When the Marvel Cinematic Universe took over the big screen, television followed suit with a flood of superhero shows. Yet long before the modern era, the 1970s tried its hand at the genre, delivering a handful of truly obscure superheroes that never quite made it into the mainstream. In this roundup we dive into those forgotten TV heroes—androids, armored vigilantes, invisible agents, and more—showcasing their quirky abilities and the pilots that introduced them.
Why These Obscure Superheroes Still Matter
Even though many of these characters vanished after a single episode or a short-lived series, they laid the groundwork for the high‑concept TV action we enjoy today. Their blend of science‑fiction, martial arts, and government intrigue reflects an era of experimentation that still influences contemporary storytelling.
11 The Questor Tapes
The Questor Tapes debuted as a 1974 television pilot starring Robert Foxworth as Questor, an android whose memory tapes were damaged. Determined to uncover his creator and purpose while evading a relentless government pursuit, Questor exhibited superhuman strength, speed, and intelligence thanks to his robotic nature, plus a naive charm that endeared him to humans.
He eventually learns he belongs to a lineage of ancient androids placed on Earth by benevolent aliens, tasked with a simple yet profound directive: “We protect, but we do not interfere. Man must make his own way. We guide him—but always without his knowledge.”
The concept originated from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who envisioned Questor traveling the globe to curb war, prejudice, and social ills. Though the series never materialized, the pilot cultivated a cult following and inspired a novelization by D.C. Fontana.
10 Man
Long before the 2008 Iron Man blockbuster, 1977’s Exo-Man introduced a hero in a mechanized suit—though not as sleek. Dr. Nicholas Conrad (David Ackroyd), a brilliant professor working on memory‑shifting plastic, witnesses a Mafia killing that leaves him paralyzed from the waist down.
Using his unique plastic, Conrad constructs a bullet‑proof exoskeleton that restores his mobility, grants him super‑strength, and can withstand a car ram or a concrete wall. The suit’s downside? It’s glacially slow, allowing villains on crutches to outrun him. Nevertheless, the antagonists never attempted escape, opting instead to fire at the armored hero.
Written by techno‑thriller author Martin Caidin—who also created The Six Million Dollar Man—the pilot earned decent ratings but never evolved into a series.
9 The Man With The Power
The 1977 TV movie The Man With the Power follows Eric Smith (Bob Neill), whose recently deceased father was a government agent. Agent Walter Bloom (Tim O’Connor), a former colleague of Eric’s father, reveals two shocking truths: the father was an alien, and Eric inherited psychic abilities.
Bloom recruits Eric, training him to manipulate matter psychokinetically. His inaugural mission involves protecting a Bengali princess from forces seeking to overthrow her father’s regime. Eric’s powers save the day and win Princess Siri’s affection, but the series never materialized.
Notably, the film features future Star Trek alumni Persis Khambatta (who would become Lieutenant Ilia) and John de Lancie (later the omnipotent Q).
8 Samurai
Samurai (1979) tells the story of Lee Cantrell (Joe Penny), a San Francisco prosecutor frustrated by untouchable criminals. Trained since childhood by martial‑arts master Takeo Chisato (James Shigeta), Lee has honed his skills to a level where he can overpower armed gangsters.
Lee’s costume resembles a black leather karate gi with a red belt and headband, and he wields a razor‑sharp katana. However, 1970s TV violence restrictions meant his sword was used to cut doors or sever power cords, never to strike people. Without a mask, his secret identity remains ambiguous.
Although the series never launched, Joe Penny later found fame as Jake in Jake and the Fatman.
7 The Last Ninja
Building on the martial‑arts premise, The Last Ninja (1983) offers a more sophisticated narrative. Kenjiro “Ken” Sakura (Michael Beck) is a Western art dealer raised by master Aitaro Sakura (Mako) and trained in ninjutsu.
When a government agent seeks his assistance, Ken learns terrorists have seized scientists in a high‑security facility. The police lack anyone capable of infiltrating the building, making Ken’s stealth and planning essential.
