For kids growing up in the 1990s, Cartoon Network was a sacred temple of animation. While the network is rightfully famous for its original "Cartoon Cartoons" (like Dexter’s Laboratory and The Powerpuff Girls ) and Looney Tunes reruns, its afternoons and early mornings were a treasure trove of syndicated 1980s action cartoons. Sandwiched between Voltron and Johnny Quest was a show that, for its lucky viewers, redefined the meaning of "overkill." That show was Centurions .

You’ll notice the recycled animation. You’ll laugh at the cheesy dialogue. You’ll see the "lesson of the day" clumsily inserted at the end. But then, you’ll see a man drop from orbit, catch a jetpack the size of a small car, lock it onto his spine, and fly into the barrel of a giant laser cannon to save New York.

The cocky, thrill-seeking pilot. Ace was the heartthrob of the group, always cracking a smile before diving into danger. His "Orbital" systems were white and silver, built for speed and aerial dominance. His gear was every boy’s dream: the Sky Knight (jet wings with laser cannons), the Strato Strike (a high-altitude interceptor pack), and the ludicrously powerful Orbital Interceptor (which allowed him to fly into space). Ace was the first to arrive and the first to show off. The Toyetic Genius: The Power of "Exo-Frame" Let’s be honest: Centurions was a 22-minute commercial for one of the coolest toy lines ever created. And unlike many cartoons of the era, the toy logic was baked flawlessly into the plot.