Wild C.A.T.s | |
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Also known as | Jim Lee's Wild C.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams |
Genre | Superhero Action Adventure Science fiction |
Created by | Jim Lee Brandon Choi |
Based on | |
Developed by | Bob Forward David Wise |
Written by | David Wise Brooks Wachtel Rich Fogel Mark Seidenberg |
Directed by | Bob Smith |
Voices of | Rod Wilson Roscoe Handford Colin O'Meara Ruth Marshall Dean McDermott Paul Mota Sean McCann Janet-Laine Green Maurice Dean Wint |
Opening theme | "Wild C.A.T.s" by Sheree Jeacocke and Gerry Mosby |
Country of origin | United States Canada |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 13 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Jim Lee Michael Hirsh Toper Taylor |
Producer | Hasmi Giakoumis |
Running time | 22 minutes |
Production companies | WildStorm Productions Nelvana |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | October 1, 1994 – January 21, 1995 |
Wild C.A.T.S is a half-hour animated television series based on the comics series of the same name and developed for television by David Wise. It aired on CBS for one season from October 1, 1994, to January 21, 1995. [1] The series was produced by WildStorm Productions in association with Nelvana.
When the evil Daemonites emerge from the shadows, multi-billionaire Jacob Marlowe assembles the Wild C.A.T.s, a team of warriors who are descendants of the heroic Kherubim race. [2]
![]() | This section may be confusing or unclear to readers.(May 2012) |
Wild C.A.T.S, along with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Skeleton Warriors , was grouped into the "Action Zone" showcase that used a wraparound animated fly-though pre-credit sequence to bookend the three very different programs.[ citation needed ] The series was canceled around the same time that the "Action Zone" concept was officially retired (although TMNT retained the "Action Zone" credit sequence until the end of its run two years later).[ citation needed ] Following its cancellation, Wild C.A.T.s was picked up by USA Network and was aired as part of the USA Action Extreme Team block from 1995 to 1996.[ citation needed ]
The Wild C.A.T.s were composed of the original roster from the comic series. The major villain was Helspont, and the Troika and the Coda were featured as supporting characters. Mr. Majestic also made appearances, though not as a member of the group.
The series featured a rock soundtrack, with the theme song performed by Sheree Jeacocke and Gerry Mosby.
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
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1 | "Dark Blade Falling" | Bob Smith | David Wise | October 1, 1994 | |
Computer expert and martial artist Reno Bryce is ambushed by Daemonite agents, but is saved by the Wild C.A.T.s, who reveal that he is a descendant of the Kherubim. When his true form is unveiled as Warblade, Bryce runs away, only to be captured and possessed by the Daemonites. | |||||
2 | "Heart of Steel" | Bob Smith | David Wise | October 8, 1994 | |
After the Wild C.A.T.s stop the Troika from stealing top-secret data from Infidyne Corporation, Spartan reunites with Karyn, an Infidyne employee who was his old flame when he was still human. Karyn offers Spartan a second chance in life by regenerating his human body, but he is torn between his love for her and his duty as the team leader. | |||||
3 | "Cry of the Coda" | Bob Smith | Brooks Wachtel | October 15, 1994 | |
The Eastern European nation of Yurgovia threatens its neighbors with a weapon that generates earthquakes, and Helspont wants it for his quest to find the Orb. Marlowe sends the Wild C.A.T.s to Yurgovia to destroy the weapon, but Zealot discovers that her former pupil Artemis has turned the Coda into mercenaries working with the Daemonites. | |||||
4 | "The Evil Within" | Bob Smith | Len Uhley | October 29, 1994 | |
In order to take control of a spy satellite to help him locate the Orb, Helspont has the President of the United States possessed by a Daemonite. Meanwhile, after a falling out with Zealot, Voodoo goes AWOL and is led to believe that her parents are still alive and looking for her. | |||||
5 | "The Big Takedown" | Bob Smith | Bob Forward & David Wise | November 12, 1994 | |
Following a breach at a Halo Enterprises lab by the Troika, Grifter brings in his former pupil Lonely to help improve the security system of Marlowe's company. When Void notices that Lonely has been tagged with a Daemonite tracking dart, the Wild C.A.T.s stage a contingency plan during Lonely's security breach test to prevent the Troika from stealing a powerful x-ray lens, but Lonely reveals his ulterior motive to Grifter. | |||||
6 | "Lives in the Balance" | Bob Smith | Rich Fogel & Mark Seidenberg | November 19, 1994 | |
After wandering through space for thousands of years, the ancient Kherubim leader Majestyk awakens when his stasis pod crashes on Earth. He reveals to the Wild C.A.T.s that Helspont is after the Orb, but while Spartan's team is sent to Holland to foil a Troika diamond heist and Majestyk and Zealot teleport to Maryland to retrieve the quantum generator, Marlowe suspects Majestyk is hiding something inside the stasis pod. | |||||
