Ben Lathrop
@benlathrop13.bsky.social
Expat Iowan, former Horror Host and present Librarian & Author.
(He/Him)
BenLathrop.com
http://getbook.at/HorrorShow
(He/Him)
BenLathrop.com
http://getbook.at/HorrorShow
Howard Berger came to talk at my college and brought a bunch of small props from KNB’s recent projects. He autographed this Polaroid of Jeff’s Rush’s head for me. (Says “heads off!”)
October 18, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Howard Berger came to talk at my college and brought a bunch of small props from KNB’s recent projects. He autographed this Polaroid of Jeff’s Rush’s head for me. (Says “heads off!”)
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day."
October 14, 2025 at 1:02 PM
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day."
Every year I somehow forget that it's going to be like this...
October 1, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Every year I somehow forget that it's going to be like this...
Why do you think people are inclined to say that? Like is it just nostalgia, or maybe that they're actually describing something else about the "look" of that era and are using the wrong term?
September 25, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Why do you think people are inclined to say that? Like is it just nostalgia, or maybe that they're actually describing something else about the "look" of that era and are using the wrong term?
Has anyone ever heard of these? Seen them "in the wild?"
September 16, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Has anyone ever heard of these? Seen them "in the wild?"
So what's the deal? Was Power Masters a failed gamble on the over-saturated action figure market? Was it some kind of tax write off? Maybe both?
September 16, 2025 at 6:59 PM
So what's the deal? Was Power Masters a failed gamble on the over-saturated action figure market? Was it some kind of tax write off? Maybe both?
Interestingly, the "Powermasters" (one word) sub line of the Transformers came out in 1988. "Power Master" (two words) is used by Lionel as the name of a model train control unit, but I wonder if there was a closed door trademark claim.
September 16, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Interestingly, the "Powermasters" (one word) sub line of the Transformers came out in 1988. "Power Master" (two words) is used by Lionel as the name of a model train control unit, but I wonder if there was a closed door trademark claim.
Had to be some kind of limited distribution at the least. Lionel did own a few toy retail chains, mostly on the east coast. Maybe that's where these all went - but again - it couldn't have been cheap. There's a lot of tooling and detailed artwork on the packaging.
September 16, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Had to be some kind of limited distribution at the least. Lionel did own a few toy retail chains, mostly on the east coast. Maybe that's where these all went - but again - it couldn't have been cheap. There's a lot of tooling and detailed artwork on the packaging.
I was (am) an "inside kid." I spent most of the 1980s obsessing over toys like these - haunting toy departments and discount toy stores, pouring over Sears and JC Pennys catalogs, watching endless commercials...I had never seen these until yesterday.
Were they only sold at specialty train stores?
Were they only sold at specialty train stores?
September 16, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I was (am) an "inside kid." I spent most of the 1980s obsessing over toys like these - haunting toy departments and discount toy stores, pouring over Sears and JC Pennys catalogs, watching endless commercials...I had never seen these until yesterday.
Were they only sold at specialty train stores?
Were they only sold at specialty train stores?
And then there's the toys -- Detailed, motorized vehicles with articulated mini-figures at a $7 price point (about $20 in today-dollars) and larger scale vehicles at $15.
September 16, 2025 at 6:46 PM
And then there's the toys -- Detailed, motorized vehicles with articulated mini-figures at a $7 price point (about $20 in today-dollars) and larger scale vehicles at $15.
Which is to say - this one off show couldn't have been cheap.
Yet it seems to have been unceremoniously scrapped after one broadcast.
Yet it seems to have been unceremoniously scrapped after one broadcast.
September 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Which is to say - this one off show couldn't have been cheap.
Yet it seems to have been unceremoniously scrapped after one broadcast.
Yet it seems to have been unceremoniously scrapped after one broadcast.
But I'm really intrigued by the story *behind* Power Masters -- The animation is very high quality. Apparently it was Japanese animation studio TMS Entertainment. And the voice over talent included 80's animation mainstays Peter Cullen, Chris Latta, Roscoe Lee Brown, Michael Bell & Jennifer Darling
September 16, 2025 at 6:40 PM
But I'm really intrigued by the story *behind* Power Masters -- The animation is very high quality. Apparently it was Japanese animation studio TMS Entertainment. And the voice over talent included 80's animation mainstays Peter Cullen, Chris Latta, Roscoe Lee Brown, Michael Bell & Jennifer Darling
The story of Power Masters is in line with similar series of the time: A team of super science soldiers with cool robot partners fight aliens in the future.
September 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM
The story of Power Masters is in line with similar series of the time: A team of super science soldiers with cool robot partners fight aliens in the future.
A youtube account called Professor Doc uploaded clips from their personal home video recording. This appears to be the only existing video.
www.youtube.com/@ProfessirDo...
www.youtube.com/@ProfessirDo...
Professor Doc
www.youtube.com
September 16, 2025 at 6:32 PM
A youtube account called Professor Doc uploaded clips from their personal home video recording. This appears to be the only existing video.
www.youtube.com/@ProfessirDo...
www.youtube.com/@ProfessirDo...
As far as I can tell, Power Masters appears to have aired only once, the day after Thanksgiving, and in only in the Detroit market.
One article refers to a 90 minute special being a "pilot" for a series of 4 30 minute episodes - but I assume that really means the special broken into 4 pieces.
One article refers to a 90 minute special being a "pilot" for a series of 4 30 minute episodes - but I assume that really means the special broken into 4 pieces.
September 16, 2025 at 6:26 PM
As far as I can tell, Power Masters appears to have aired only once, the day after Thanksgiving, and in only in the Detroit market.
One article refers to a 90 minute special being a "pilot" for a series of 4 30 minute episodes - but I assume that really means the special broken into 4 pieces.
One article refers to a 90 minute special being a "pilot" for a series of 4 30 minute episodes - but I assume that really means the special broken into 4 pieces.
Lionel Trains were sold by General Mills to Richard Kughn, a Detroit area model train enthusiast, in 1986, becoming Lionel Trains Incorporated. For the holiday season of the following year, they announced a new toy line with an animated special: Power Masters.
September 16, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Lionel Trains were sold by General Mills to Richard Kughn, a Detroit area model train enthusiast, in 1986, becoming Lionel Trains Incorporated. For the holiday season of the following year, they announced a new toy line with an animated special: Power Masters.
Check out Zombie Burger while you're in town www.zombieburgerdm.com/des-moines-d...
Downtown Des Moines — Zombie Burger
www.zombieburgerdm.com
September 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Check out Zombie Burger while you're in town www.zombieburgerdm.com/des-moines-d...
Very cool -- Is there an ETA?
September 9, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Very cool -- Is there an ETA?
Ah - was the head gold too or is that just from the flash in the picture?
August 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Ah - was the head gold too or is that just from the flash in the picture?
What did that one look like?
I was also a big fan of this design - one of the standouts from that line for me.
I was also a big fan of this design - one of the standouts from that line for me.
August 25, 2025 at 1:29 PM
What did that one look like?
I was also a big fan of this design - one of the standouts from that line for me.
I was also a big fan of this design - one of the standouts from that line for me.