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Katherine Johnson’s mathematical calculations helped guide some of America’s most important early space missions while she confronted the racial and gender barriers faced by Black women in twentieth-century America.
MORE →Reflects the personal views, recollections, and perspective of the author, Mike Davis.
This is a personal recollection on the Move fire on May 13, 1985
| Sky Commanders | |
|---|---|
 Title screen | |
| Genre | Adventure Action Science fiction Superhero |
| Developed by | Jeff Segal |
| Directed by | Ray Patterson |
| Composer | Hoyt Curtin |
| Countries of origin | United States Japan |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | William Hanna Joseph Barbera |
| Producer | Kay Wright |
| Editor | Gil Iverson |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production companies | Hanna-Barbera Productions Toei Animation |
| Original release | |
| Network | First-run syndication |
| Release | July 5 – September 27, 1987 |
Sky Commanders is an American animated series co-produced by Hanna-Barbera and Toei Animation. It premiered in July 1987 as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera and lasted for thirteen episodes.[1] It was based on the action figure line from Kenner Toys.[2]
"Deep in the South Pacific, a tumultuous and untamed new continent has erupted. Spawned by a highly unstable new element, known as Theta Seven. If this powerful new element could be controlled, whoever possessed it would be the undisputed ruler of the world. One man, General Lucas Plague, is determined to hold that title. And it's up to a rugged team of mountaineering experts, led by commander Mike Summit to stop him. Employing revolutionary new gravity-lock and laser-cable technology to traverse the ever-changing terrain of the High Frontier, Mike Summit's Sky Commanders and General Plague's Raiders are locked in mortal combat with the fate of the entire world hanging in the balance!"
The storyline of Sky Commanders comprises the daily adventures of a multi-national group of soldiers and mountaineering specialists from all over the world who battle the evil General Lucas Plague and his goon squad of villainous mercenaries and miscreants, "The Raiders", whose aim is to seize control of the planet. The series is set on a new continent deep in the South Pacific, which was created by the emergence to the surface world of a new and powerful, unstable radioactive element, called "Theta Seven" (θ-7).
This lethal energy source can only be stabilized for containment by exposure to temperatures of −200 °F (−128.89 °C). It is known that whoever can control the element and harness its enormous power would be the ruler of the world, a goal that the amoral General Plague wants strongly. It is up to General Mike Summit and his highly trained soldiers to stop him.
Complicating the Sky Commanders' objective of stopping the criminal ambitions of the Raiders is the fact that the new continent (collectively referred to in the series as "The High Frontier") is routinely beset by sporadic, unstable and highly dangerous weather conditions and environmental hazards, such as landslides, earthquakes, cave-ins, whirlpools, etc. There is also the need for monthly shipments of fresh supplies, new advanced technology and weapon systems. Constant attack by the scheming and underhanded Raiders and the aforementioned environmental dangers make the Sky Commanders's mission only that much more dangerous.
Travel throughout the new continent is only possible by means of high-altitude flight, or by using Laser Cables, a specialized version of a rappelling cord emitted from combat backpacks worn by both Raider and Sky Commander. When used, the cables shoot out from the combat backpacks in the form of energy beams. When contact is made with a solid object, the Laser Cable solidifies into a solid metal cable line upon which travel is possible.
Theta Seven, the radioactive element that both sides fight to control, came from subterranean recesses of Earth. Its rise to the surface brought a new continent along with various creatures. These lifeforms are either the product of long-term exposure to Theta Seven's radiation or naturally occurring. Encounters with these creatures present an additional challenge for both sides in the conflict over the world's future.
