Best barbarian cartoon ever?

**Chris Wood** · 10-11-2002, 11:38 AM

What is your favorite barbarian cartoon of all time? You know, guys with huge bare chests and swords who fight dragons, wizards, and whatnot. Although there were a few series in the 60s, I think this genre really got rolling with the popularity of the Conan the Barbarian movies in the early 80s. Most of these series are a bit lean on plot and animation, but they do have their moments. My top three:

1. Thundarr the Barbarian - an easy number one. Great combination of Sci Fi and fantasy. Cool sidekicks, Jack Kirby designs, solid (for the time) animation, sunsword, and good plots. What more could you ask for? Check it out at Thundarr .

2. Blackstar - Not many people seem to remember this one, but it was not half bad, although rather brief. Again a cool mix of Sci Fi and fantasy, decent stories, and a great villain. Animation was your typical Filmation junk, but it got the job done. Could've done without those lame Trobbits though. There's a funny website about the series at Blackstar parody for any fans out there. Anyway, I much prefered this show to its more popular cousin He-Man.

3. Herculoids - Is this a real barbarian cartoon? Maybe not, but it's close. This was a pretty basic series in terms of story and animation, and the human characters are a bit bland, but the animal allies are awesome. The rock launching dinosaur Tundro and the Thing-like Igoo rocked. See Herculoids .

I should point out that I've never seen the Conan cartoon, but the animation seems to be pretty slick so maybe it deserves to be up here.

**StrangerAtaru** · 10-11-2002, 11:51 AM

Personal bias for Conan the Adventurer. While the others were OK somewhat, this was just a great action epic with many interesting characters, complex situations, and snake-men crawling out from behind the woodwork! Boy it has been a long time since I have seen this show!

**creeper** · 10-11-2002, 11:57 AM

Conan the adventurer of course.......i'm surprised they don't play it in re-runs....but anyways that was a great series...i'm glad they actually gave it an ending....too bad cbs screwed up the sequel by putting it on 5 o clock in the morning or not even showing it at all.........oh well.....still i love conan the adventurer and all the characters.

**RZetlin** · 10-11-2002, 12:06 PM

Conan the adventurer is my first pick.

The animation is horrid, but the plot developments kept the show interesting.

It is probably one of the few American cartoon shows that I know of that has a satisfying ending.

**Joe Wagner** · 10-11-2002, 12:40 PM

Tough poll - I'm quite a bit biased towards Blackstarr and He-Man but Conan was also enjoyable.

After thinking it through though I have to go with He-Man, the icon of my childhood.

-Joe!

**Kaner** · 10-11-2002, 03:06 PM

Oh man, I wish they still aired Thundarr. Though Thundarr was the main character, I really watched the show to see Ookla the Mock and his one reaction towards everything. Ookla is confronted by some mutants; shake fists and growl. Ookla is confused by some old tech; shake fists and growl. A little girl gives Ookla a flower; shake fists, growl, and scare little girl. Oh ye gods how I miss this cartoon.

-JerkBox

**J.C.** · 10-11-2002, 03:38 PM

Voted for He-Man. Feel that both the original and current series are the two best barbarian cartoons around. That's not counting the early 90's cartoon, of course, since it was more sci-fi then anything else. Not to mention it wasn't very good in the first place.

**Mynd Hed** · 10-11-2002, 05:16 PM

Does Mighty Max count? That had a barbarian in it, but I don't know if it would really count as a "barbarian cartoon" since the main character was not a barbarian. In any case, that was a surprisingly good show.

Still, I have to say that He-Man beats it out in terms of sheer barbarian bleearghing goodness.

**Batmex** · 10-11-2002, 08:33 PM

Thundarr is tha man!! End of discussion.

Bad attitude= checked
Neat Sword= Check
Beast sidekick= Check
Sexy Sidekick= check
Cool Story line= checked

'nuff said

**jeffrey 228** · 10-11-2002, 09:53 PM

He-Man is the most barbaric person around.

**Ruffian** · 10-11-2002, 11:55 PM

She-Ra, definitely not a barbarian. She doesn't even look like one. Now He-Man is harder to argue for.

IMO, He-Man may have grown out from the concept of Conan, but when his series came out I really don't see him as a barbarian. His world is more technologically advance. He is a prince and his moral values are very high. When I think barbarian, besides the fuzzy underwear, I think purely fantasy world (no science, no technology) and primitive (live off the land, tribal type). He-Man, besides looking like a barbarian, doesn't seem like one to me when you get deeper into who he is and where he's from.

**jeffrey 228** · 10-12-2002, 12:02 AM

Well I also did remember that both He-Man and She-Ra were helping togeather in a movie and stuff, don't remember the name.

**Frank White** · 10-12-2002, 01:20 PM

Conan

remembers Conan theme song

**Mynd Hed** · 10-12-2002, 02:24 PM

Bad attitude= checked
Neat Sword= Check
Beast sidekick= Check
Sexy Sidekick= check
Cool Story line= checked

You could say the same for He-Man.

**Batmex** · 10-12-2002, 09:20 PM

Originally posted by Mynd Hed
You could say the same for He-Man.

But Thundarr was first!

BTW:The new He-Man animated series rock! Gone was that ugly hair do he had in the Filmation's series and Skeletor get's a cool cape!

**wrenchien** · 10-13-2002, 12:12 AM

manga rules.

and new he man is rule

**Chris Wood** · 10-13-2002, 01:57 AM

Originally posted by Mynd Hed
You could say the same for He-Man.

No you can't. He-Man didn't have a bad attitude. He was like the barbarian version of Mr. Rogers. He also didn't have a whole lot going storywise. Basically Skeletor comes up with some harebrained scheme, and He-Man stops him. I think Thundarr was less predictable, and had a real sense of danger.

**Mynd Hed** · 10-13-2002, 03:49 AM

Well, it's all a matter of personal opinion really, but I'll agree with you that He-Man, the character, did not have a bad attitude.

**Sir Gatts** · 10-13-2002, 04:38 AM

Conan the Adventurer, now that really brings back memories. I might have at least one episode still on tape ...and now it looks like I'll have to search for it.

Edit, almost an hour later...
No find. Must be on one of those thousand unmarked tapes.