Key Takeaways:
– M.A.N.T.I.S was a ground-breaking superhero TV show created by comic book legends Sam Raimi and Sam Hamm.
– Despite the initial success of the TV movie, drastic changes in the main series resulted in its downfall.
– Carl Lumbly portrayed the complex character, Dr. Miles Hawkins, brilliantly and continues to have a successful acting career.
– The original intent of the show was somewhat lost when the network decided to alter key features, impacting its original success.
Imagine you’re given an excellent present, like a yacht, and then it gets changed entirely – you’d be annoyed, right? Well, this happened with a superhero TV show in the ’90s called M.A.N.T.I.S. Sam Raimi and Sam Hamm, two genius guys behind epic comic book movies like Spiderman and the 1989 Batman, created this show. With their names on board, you’d have thought it was going to be a mega-hit.
Back to the Beginning: M.A.N.T.I.S.
This strange yet intriguing journey started in 1993 when Fox asked Sam Raimi and Sam Hamm to create a superhero show. They came up with M.A.N.T.I.S, short for Mechanically Augmented Neuro Transmitter Interception System. An impressive TV movie or pilot was then produced, starring Carl Lumbly as Dr. Miles Hawkins.
Dr. Miles Hawkins was a genius, but not a very nice one. He felt little empathy for the less fortunate, particularly the poor black community. This all took a turn when he got paralyzed during a riot and found out a cop was responsible. He tried suing the city, but lost, making him realize the system he trusted was flawed after all.
Dr. Hawkins then turns his genius to create a suit that gives him the ability to walk again, darts that can freeze people, and a transforming vehicle – pretty awesome, right?
Carl Lumbly: The Man Behind MANTIS
Carl Lumbly has been an incredible actor since the ’80s. Before M.A.N.T.I.S., he played notable roles like in the cult film ‘The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.’ After M.A.N.T.I.S, he had a long successful career, featuring in hit series like Alias and House of Usher.
The TV movie was highly praised not only for its action-packed sequences and quality special effects but also for the diversity of its non-white cast. The supporting cast included talented actors like Bobby Hosea, Gina Torres, Steve James, Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Christopher M. Brown.
A Change in Direction
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Despite the TV movie’s smashing success, the network went on to drastically change the series, leading to the show’s downfall. Like destroying that perfect yacht and turning it into something unrecognizable.
So, what happened? That’s a story for another time. What we should remember is that M.A.N.T.I.S., in its original version, broke barriers and set standards, which is why it should never be forgotten. Stay tuned for more tales from the archives of ‘Gone But Not Forgotten.’
