An epic storyline taking place on Prysmos, a futuristic society where all technology and complex machinery suddenly ceases to function, and its citizens are forced to rely on ancient magic to survive.
This is the world of Visionaries - Knights of the Magical Light!
For one brief season in 1987, millions of kids tuned in on Sunday mornings to experience this glorious Arthurian fantasy-SciFi mashup.
Each knight had an enchanted animal totem chestplate based on their individual personalities and could transform into those very creatures!
Some of the knights were even given a staff or vehicles enchanted with various magic powers that were only activated by reciting special rhyming incantations.
"Whispered secrets of a shattered age, I summon you: renew this sage!" - Leoric
13 episodes was all our world got.
Along with 6 comic books and an EPIC Hasbro toy line.
The toys had armor and helmets and weapons, but best of all . . .
. . . they had badass HOLOGRAMS!
Some original Visionaries action figures I wish I had (from an eBay seller listing)
Oh, what a time.
My memories of this series and toy line had become dim over the decades until a fortuitous eBay listing turned up the lights.
1987 Marvel Books “A Big Looker Storybook" - “Visionaries: The Mystical Mirror of Prysmos” - with artwork by an artist I recognized instantly.
Join Rediscovered Realms and the Knights of the Magical Light for a quick peek.
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As I’ve talked about in my other Rediscovered Realms newsletters, I have always been drawn to anything that smacks of Fantasy.
The “Dungeons & Dragons” and “Dragon’s Lair” cartoon series had both ended back in ‘85, and “Disney’s Adventures of the Gummi Bears” was about the closest fantasy-like cartoon series left on television to quench my interest.
Travel back in time with Rediscovered Realms to see the BEST Saturday morning cartoon lineup ever and visit our favorite D&D heroes:
So, when Visionaries series came out in 1987 with knights and magic and cool names like Merklynn, Cindarr, Galadria, Leoric, Darkstorm and others, it felt like one of the coolest things ever.
I couldn’t wait to get to Sunday to tune-into another episode.
The voice-acting on the Visionaries animated series was superb, with many famous folks you’ll recognize:
Peter Cullen: (Venger, Optimus Prime)
Christopher Collins (Latta): (Cobra Commander, Starscream)
Jim Cummings: (Winnie the Pooh and dozens of other Disney films)
Jonathan Harris: (Dr. Zachary Smith from Lost in Space)
Roscoe Lee Browne: (Saunders from Soap, Kingpin in Spider-Man, and a slew of 70s and 80s sitcom performances)
Because of having no internet back then, you never really knew when a series was cancelled - you just sort of figured it out after a year or so of re-runs being shown.
Needless to say, once I realized Visionaries was no longer being made (after my brother and I acquired 1 Visionaries action figure each!), I felt just like the planet of Prysmos for a while - as if all my internal technology and complex machinery ceased to function.
"Wind of sickness, illness most vile, strike down my enemy; with disease revile!" - Virulina
Cryotek action figure (from an eBay seller listing)
It’s probably why I forced the memories of this series and toys to the corners of my mind as a coping mechanism.
But get this! In case you want to re-watch the series - or never got a chance to experience it - “Danny Caught TV” curated the entire series on his YouTube channel!
"By warmth of heart, your pain I feel. Grant me the power your wounds to heal!" - Galadria
Apparently, back then, the toys were really expensive to produce, and so all the planned merchandise and future episodes went up in smoke.
“A second round of characters was intended to be released for the toy line which inspired the show, though never came to fruition when the line failed due to the expense and time needed to make their fragile breastplate and shield holograms.
It would have included the Spectral Knights Cybron (master of the Sky Bucket vehicle), Lazorslash, Slywire, Malitor, Ramazon, Hydron, Craggor, and Ramak with the Air Blade and Joust vehicles; and Darkling Lords Osteon (master of the Grappler vehicle) Kabor, Braxe, Cyclor, Lizar, Pyrok, Croil, Aquarrior (whose being listed as a Darkling Lord may have been an error since, though he had gold armor, he had a Spectral Knight unicorn rather than a dragon chest-plate), and Draculan with the Battle Axxer and Crossbow vehicles.
Figures for Galadria and Virulina were not created. Nor was one for Merklynn, but a holographic image of him was meant to appear in the trap-laden Iron Mountain set also intended to be sold. The Sun Imps also would have received holographic likenesses on wheels.”
Michael Mercy did an EXCELLENT video about the Visionaries toys that I highly recommend:
Enough Mystical Light history - now on to the Mystical Mirror tour.
Just like Marvel’s licensing deal with TSR’s Dungeons & Dragons around this time, Hasbro partnered up with Marvel Books for some literature/activity-book merch:
This particular book was illustrated by none other than Earl Norem! Earl was an incredible artist especially known for his pulp covers, Conan the Barbarian, and even an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons storybook . . . also by Marvel!
See more of Norem’s illustrations in this Rediscovered Realms newsletter:
I loved Norem’s style in his AD&D storybook, and he doesn’t disappoint with this Visionaries Big Looker Storybook. Take a (big) look:
I enjoyed the story as well - it was short and fun. Nothing profound, but expedient with a couple good character trait lessons. (Afterall, we all should strive to be good & noble knights, right?)
I’m glad I found the Mystical Mirror of Prysmos in adulthood. Through its pages, it reflected back to me the long-forgotten self-truths of the joy & wonderment I experienced from this magical show and toys.
If I could just invoke Arzon’s magical staff of knowledge to find out where I lost my Visionaries action figure . . .
“A whim, a thought, and more is sought. Awake my mind: thy will be wrought!” - Arzon
Some lucky adventurer is going to win - will it be you?
Red Sonja Hot Sauce! Jade City Foods does brandable food items, including hot sauce, teas, coffees and more. Some of the fantasy brands I noticed include: Edgar Rice Burrough’s Tarzan, The Dark Crystal, Disenchantment, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, and Frazetta!
By the way: If you like the idea of Stonefold Kingdoms, make sure to check out Rediscovered Realms’ “Dungeons Pop” article with its creator, Jon Irons.
Had quite a few of the Visionaries figures when I was younger. Sadly lost to the ages now!
Those rhyming incantations are pretty epic. Always been a fan of a solid rhyming incantation.