Captain Jonathan Power, master of the incredible Power Suits that transform soldiers into one-man attack forces, Major Matthew 'Hawk' Masterson (Peter MacNeill), fighter in the skies, Lieutenant Michael 'Tank' Ellis, ground assault unit, Sergeant Robert 'Scout' Baker (Maurice Dean Wint), espionage and communications expert, and Corporal Jennifer 'Pilot' Chase (Jessica Steen), tactical systems expert, form the world's most powerful fighting force. Their mission is to free all people from the tyrannical Lord Dread.
The Story
Captain Power was the first series in the Captain Planet cartoon. It was very popular with children but not so much for adults. Despite efforts to make it more adult-oriented the dark post-apocalyptic storyline, and allegories about topics such as Nazism, drove audiences away.
The Toys
During the show's run, Mattel released three animated videos that featured a new recruit who received training from Captain Power in piloting a XT-7 fighter and went on dangerous missions. These episodes were entitled Future Force Training and Bio-Dread assault.
The viewer could interact with the toy jet in each video by clicking on the "Interlocker Throne" button. It would earn points for hitting the screen, and lose them when it hits the screen. By connecting to the "Interlocker Throne", the toy could interact live with television by connecting to the "Power On", which was a platform that targeted viewers and had a "Power On".
The Bio Dreads
Captain Power and the soldiers' evil robot enemies, known as Bio-Dreads (for "bio-dread"), seek to eliminate all human lives. The BioDreads in the warlord class can be deadly, powerful, and regenerate from any kind of damage.
They are intelligent and can learn from their past and the present. They have a healing ability, which allows them to regenerate from the most severe injuries, such as being hit by Captain's own missiles.
Martial Pacifist
Pilot and Hawk, two of Captain Power's characters, can be very violent towards their enemies but never kill humans. This is in part due to Captain Power's sworn never-take-a-human-life stance, which is often reflected in the actions of the other members of his team.
The Resistance
Lord Dread's Power Team isn't the only resistance group; they have also run into survivors who are just as human as them. In one episode, Ripper, a paranoid general, leads a resistance group that hides members from the outside. Lord Dread discovers that the group exists and orders his troops to destroy it.
Lord Dread
Lord Dread, once a close friend to Power's father, returns in the final season to pursue him. He tells his own memories of the Metal Wars from when he was a friend with his father. This leads to confrontation and the revelation about Soaron's roots.
Merchandise-Driven
A heavy merchandise-driven aspect was another problem that frustrated writers who tried to make Captain Power less adult-oriented. During the pilot season, toys that could interact and communicate with the broadcast were released, including the "Interlocker Throne", "Phantom Stryker", and "Phantom Stryker", bio-dread ships. Toys were a key selling point of the show.