Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion - Final Thoughts

(art by Damon Batt, colored by Brandy Dixon)

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Tony

Trying to summarize my final thoughts on Sectaurs reminded me of when I was in school, and a kid who I never really talked to would hand me their yearbook and ask me to sign it. I would stand there wracking my brain, searching for something substantive to write while they looked on in anticipation. Ultimately, I would end up writing something generic like "Have a great Summer!" As I sit here now, with Dargon and Co. looking on, I'm fighting the urge to just write "Enjoy your banishment!" and head for the bus.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion - The Toyline

Tony

While Sectaurs has many unique concepts of its own, it's pretty clear that Coleco were looking to cash in on the enormous success of Mattel's sci-fantasy phenomenon Masters of the Universe. So why did Dargon and his companions ultimately not have "The Power" with kids? Let's find out.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, issue 8 "Battle and Betrayal"

Apologies for the delays and scheduling snafus of the last few weeks. Minnesota weather and all that.

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Two armies converge on the location of the Hyve: Regent Galken and the forces of the Shining Realm, and Empress Devora and her armies of the Dark Domain. Angry words are exchanged, where it's revealed Galken was himself once a warrior before becoming an administrator, and his knowledge of the hell unleashed on the battlefield is what's made him so hesitant to fight. But today is the day worthy of battle, so the armies clash.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, issue 7 "The Hyve"

We at the Showcase would like to extend our condolences to the family, friends, and followers of video host Justin "Jew Wario" Carmical, who we sadly lost earlier this week.

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Our heroes approach the Hyve, even as they continue their debate about whether or not the power within is evil. They come under attack by the Hyve's guardians, a massive tarantula named Naurr, and a serpent/centipede named Vipex. During the battle, everyone rolls their eyes as Pinsor's pledges of love for Stellara, and Zak is chastised for being flippant and reckless. They eventually defeat the guardians when they realize Vipex has feelings for Naurr, so he'll stay by the tarantula's side when it's bound and stunned.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, issue 6 "Family Reunion"

As our heroes take in the gifts given to them by the fairy queen, Zak and Stellara fuse their orbs together, creating a dragonfly-like sky sled which is quickly branded Wing-Thing. It's a lifeless vehicle, created through their desire to have something for the bulk of the party to ride, as only Dargon and Pinsor have insectoids large enough to travel on. Pinsor worries about the heresy of this celebration of magic, but it's mostly due to his bitterness over no longer having to share a saddle with Stellara.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, issue 5 "Fairy Tales Do Come True"

Our heroes are once again attacked by Spidrax's forces. Just as Dargon takes a nasty lash to the neck, a glowing cloud swoops in, enveloping our heroes and transporting them to a magical woodland setting. It turns out they're on a massive starship, hotly divided between the fae factions of Laina, and the goblin forces of Gargantua. Dargon, healed from his wound by Laina's magic, agrees to smite Gargantua for the nobility of being noble.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, issue 4 "Stellara's Choice"

The Royal Guard have caught up to our heroes, cornering them between the Perilous Cliffs and the Sea of Acid Rain. Mantor uses his "sorcery" to create a distraction while the others scale the cliffs, and our heroes get away.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, issue 3 "Treason"

Dargon is exchanging gunfire with the Royal Guard while Pinsor drags a captured and struggling Regent Galken to the hidden chamber beneath the throne room. There, Galken is shocked to learn that Mantys - now revealing his real name of Mantor - is a Keeper, as Ancient technology is activated which shows the throne room in the capital of the Dark Domain, where Devora plots against Prosperon. Galken is stunned, but comes to believe these men, who are using the cover of treason so they can investigate and fight the Dark Domain while allowing Galken to publicly brand them heretics to maintain the peace. Galken begrudgingly agrees to do so, and he plays his part as he directs fresh guards after the running trio.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, issue 2 "The Deadly Fog"

Dargon, Pinsor, and Mantys are making their final preps to set out and investigate what happened to the farming village. Zak insists they let him join, but they want to keep the party light, and his fiance, Belana, is fearful for his safety. Regent Galken then intrudes, furious the Prince would put himself in danger, and continuing to spout the council's stance that the Keepers are to be blamed for the storm and peace negotiations with Devora are to be respected. He's hit with two surprises: 1) that Dargon has his father's sword, 2) that Pinsor lost family in the town which was sacked, and witnessed the atrocities committed by the Dark Domain. Galken then orders them to go ahead with the investigation, but to take no action against the Dark Domain until any evidence they gather can be presented to the council.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, issue 1 "Upheaval"

On the planet of Symbion, where humanoid life has evolved from insects, slaves toil in the Dark Domain, where Empress Devora rules from her capital city, Synax. The last piece of land left for her to conquer is the collection of free kingdoms known as the Shining Realm. A treaty exists between the two sides, but Devora is already testing the waters of resistance by invading small border towns under the guise of cleansing them of heretics known as Keepers. One such village is the hometown of Pinsor, a proud knight visiting his friends and family just in time to witness them fall under Devora's forces, led by General Spidrax and his faithful lieutenant Waspax.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, episode 5 "Battle of the Hyve"

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Our heroes pick themselves up out of the avalanche that hit them, all largely unharmed. They spend the next 3 days wandering through snowy, wind-swept crags. Dargon tracks down some food, but cooking it attracts a pair of giant scorpions. Our heroes fight the creatures off, but lose the food.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, episode 4 "Trapped in the Acid Desert"

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Our heroes fight off the Viper Vines, but Zak collapses, poisoned from a bite. He tells the others to go on without him, but they decide to sidequest to a healer, the Medicine Beetle atop Mount Sectaur in the heart of the Acid Desert. Spidrax is pleased at this news and sidequests himself to keep attacking the heroes while they're at their weakest. Our heroes keep winning.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, episode 3 "Valley of the Stones"

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His men and beasts desperate for a brief rest, Dargon agrees to stop at a nearby inn/tavern run by a slovenly man named Ranko, whom Pinsor recognizes as the former magistrate of the Valley of Stones, who was deposed for being corrupt. Just as Ranko tries to angrily defend himself, Spidrax's forces raid the place. Our heroes fight valiantly, but with their insectoids locked in the stables out back, they're at a disadvantage, and Pinsor is taken captive with the threat to stop their pursuit if they want to see their friend alive. Out back, Ranko is paid off by Spidrax for having laced the Sybionian insectoids' hay with a potion which prevents telebonding.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, episode 2 "Slave City"

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Dargon and the Knights of the Shining Realm run for cover as they're fired on by Spidrax and the Dark Domain forces. The two sides duke it out until Spidrax's forces retreat. Dargon's pursuit is delayed by Pinsor hanging from a cliff. When they finally do give chase, they're then sidetracked by a giant wasp who seals them into its giant hive. Attempting to escape, Pinsor breaches a wall only to catch everybody up in a flood of golden fluid. Dargon and Dragonflyer are separated from the others and find a way out. The others hook themselves into roots over a waterfall feeding into the boiling Sea of Acid Rain. Unable to hold on much longer, they position themselves over a large log and jump, riding it on the current while worrying about how rapidly it's dissolving.

Sectaurs: Warriors of Symbion, episode 1 "Spidrax Attacks"

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According to the opening titles, our story is set on a distant world called Symbion (cryptic name, that). It's unclear if this is a human-like society or a future human colony, but constant biological engineering escapes scientific control, leading to rampant mutations and fusions between species. Over time, a new species evolves: the Sectaurs, a fusion of human and insect. Dargon is the leader prince of the Shining Realm, fighting an endless fight for dominance of the world with the forces of the Dark Domain, led by General Spidrax.