| No. | Title | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Assault on Raider Stronghold" | David Schwartz | July 5, 1987 | |
| 2 | "Back in the Fold" | Tony Zalewski and Kelly Ward | July 12, 1987 | |
|
R. J. is brainwashed by Slade to take out his comrades. | ||||
| 3 | "Fresh Recruit" | Don Glut and Kelly Ward | July 19, 1987 | |
| 4 | "Marooned" | Don Glut and Kelly Ward | July 26, 1987 | |
|
Books and Kodiak look for ways through a very windy part of the continent. | ||||
| 5 | "Divide and Conquer" | Mark Cassutt | August 2, 1987 | |
| 6 | "One on One" | Tony Marino and Kelly Ward | August 9, 1987 | |
| 7 | "Rescuers Need Rescuing" | John Bates | August 16, 1987 | |
| 8 | "Terminal Temblor" | Jack Hudock | August 23, 1987 | |
| 9 | "S.O.S." | Andrew Yates | August 30, 1987 | |
|
The Raiders find a ship that ran aground years ago but is still populated. They trick the populace into allying with them. | ||||
| 10 | "Turncoat" | David Schwartz | September 6, 1987 | |
| 11 | "Deep Freeze" | Mark Cassutt | September 13, 1987 | |
| 12 | "Firestorm" | Tony Zalewski and Eric Lewald | September 20, 1987 | |
|
The battle of the two teams results in a powerful rock sinking into ground which may cause the planet to explode. Thus the Raiders are compelled to ally with the Sky Commanders. | ||||
| 13 | "The Agony of Defeat" | Jack Hudock and Kelly Ward | September 27, 1987 | |
Warner Archive released Sky Commanders: The Complete Series on DVD in region 1 on August 28, 2012 as part of their Hanna-Barbera Classic Collection. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.[3]
Source: Wikipedia. Article content is retrieved live through the MediaWiki API.
Sky Commanders is an American animated series co-produced by Hanna-Barbera and Toei Animation. It premiered in July 1987 as part of The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera and lasted for thirteen episodes. It was based on the action figure line from Kenner Toys.
European Sky Shield for Ukraine is a proposed European-led air protection strategy designed to defend western and central Ukraine from Russian missile and drone attacks during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Known formally as "SkyShield", the plan envisions an Integrated Air Protection Zone (IAPZ) operated by a coalition of willing NATO member states, but independent of formal NATO command. The mission would involve combat air patrols (CAPs) flown by up to 120 European fighter jets over uncontested Ukrainian territory, coordinated with the Ukrainian Air Force (UAF). SkyShield aims to protect critical infrastructure, including Ukraine’s operational nuclear power plants, major cities like Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa, and vital economic corridors. The plan would not include operations in eastern parts of Ukraine. The plan is not directly related to the similarly named European Sky Shield Initiative, although defence analyst Stuart Crawford has drawn a connection between the two. Supporters of the plan include former NATO commanders General Philip Breedlove and General Sir Richard Shirreff, as well as former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski. Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis described the initiative as "an important component of Europe’s stepping up, guaranteeing Ukraine’s security effectively and efficiently."
Blue Sky is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Tony Richardson and written by Rama Laurie Stagner, Arlene Sarner, and Jerry Leichtling. The film stars Jessica Lange and Tommy Lee Jones, with supporting performances from Powers Boothe, Carrie Snodgress, Amy Locane, Chris O'Donnell, and Mitchell Ryan. Set in the 1960s, the story follows a U.S. Army engineer who becomes entangled in a military nuclear cover-up while navigating challenges posed by his wife's volatile behavior. Rama Laurie Stagner created her screenplay by adapting an unpublished manuscript of her father. He had written about the tensions of his job and family life after resigning from the military in 1964. She also drew from her own memories as the eldest of two daughters. Blue Sky was Richardson's final film before his death in 1991. Its release was delayed until September 1994 because of the bankruptcy of the distributor Orion. Though a box office disappointment, the film received generally positive reviews. Lange's performance was highly praised. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as a Golden Globe Award, becoming the fifth actress to win Oscars for both Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress. The film's score was composed by Jack Nitzsche.
Sky High is a 2005 American superhero comedy film directed by Mike Mitchell and written by Paul Hernandez, and Kim Possible creators Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars Kelly Preston, Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Kurt Russell. It follows Will Stronghold (Angarano), the son of two superheroes, who is enrolled in an airborne high school for teenage superheroes. As his dormant superpowers manifest, he struggles to maintain his relationships with his old friends, learns of a threat from a mysterious supervillain, and searches for the girl of his dreams. The film was theatrically released by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution on July 29, 2005, and grossed $86.4 million worldwide against a production budget of $35 million. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences during its original theatrical run and has since been recognized as a cult film.
Before the 1921 destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, Black residents had created a remarkable center of business and community life. The district included stores, professional offices, entertainment venues and homes owned by Black citizens. Understanding Greenwood means learning what was built—not only what was burned.
MORE →Madam C.J. Walker
