There was a period of time in my life, approximately 1993-1996, where I would watch anything that looked remotely like Power Rangers. I don't know who's fault this was. I blame the kids I used to hang out with.Anyways... Beetleborgs. My memories of this show remained in the back of my mind with all the other suppressed childhood memories of mine, until someone this year brought it up to me. Then, the nostalgia hit me like a ton of bricks. Holy shit! Beetleborgs! What a fucking awesome show! Then I go to Youtube, my inner five year-old as excited as can be, but only to realize that I am no longer in kindergarden, and Beetleborgs is a terrible show.
Beetleborgs is basically an Americanization of the Japanese Tokusatsu (think Power Rangers and Kamen Rider) series called Juukou B-Fighter. Unlike Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, the plot of the Americanized version is completely different.
The plot of Beetleborgs centers around three comic book loving kids who visit a haunted mansion upon the dare of two stereotypical rich, snobby kids. They somehow manage to free a ghost named "Flabber" (who looks like the lovechild of the '60s Joker and Jay Leno, and acts like an inferior version of Jim Carrey in The Mask), who grants their wish of becoming their favorite comic book heroes, the Beetleborgs. Yes, seriously (the theme song explains it all, and everything!).
As I have mentioned, Youtube does indeed have episodes (they are all probably on there... but I don't know who would be compelled enough to watch them all). Here is the first episode (you have been warned):
So, yeah, this show manages to be more ridiculous than Power Rangers and possibly even Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad. However, I personally think that Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills has them all beat. At least as far as titles go.
