identity/Class: Normal human with high tech armour Occupation: Government operative Affiliations: The other Centurions; Crystal Kane Enemies: Doc Terror, Hacker, Terror Bots Known Relatives: None known Aliases: None known Base of Operations: Centrum (an underground Bunker) in New York First Appearance: Unknown Powers/Abilities: Rex's weapon systems included: The Electrocharger and The Gatling Gun History: A later addition to the team, Rex Charger was the energy specialist. Comments: Part of series two of the toy line, Rex Charger was introduced into the cartoon late on. Because of his late arrival he had fewer weapon systems designed for him. He was voiced by Bob Ridgely. |
John Thunder
Identity/Class: Normal human with high tech armour Occupation: Government operative Affiliations: The other Centurions; Crystal Kane Enemies: Doc Terror, Hacker, Terror Bots Known Relatives: None known Aliases: None known Base of Operations: Centrum (an underground Bunker) in New York First Appearance: Unknown Powers/Abilities: John wears the smallest of the exo-frames, as befits an infiltration operative. His weapons systems include the Silent Arrow system (which is armed with a huge crossbow which fires a missile containing a net), and the Thunder Knife (which is made up of a number of spinning blades that can cut through virtually any obstruction). History: A later addition to the team, John was the infiltration operations specialist. Comments: A late addition to both the cartoons and the toyline, as part of Series 2 of the latter. |
Crystal Kane
Identity/Class: Normal human Occupation: Operates surveillance and equipment selection for the Centurions Affiliations: The Centurions; Lucy (her pet orangutan) Enemies: Doc Terror, Hacker Known Relatives: None known Aliases: None known Base of Operations: Sky Vault space station First Appearance: Centurions Episode #1 "The Sky Is on Fire" Powers/Abilities: Highly skilled computer scientist. History: Crystal Kane is the Centurions behind-the-scenes controller. She acts as tech support for them, transporting them around the world to face the challenges Doc Terro sets them. She preps and beams down their weapons systems too. She has a pet orangutan called Lucy. Comments: Crystal Kane was voiced by Diane Pershing |
Doc Terror
Identity/Class: Cyborg Occupation: Criminal mastermind Affiliations: Hacker (minion); Terror Bots Enemies: The Centurions Known Relatives: Amber (daughter) Aliases: None known Base of Operations: Dominion (hidden base buried under the Arctic ice) First Appearance: Centurions Episode #1 "The Sky Is on Fire" Powers/Abilities: As well as being a genius, Doc Terror has superhuman strength in his robotic limbs. He can join with his other robotic or cybernetic creations to increase his firepower. History: "A brilliant yet evil genius, Dr.Terror fused his body to a powerful computer system in a bizarre operation which he himself developed. Now programmed for the ultimate evil, he challenges the Centurions in a fight to rule to world! His Comments: Doc Terror was voiced by Ron Feinberg. He appears to have been called Dr.Terror in the toy line, and Doc Terror in the cartoon. His "cyborg half" was called Syntax. He had a daughter, known as Amber, who was voiced by Jennifer Darling. |
Hacker
Identity/Class: Cyborg Occupation: Minion Affiliations: Doc Terror (employer); Terror Bots Enemies: The Centurions Known Relatives: None known Aliases: None known Base of Operations: Dominion (hidden base buried under the Arctic ice) First Appearance: Centurions Episode #1 "The Sky Is on Fire" Powers/Abilities: Cyborg half has superhuman strength and inbuilt weapon systems. History: Hacker is Doc Terror's extremely dim accomplice. Turned into a cyborg by his boss, he is partnered with Lesion (the name of his robotic half). Comments: Hacker was voiced by Edmund Gilbert. |
CLARIFICATIONS: None
Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.
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Comments: Ace McCloud was voiced by Neil Ross.
First
Appearance: Centurions Episode #1 "The Sky Is on Fire"
Comments:
Jake Rockwell was voiced by Vince Edwards.
The quoted blurb comes
from the back of the back of the toy box for Max. Since Hawaii is around
2,550 miles away from Los Angeles, that claim about his exercise regime means
he regularly swims over 5,000 miles to keep fit!
