I'm watching the first disc of Fireball XL5 today. The series had one season of 39 episodes and 8 of them are included on the first disc. They are in production order on the disc, not air date order, just like the Supercar series was.
That's Colonel Steve Zodiac, Dr Venus and Professor Matthew "Matt" Matic above. Even though they live in 2062 they have pretty much 1950's attitudes. There's really not much Imagineering going on in the series. They have some vague idea of how space works but they don't worry about knowing anything. They make up stuff like air pills which allow one to breathe in space without a space suit. No mention on how anyone would survive the cold or decompression. Still, little kids aren't ever going to get that, so who am I to complain. The stories are more ambitious than the Supercar stories and we do get to see a lot of different planets and aliens. Here's one now.
Planet 46 October 28 1962
Bad news, there's a planotmic missile headed for earth, Good news, they blow it up. Steve, with Doctor Venus and Professor Matic, takes the Fireball Xl-5 on a mission to investigate the planet the missile came from. They find some underground dwelling folk who want to blow up the Earth for no good reason, other than they're dicks.
That's one of the aliens on the left and Robert the robot on the right. He can blow his top. Must be steam powered. Steve and his team get caught when they arrive and Dr Venus is put on a second missile headed for Earth. Steve will soon kick some alien ass and save the Earth.
Hypnotic Sphere October 13 1963
An alien brain critter has a special glowing globe that hypnotizes people. He hypnotizes space fuel transporter crews and steals their fuel to power more of the globes so he can conquer the universe. His plan is doomed for failure once Steve Zodiac gets on his trail.
Planet Of Platonia January 20 1963
There's intrigue in the court of the Plantium Planet and Steve comes to the rescue. That's the King on the left and his aide Volvo on the right.
Volvo turns out to be a spy for the usurper to the throne. The Fireball Team will catch Volvo in the act and save the King.
Space Magnet October 27 1963
The Solar's are stealing the moon because they don't have one. Luckily Gerry and Sylvia didn't remember that the moon affects the tides and the like. I don't think they have the budget for that sort of effect. Fireball XL5 heads to the alien's planet and they get the moon back.
The Doomed Planet November 4 1962
The Fireball XL5 team have to blow up a planet that's broken out of it's orbit and headed for another planet that's defenseless.
Plant Man From Space November 18 1962
Dr Rootes wants to conqueror the Earth. Since he's a plant scientist he uses an invasive species of vine to smother everything. It's not a well thought out plan and Professor Matic has a herbicide to fix things up.
The Sun Temple December 2 1962
These aliens kidnap Doctor Venus and plan to sacrifice her to their sun god. Steve comes along and blows up their temple.
Space Immigrants November 11 1962
Those are the Lillispatians. They're pretty much jerks and in much need of being ass kicked.
I liked the stories more as I went along but they just aren't quite as much fun as Supercar. I was hoping I'd like them more than I do. That's the way it goes.
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