Search for the Starsword

The first episode of the series is nothing to write home about. Basically, our heroes go on a picnic in a lovely barren canyon at the edge of the Pit of Darkness (how romantic!) and promptly manage to lose the Starsword down a deep, fiery chasm. The use of stock animation in this episode is painfully obvious, with Mara levitating the lava locs and Blackstar tossing them down the chasm in exactly the same fashion each time. Yeah, as if that will stop them.

The picnic itself is an absolute hoot to watch. The heroes toast each other, and though no specific reference to alcohol is made we know it's just a matter of time before Blackstar and Klone start stacking beer cans and pissing off the edge of the canyon. In fact, now would be a good time to take the keys to Warlock and pocket the Starsword, because friends just don't let friends fly drunk, or attempt to save the universe after one too many brewskys.

The only legitimate reason Blackstar might have to look so annoyed when the lava locs crash the party is that they forgot to bring their own kegs.



Meanwhile, back at the Sagar Tree, we're introduced to the Trobbits, who for some reason weren't invited to this wild three-way frat party. They have some cute moments, with the gardener Terra aimlessly chatting to the Sagar Tree and Carpo's waterproof "ark." We're not going to nitpick at how the Trobbits can make a cultural reference to Noah's Ark, because presumably Blackstar, in the absence of comic books or really good porn, must have entertained them with all his favorite Bible stories. This episode also sets the convention that whenever trouble comes, the Trobbits must attempt to rescue Our Hero, and naturally must bungle it. Sometimes we wonder if it's simply not just the Starsword the Trobbits are trying to save. I mean, Blackstar can't possibly be worth that much trouble.

The Overlord makes his entrance here, and man, what an entrance it is. Some evil posturing that both awes and terrifies his Vizir and guards, and we learn exactly what kind of obsession this guy has with getting the Starsword. He's even got a shrine to it embedded in the icy wall of his castle. Dreaming of the absolute power he's going to enjoy when he gets the Starsword back and reunites the Powerstar, he sends the lava locs out to do his dirty work for him.

The lava locs apparently worship this guy, and go all out to get the Starsword for him, as well as send him a beautifully engraved invitation to the sacrifice they're about to make of Mara.

Apparently Mara can't work her magic without free use of her hands, which the lava locs quickly take care to restrain.



In true second banana fashion, Klone just isn't interesting enough to be sacrificed, and the lava locs unceremoniously dump him on the ground while making off with Mara, but just that leaves him free to rescue Blackstar from becoming a meal for a nest of hungry anchorbat hatchlings. Considering the number of times Our Hero needs rescuing--as well as the unforgivable error of losing the Starsword (it won't be the first time)--it's a surprise the series didn't end right here. Okay, he's fresh off the shuttle, we presume, but one would expect certain standards of intelligence from a NASA astronaut. Then again, he did manage to get himself flushed down a black hole without really trying....

Although they have a neat trick of melting into the rock around them, the lava locs are incredibly goofy as villains (that didn't stop Galoob from making an equally goofy toy of them), but they apparently have their uses, because they show up again in "Spacewrecked."

Listen to the soundtrack and you'll quickly realize a record is set for the number of times you can say the word "Starsword" in twenty minutes while still making sense. Sure, it's the first episode, but we saw the Introduction, we understand the importance of this ugly-ass sword. There's no need to hit us over the head with it.

Also, if you listen closely to the soundtrack, you also will hear an odd warbling in the musical score that corresponds with Warlock. This might have been an attempt to give the dragon his own theme, though it is never again heard in any other episode.

As we see later with "Lightning City of the Clouds" and "Mermaid of the Serpent Sea," writer Tom Ruegger is a bit lacking in the episode title department. There really isn't any "search" involved with the Starsword; our heroes know exactly who's got it and where it's likely to end up if they don't move fast.

Sometimes, Blackstar learns, handling the Starsword requires a good pair of oven mitts.

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