Forgotten DIC Cartoons: Super Dave

Many of DIC'S cartoon series are still well-remembered and loved by many fans. Inspector Gadget, Heathcliff, Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario Bros. Super Show...all made by DIC, and all remembered fondly. However, there are a number of DIC shows that seem to have been forgotten over time, and I am here today to tell you about one of them. In 1992, DIC created a show for the Fox Kids Saturday morning lineup entitled Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire, starring the animated likeness of the comedic daredevil, known for getting injured (with comedic results, of course) by his own stunts. I am probably one of the very few people out there who remembers the show rather well, and I am here to give you what might be the most comprehensive article about this surprisingly entertaining, but unknown, series.

As in various variety shows and his live-action series on Showtime, Super Dave was played by Bob Einstein. In the animated series, he ran his very own compound along with his diminutive assistant, Fuji. The basic plots of each self-contained episode would involve Super Dave trying to save the day from various threats. For example, in one episode, some astronauts were stranded in space, with their oxygen supply quickly running out. It was up to Super Dave to blast off into outer space and rescue the endangered spacemen. Of course, various evil villains would try to stand in his way. The most prominent antagonist was the bionic man Slash Hazard, who wanted to become a stuntman himself and try to make Super Dave look bad.

The missions were not easy, especially since Super Dave was bound to be hurt at practically every moment. His stunts might backfire a little, he might get bit by a snake and swell up considerably, or he might get pinned under a space station that has fallen to earth. Since this was a cartoon, the pain was naturally not real and was intended to be played for laughs. Despite all the danger, Super Dave and Fuji would always prevail, saving the day and stopping the villains from fulfilling their evil desires.

Very frequently, the fourth wall would be broken, with Super Dave addressing the young viewers directly. In one episode, he apologized for a recap of what happened earlier, as they needed something to fill in any leftover time for the half-hour show. Characters would often allude to the fact that they were in a Saturday morning cartoon, and I even remember, quite clearly, an episode in which the words "continued next week" appeared. Super Dave complained how they could not have a show without an ending. At the end of each episode, he told his audience how he would see them next week.

At the time that the series was made, DIC had some of its show have live action segments. Super Dave was no exception, as each episode concluded with a prerecorded live stunt starring the comedic daredevil. After briefly alluding to the cartoon that had just aired, Super Dave would be involved in such stunts such as performing in a giant yo-yo and ordering a lot of food in a fast food restaurant. These stunts would always go awry, with Super Dave getting hurt as a result. Of course, he would never really be hurt, as this was strictly for entertainment purposes.

As for other facts, every episode started with a teaser narrated by Super Dave about the cartoon adventure and live stunt of the day. A Christmas special was made and aired during the holiday season, in which our hero had to save Santa Claus and the Christmas season, as well. One of the more well-known facts was that Fuji, who was voiced by Art Irizawa (Super Dave's real life assistant), was initially seen as a stereotype to Asian Americans. Consequently, his character design was modified, and his voice changed, to make him seem less offensive. These changes can be seen in the episodes that are available online (on which more later). The series was canceled in 1993, but was seen sporadically on various cable channels afterward.

I may be the only one, but Super Dave was the one show that I was looking forward to checking out on Saturday mornings when I was eight years old. It was silly, it was whimsical, and it was enjoyable. Super Dave himself had a great voice and comedic personality, and the series seemed reminiscent of the comical cartoons of yore (i.e. Looney Tunes). The fittingly silly music was memorable, particularly the theme song, and the live action stunts were just as funny. I was reminded of just how much I used to love the show when I found some episodes on the Kewl Cartoons website. Sadly, only the first five episodes of the thirteen that were produced can be found there as well as on YouTube. Only two episodes-Con Job and Space Case-were released on VHS in the mid-1990s (both episodes can be viewed online), and there are currently no plans for a DVD release. I wish that the entire series could be released onto DVD and/or online, so that many other people can see this forgotten show for themselves.

All in all, Super Dave: Daredevil for Hire was a great show from my childhood that hardly anyone seems to remember. I have not seen it on TV since its cancellation, and I wish that the remaining eight episodes could be released at some point. Hopefully, the fond memories that I have of this show will make this article one of the more comprehensive places to find information of this virtually unknown, but enjoyable, cartoon. In the meantime, be sure to search YouTube and/or Kewl Cartoons for the five complete episodes that presently exist online. Maybe you, too, will realize that it fits the great, but forgotten, category of TV shows rather well.