Anyone remember M.A.N.T.I.S?

[NinjaJack]

I use to love this old series from way back when, erm, the 90s, and it was one of those things that solidified my loved for Henshin heroes.
The story is basically set right after the LA riots and a he, a doctor, is shot and paralyzed from the waist down. But his since of justice is not paralyzed.
He uses his resources to construct a battle suit.

The armor up sequence
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrRXTOzNTzk&NR=1[/ame]

Now know this, Spidey director Sam Raimi produced this series. And if I did not know any better I'd say Green Goblin might have had some inspiration from M.A.N.T.S.' suit.

"Anyway the deal was, "M.A.N.T.I.S" had started as a two-hour pilot, written by Sam Hamm ("Batman") and directed by Sam Raimi ("Spiderman"). The two Sams had a disagreement with Fox about how the series should go (they saw the series as an alternative world with an all-black cast and Fox wanted it to be a super-hero who was black in a regular American city), and walked away from their own project. Fox still wanted to do the series but somebody needed to make the changes and run the show. Both Hamm and Raimi were extremely gracious and understanding in the transition, nothing was made personal, and the series lived and (almost) prospered."-Bryce Zabel from his site here

 

[Keith Justice]

Wasn't a fan... I felt the hero was a bit too old and ugly. I need my heroes fresh, full of life, and with charisma that makes me want to cheer for them.

So, wasn't a fan on a straight hero basis.

And when it comes to "black heroes", no show outside of Power Rangers has ever really got it right. Black heroes always end up being old, giants, or mean ghetto bastards.

World needs Sky Cowboys, Scotts, and other prime examples of charismatic black characters that aren't just "the black character."

 

[DarkRangerSilver]

I loved the Car from this series and those dart things he shot at the bad guys.

 

[Arkvoodle]

I remember the advertisement but never saw the show.

Strikes me as ironic that the star went on to become Martian Manhunter.

 

[Quark]

And when it comes to "black heroes", no show outside of Power Rangers has ever really got it right. Black heroes always end up being old, giants, or mean ghetto bastards.

Static Shock?

 

[NinjaJack]

No, Static was in the ghetto but not a product of it. There should have been a big budget film staring Lee Thompson Young by now.

 

[FangireQueen]

And when it comes to "black heroes", no show outside of Power Rangers has ever really got it right. Black heroes always end up being old, giants, or mean ghetto bastards.

But... what about John Stewart/Green Lantern?

Also I agree though that I didn't really like the series. It was just too hard for me to get into

 

[Ragna "D" BloodEdge]

Or Storm? Or...Black Panther? :169:

 

[FangireQueen]

Or Storm? Or...Black Panther? :169:

Storm definitely

Blank Panther... well... that one was a bit iffy at times lol.

Black heroes don't get the short end of the stick. Women usually do, but from a merchandise standpoint. Hero things have been pretty on top of being very revolutionary with minority characters and gender roles

 

[Keith Justice]

Storm rules, but I felt her African origin was needless.... Black Panter sucks for the name alone... I liked John Stewart a LOT even if they gave one of his special episodes the lame title of "Blackest Knight".

I like Static Shock. He was a little ghetto, but that didn't seem to force it so they could make sure you knew he was black... it actually seemed just part of the guy who was actually just a young and charismatic character.

Power Rangers runs circles around superhero-dom when it comes to just making a black character a character.