Ken dons classic black ninja attire, relying on shuriken, misdirection, and strategic thinking over modern weaponry. Though the film possessed series potential, it faded into obscurity.
6 The Ultimate Impostor
The Ultimate Impostor existed in two forms. First, a 1977 episode of The Six Million Dollar Man introduced a device by Rudy Wells that could download information directly into an agent’s brain, enabling rapid skill acquisition—though the knowledge decayed after 72 hours.
The episode featured agent Joe Patton (Stephen Macht) gaining languages, musical talent, and kung‑fu prowess. Despite crossover potential, the spin‑off never happened.
In 1979, a pilot movie of the same name presented Frank Monahan (Joseph Hacker), a spy whose mind was wiped clean after Chinese captivity. This tabula‑rasa made him a perfect receptacle for computer downloads, mirroring the earlier concept but with a different cast and no continuity ties.
5 The Phoenix
The Phoenix (1981–1982) managed to secure a short series run of five episodes after its pilot. It follows Bennu of the Golden Light (Judson Scott), discovered in suspended animation within a Peruvian Incan tomb.
Bennu awakens as an alien from Eldebran, possessing superhuman strength, clairvoyance, precognition, telepathy, and the ability to levitate while meditating. He wears a golden amulet that can amplify his powers when needed.
His mission: locate his mate Mira and confront his dark counterpart Yago, all while evading government agent Justin Preminger (Richard Lynch). The name “Bennu” references the Egyptian phoenix, and the premise nods to Erich von Daniken’s ancient‑astronaut theories.
4 Future Cop
Future Cop aired from 1977 to 1978, featuring a pilot (1976) and six‑episode series. The show centers on Officer John Haven (Michael Shannon), an experimental android designed to replace human police officers.
Paired with veteran patrolmen Joe Cleaver (Ernest Borgnine) and Bill Bundy (John Amos), Haven’s abilities include super‑strength, precise observation, and an encyclopedic legal memory. However, his literal mindset hampers his understanding of human nuance.
While the series explored Haven’s potential to learn humanity, it was canceled after six episodes, echoing earlier attempts like Holmes and Yoyo to blend robots and law enforcement.
3 Gemini Man
Gemini Man (1976) delivered a 12‑episode adventure starring Sam Casey (Ben Murphy), a laid‑back government agent who becomes invisible after a Soviet satellite explosion destabilizes his DNA.
Scientists equip him with an electronic bracelet that restores visibility, but remaining invisible for over 15 minutes makes the condition irreversible, leading to permanent invisibility and death. The bracelet also renders anything he wears invisible, a quirky plot device.
2 The Invisible Man
Preceding Gemini Man, The Invisible Man (1975–1976) follows scientist Daniel Westin (David McCallum), who uses lasers to bend light around objects. After funding cuts, Westin applies the technique to himself, rendering his body invisible.
Unable to become visible again, Westin dons a flesh‑like Dermoplex mask, gloves, and clothing to conceal his invisibility. The series ran for 13 episodes, never granting Westin a cure before its cancellation.
1 The Man From Atlantis
The Man From Atlantis (1977–1978) achieved relative success with 17 episodes and a Marvel comic adaptation. Mark Harris (Patrick Duffy) is rescued from the Pacific by an oceanographic team and identified as the last survivor of Atlantis.
He possesses gills, webbed fingers, the ability to live underwater indefinitely, dive to any depth, see in total darkness, communicate with marine mammals, and swim faster than a bottlenose dolphin. He also exhibits variable super‑strength and a weakness: prolonged time out of water diminishes his powers.
Budget constraints forced many adventures onto dry land, featuring mad scientist Mr. Schubert (Victor Buono) and time‑portal escapades to the Old West and Renaissance Verona. After cancellation, Patrick Duffy rose to fame on Dallas and later authored novels expanding Mark’s lore.