is a half hour Animated Television Series from 1987 . It is based on the Action Figure toy line of the same name by Hasbro . A total of 13 episodes were produced by Sunbow Productions , and were released on Region 2 DVD in 2004 . There was also a short-lived Comic Book series published by Marvel Comics - it lasted only 6 issues, and was cancelled mid-way through a 4-part adventure.
Set on the planet Prysmos , placed into another dimension. The Visionaries consisted of two groups of knights - The Spectral Knights and The Darkling Lords. Both the Darkling Lords and the Spectral Knights received their magical powers from Merklynn after a quest to Merklynn's shrine on Iron Mountain.
The Spectral Knights were knights who used their powers for good. They were led by Leoric, the leader of New Valarak. The Spectral Knights were as follows:
- - the leader of the Spectral Knights and Prince of New Valarak. He possessed the totem of the Lion and his Power Staff bestowed the Power of Wisdom. He was voiced by Neil Ross .
- - Leoric's Lieutenant . Before the Great Cataclysm, he was a policeman in the City of Valarak, often matching wits against a thief named Reekon who later became a Darkling Lord. He possessed the totem of the Fox . He had no totem staff but was one of the knights able to power vehicles. His main vehicle of choice was the Lancer Cycle. In the comics, this held the Power of Protection.
- - the youngest of the Spectral Knights. Like Ectar and Leoric he lived in New Valarak. He possessed the totem of the Wolf . He had no totem staff but he had the ability to power vehicles. His main vehicle was the Capture Chariot . In the comics, this held the Power of Fire.
- - the oldest of the Spectral Knights. He hailed from the northern city of Northalia which had a cold climate. He possessed the totem of the Bear and his totem staff bestowed the Power of Strength. His main adversary among the Darkling Lords is Cindarr.
- - He possessed the totem of the Cheetah and his totem staff bestowed the Power of Lightspeed.
- - He possessed the totem of the Eagle and his totem staff bestowed the Power of Knowledge.
- - The only female Knight among the Spectral Knights, hailing from Androsia. She possessed the totem of the Dolphin . Galadria was the love interest of Cryotek. In the comic books, she gained the Power of Healing.
The Darkling Lords, headed by Darkstorm used their powers for evil. They are considered the villains of the series.
- - the leader of the Darkling Lords. Prior to receiving his totem powers he already commanded the allegiance of Reekon and Mortred. He obtained the allegiance of the other Darkling Lords when he came across them caught in a trap during the Quest to Merklynn's shrine and made them swear allegiance to him in exchange for freeing them. He bore the totem of the Mollusk and his power staff held the Power of Decay. The cartoon showed he also had a secondary power to reverse his own Decay.
- - Previously a thief during the Age of Science, Reekon served Darkstorm primarily for money. For his stealth and treachery, Merklynn awarded him the totem of the Lizard. During both the Age of Science and the Age of Magic, Reekon matched wits against Ectar. Reekon had no totem staff but had the ability to power vehicles. His main vehicle was the Dagger Assault.
- - Darkstorm's most loyal Darkling Lord. Mortred is utterly devoted to Darkstorm. He possessed the totem of the Beetle and like Reekon had the ability to power vehicles. His main vehicle was the aerial vehicle known as the Sky Claw.
- - Previously a construction worker during the Age of Science, Cindarr's main adversary is Cryotek and is considered the most dim-witted of the Darkling Lords. He occasionally shows displays of kindness to others which exasperates the other Darkling Lords. Cindarr bears the totem of the Gorilla and his power staff invokes the Power of Destruction.
- - The most short-tempered of the Darkling Lords, Cravex bore the totem of the phylot (a dinosaur-like scavenging bird in the planet of Prysmos) and his power staff invoked the Power of Fear.
- - He possessed the totem of the armadillo and his power staff invoked the Power of Invulnerability. Lexor was generally regarded as a liar and a coward.
- - Prior to the Age of Magic, Virulina was a newscaster. The only female Darkling Lord. Her main adversary is Galadria. She possessed the totem of the Shark. In the comic books, she gained the Power of Disease.
- - the wizard who owned the shrine at Iron Mountain. Merklynn invited knights to quest for his shrine and rewarded those who reached his shrine with magical abilities. It was Merklynn who gave the Spectral Knights and Darkling Lords their magical abilities. In exchange for recharging power staffs, Merklynn sends both the Darkling Lords and Spectral Knights on other quests on his behalf.
Knights on both sides had magical powers of lightspeed, fear, wisdom, might, etc. once the characters spoke a special verse out loud. Among the verses are:
"Whispered secrets of a shattered age,
I summon you: renew this sage!"
"A whim, a thought, and more is sought.
Awake my mind; Thy will be wrought!"
"Three suns aligned pour forth their light
And fill the archer's bow with might!"
"Sheathe these feet in the driving gale,
Make swift these legs o'er land I sail!"
"Shield this craft from one and all.
Reflect, deflect, depose and fall!"
"Draw upon the breath of stars,
And scorch the sky with fiery scars!"
"By warmth of heart, your pain I feel.
Grant me the power, your wounds to heal!"
"By what creeps,what crawls, by what does not,
Let all that grows recede and rot!"
The cartoon showed an additional power to reverse this Decay:
"Power of rot, obscuring truth,
What once was old restore to youth."
"By nature's hand, by craft, by art,
What once was one now fly apart!"
"Oh mist-filled pits, dark, dank, unclear,
Touch all before me with frost-fingered fear!"
"The arrows turn,the swords repel,
let nothing pierce this mortal shell!"
"Wings of steel shall ride the breeze.
Invade the air, the land, the seas!"
"Flay the flesh, lay bare the bone.
Upon this field, let grief be sown!"
"Wind of sickness, illness most vile,
Strike down my enemy, with disease revile!"
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