[ Retro Scan of the Week ] Meet Spikemaster

March 30th, 2009 by Benj Edwards

Spikemaster Surge Suppressor Ad - 1985I smell a potential children’s cartoon franchise.

I don’t know what’s more ridiculous: the fact that the Spikemaster surge suppressor has a humanoid superhero mascot with powers of unknown capacity, or the fact that the company producing the suppressor is named “Discwasher.”

Either way, I know what I’m dressing up as this Halloween.

[ From Popular Computing, February 1985 ]

Discussion topic of the week: What do you think Spikemaster’s superhero powers should be?

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8 Responses to “[ Retro Scan of the Week ] Meet Spikemaster”

  1. JackSoar Says:

    Oh, perhaps the power to stand at absurd, spine-breaking angles without becoming paralyzed?

  2. Fessic Says:

    Some kind of Super Dragon Punch capable of knocking out Conficker Botnets. Of course by day we’ll have to make him a mild mannered Geek Squad chap.

  3. Chris Says:

    Aw, poor Spikemaster, always falling down because one leg is deformed and half as long as the other one.

  4. pinball22 Says:

    Discwasher thought everything should be somethingmaster, apparently… they also made these joysticks:

    http://farm1.static.flickr.com/35/64644570_1e467e1f1d.jpg

  5. Geoff V. Says:

    I’d imagine walking would be rather painful for our oddly proportioned hero. His thigh armor looks like it would lacerate his mid-section with every step.

    I love the artistic style of the mid-eighties. The gleaming bluish steel reminds me of all the sci-fi books and movies of that generation. Artist Syd Mead (of Blade Runner, Star Trek(TMP), 2010, TRON, Short Circuit and Aliens) used the blue against red throughout the 80’s.

  6. Jim Ulrich Says:

    Holy crap! They still make SpikeMaster products:

    http://www.spikemaster.net/

  7. Heather Says:

    OMG! I remember this advertisement. Although, I don’t remember it being for a surge protector. Too funny!

  8. Benj Edwards Says:

    Wow, Jim. That’s an great find. I wonder when they ditched their Spikemaster mascot. 🙂

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