7 | "Soul of a Giant" | Bob Smith | Bob Forward & Sean Catherine Derek | November 26, 1994 | |
Helspont hires an archaeologist to search for an ancient tablet that contains clues leading to the Orb. Maul discovers that the archaeologist is none other than his father, who he has not seen since his transformation. | |||||
8 | "Betrayed" | Bob Smith | Bob Forward & Brooks Wachtel | December 3, 1994 | |
During an attack at Halo Enterprises' headquarters, Marlowe is blasted with a Daemonite psionic transmitter. Warblade leaves to participate in a martial arts tournament in Japan, but when Helspont takes control of Marlowe's mind and jeopardizes the Wild C.A.T.s' mission in the Himalayas, he must decide between winning the trophy and saving his teammates. | |||||
9 | "Black Razor's Edge" | Bob Smith | Bob Forward | December 10, 1994 | |
Helspont locates the Orb, but in order to reach it, he plans to steal the U.S. government's new anti-missile laser. He also has the government's covert security team Black Razor track down and destroy the Wild C.A.T.s. Leading Black Razor is Max Cash, Grifter's estranged elder brother. | |||||
10 | "And Then There Were None" | Bob Smith | Bob Forward | December 17, 1994 | |
The Daemonites locate and unearth the temple containing the Orb. The Wild C.A.T.s arrive at the temple to stop Helspont from reaching the Orb, but all but Voodoo fall into the temple's traps. Being the least experienced member of the team, she must fend off against Helspont while finding a way to free her teammates. | |||||
11 | "M.V.P." | Bob Smith | Bob Forward | January 7, 1995 | |
Helspont has the Wild C.A.T.s framed for attacking the President on national TV and arrested by the Black Razor. He also steals two nuclear missiles to blast out the temple containing the Orb and destroy the Wild C.A.T.s at Fort Knox, but Marlowe uses his financial power to foil his plans. | |||||
12 | "The End Game, Part One" | Bob Smith | Rich Fogel & Mark Seidenberg | January 14, 1995 | |
While the Wild C.A.T.s prevent the Daemonites from stealing an anti-gravity device at a NASA research facility, Grifter is hit by a stasis cannon by a possessed Lonely. Zealot pursues Lonely across the city to avenge her comatose lover while the rest of the team sends the device to a more secure location, unaware that it is an elaborate trap set by Helspont. | |||||
13 | "The End Game, Part Two" | Bob Smith | Bob Forward | January 21, 1995 | |
Helspont has stolen the anti-gravity device and prepares a captured Zealot to become his newest servant. After being freed from Daemonite possession, Lonely rushes to Halo Enterprises to save Marlowe from being possessed. An injured Grifter awakens from his coma and heads for the Behemoth alone to rescue Zealot. Meanwhile, after Warblade cracks the Code of Threes, the Wild C.A.T.s return to the temple to release the Orb, but Voodoo realizes why it was sealed by the Elders in the first place. |
CBS published a one-shot comic book to promote the Action Zone time slot, featuring characters from Wild C.A.T.s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Skeleton Warriors. The cover art was illustrated by Jim Lee. [3]
Playmates Toys released a Wild C.A.T.s toy line of six-inch action figures from 1994 to 1995. The characters featured in the toy line were Spartan, Grifter, Zealot (Kherubim Warrior and Coda Uniform versions), Warblade, Maul (standard and Flexon Combat Suit versions), Voodoo, Void, Helspont, Pike, and a generic Daemonite. Mr. Majestic, Max Cash (as Black Razor), Slag, and a color variant of Pike were released as part of the comics-oriented "Image Universe" sub-line. The Bullet Bike was the sole vehicle in the toy line. In addition, Playmates released giant 10-inch figures of Spartan, Grifter, and Maul. [4]
A video game based on the TV series was published by Playmates Interactive in 1995 for the Super NES, with Spartan, Warblade, and Maul as the only playable characters. [5] [6]
TechnicallyIDoComics of The Top Tens ranked Wild C.A.T.s at No. 5 on his list of the Top Ten Worst Comic Book Animated TV Shows, commenting that "choppy animation, sloppy voice-directing, and -- most importantly -- the most careless writing of any superhero cartoon I've ever witnessed as far as plot progression, character development, and dialogue are all concerned. Add an embarrassingly obnoxious theme song (lyrics and all), and you've got a recipe for disaster". [2]
Wild C.A.T.s was released on VHS by Sony Wonder from 1994 to 1996. [7] Funimation released the complete series on DVD on July 19, 2005. [8] [9] The series is also available on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi. [10] [11]
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, commonly abbreviated as TMNT, is a media franchise created by the comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, four anthropomorphic turtle brothers trained in ninjutsu who fight evil in New York City. Supporting characters include the turtles' sensei, a rat called Splinter, their human friends April O'Neil and Casey Jones, and enemies such as Baxter Stockman, Krang, and their archenemy, the Shredder.
