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: to free all human beings from the tyrannical rule of Lord Dread.
The Story
Captain Power, the original series of Captain Planet cartoons was a hit with children. But it did not appeal to adults. Despite attempts to make the show more adult-oriented, its dark, post-apocalyptic storyline and allegories on topics like Nazism drove away audiences.
Toys
Mattel released three animated video clips during the run of the show. One featured a recruit who had received training from Captain Power to pilot a XT-7 fighter aircraft and went on dangerous mission. These episodes were titled Future Force Training, Bio-Dread Assault, and Raid On Volcania.
Each video shows a viewer playing with a toy plane. The viewer would gain points when the jet shot at the screen and lose points when it was hit. The toy could also interact with the live action television broadcast by plugging into an "Interlocker Throne" that had a target viewer and the "Power On" platform.
The Bio-Dreads
The Bio-Dreads are the evil robot enemies of Captain Power and his soldiers, whose goal is to wipe out all human life. The BioDreads in the warlord class can be deadly, powerful, and regenerate from any kind of damage.
They are extremely intelligent and can learn from past and present events as well as their surroundings. They have a healing power, so they can heal even the most severe wounds.
Martial Pacifist
Pilot and Hawk are violent characters in Captain Power's universe, but they don't kill anyone. 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 does not represent the only resistance to Lord Dread's rule. They have met survivors who are all too human. Ripper, a paranoid leader of the resistance, hides his members from all outsiders in an episode. When Lord Dread discovers the group's existence, he sends his troops to destroy the base.
Lord Dread
Lord Dread, Power's close friend, reappears in the final season and attempts to track him down. He shares his memories of the Metal Wars when he was with his father. This leads to a confrontation with Soaron and the revelation of his origins.
Merchandise-Driven
Another thing that frustrated the writers' attempts to make Captain Power more adult-oriented was its heavy merchandise-driven aspect. During the premiere season, toys such as the Interlocker Throne and the Phantom Stryker Bio-Dreadship were available that could interact to the broadcast. The show's toys were a major selling point.