Before superheroes conquered the big screen, Space Ghost ruled the cosmos of Saturday-morning TV. Premiering in 1966, this Hanna-Barbera classic followed the stoic hero Space Ghost, voiced by Gary Owens, as he patrolled the galaxy alongside teen sidekicks Jan and Jace, and their pet monkey Blip.
Clad in a flowing white cape and armed with wrist-mounted power bands, Space Ghost battled interstellar villains like Zorak, Brak, and Metallus in dazzling, pulp-inspired adventures. The show’s sleek design, moody space backdrops, and heroic music gave it a tone unlike most of its cartoon contemporaries — dramatic, cosmic, and cool.
Though limited in animation, Space Ghost’s visual flair and serious tone inspired generations of superhero and sci-fi animators. Decades later, he’d return in parody form with Space Ghost Coast to Coast — proof that true cult icons never fade into the void.