Wildstorm Productions is an American comic book imprint. Originally founded as an independent company established by Jim Lee under the name "Aegis Entertainment" and expanded in subsequent years by other creators, Wildstorm became a publishing imprint of DC Comics in 1998. Until it was shut down in 2010, the Wildstorm imprint remained editorially separate from DC Comics, with its main studio located in California. The imprint took its name from a portmanteau of the titles of the Jim Lee comic series WildC.A.T.S. and Stormwatch.
Wildcats, sometimes rendered WildCats or WildC.A.T.s, is a superhero team created by the American comic book artist Jim Lee and writer Brandon Choi.
Stormwatch is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by WildStorm, which later became an imprint of DC Comics. Created by Jim Lee, the team first appeared in Stormwatch #1. After the WildStorm imprint was retired and its universe was merged with the main DC Universe, the group was depicted as a secretive team of superheroes who tackle dangerous missions while remaining unknown to the larger superhero community.
Grifter is a superhero appearing in books published by Wildstorm Productions and DC Comics. Created by artist Jim Lee and writer Brandon Choi, he first appeared in WildC.A.T.s #1, as a member of that titular superhero team, during the period when Wildstorm and its properties were owned by Jim Lee. In that incarnation, Grifter is a former government operative and member of the military unit Team 7 and the espionage agency International Operations.
Travis Charest is a Canadian comic book penciller, inker and painter, known for his work on such books as Darkstars, WildC.A.T.s, Grifter/Shi, WildC.A.T.s/X-Men: The Golden Age and The Metabarons. He is known for his detailed line work and muted color palette, and is a much sought-after cover artist, having done extensive cover work for many other books, such as various Star Wars series from Dark Horse Comics. His work has influenced artists such as Chrissie Zullo, Shelby Robertson, and David Marquez.
Mr. Majestic is a Wildstorm Productions comic book superhero created by writer H. K. Proger and artist Jim Lee. He first appeared in a backup story within WildC.A.T.s #11. He is the most powerful hero in the WildStorm universe and bears a strong resemblance to DC's Superman.
Team One is a comic book team from Wildstorm Productions.
Voodoo is a comic book superhero, appearing in books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Brandon Choi and artist Jim Lee, she first appeared in WildC.A.T.s #1, which was produced by Jim Lee's studio, WildStorm comics, and published by Image Comics. After WildStorm and its properties were purchased by DC Comics in 1999, the character continued as a character in books under the WildStorm imprint, until DC discontinued the WildStorm imprint in December 2010.
Warblade is a comic book character from DC Comics/Wildstorm.
Helspont is a character in Wildstorm's comics who was transplanted to the DC Universe. In addition to the WildC.A.T.s, he has also fought Team One, Gen13, Backlash, and when folded into the DC Universe, Superman.
"Fire From Heaven" was a company-wide comics crossover event story arc published by American company WildStorm in 1996. The story ran across at least one issue of most WildStorm titles at the time and several independent one-shots. The story tied into many events happening in the WildStorm universe and, unlike many major crossovers of the time, Fire From Heaven had a lasting impact on many of the characters involved.
Wildcore was an American comic book series created and co-written by writer Sean Ruffner and artist Brett Booth debuting in 1997. Focusing on a team of superheroes of the same name, it was published by Wildstorm comics, then still a part of Image Comics, as a continuation of the series Backlash. After the series was canceled, the team's final story was told in the pages of Gen-Active, an anthology series.
WildC.A.T.S/Aliens was a one-shot comic book and intercompany crossover event, published by Wildstorm and Dark Horse Comics in 1998. The comic was written by Warren Ellis, pencilled by Chris Sprouse, with Kevin Nowlan inking and Laura Depuy as the colorist.
Action figures based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise have been produced by Playmates Toys since 1988. Staff artists at the Northampton, Massachusetts based Mirage Studios have provided conceptual designs for many of the figures, vehicles, and playsets and are credited on the packaging of the products they created.
WildC.A.T.s/X-Men was a crossover event by Image Comics and Marvel Comics in 1997 and 1998 that featured WildStorm's WildC.A.T.s meeting Marvel's X-Men. Originally released in four individual comics, each representing a different "age," the series was later collected by Image Comics/WildStorm as a trade paperback (ISBN 1-58240-022-9) in December 1998.
"Wildstorm Rising" was a crossover event published by Image Comics/WildStorm that involved the entire line of titles published by WildStorm in 1995.
Shaft is a superhero created by writer/artist Rob Liefeld. Liefeld created the character for his Extreme Studios as the leader of superhero team Youngblood.
Spawn/WildC.A.T.S. is an American comic book mini-series published by Image Comics, crossing over Todd McFarlane's Spawn and Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S.
Zealot is a comic book superhero who has appeared in books published by Wildstorm Productions and DC Comics. Created by artist Jim Lee and writer Brandon Choi, she first appeared in WildC.A.T.s #1, as a member of that titular superhero team, during the period when Wildstorm and its properties were owned by Jim Lee.