Once,
Harvey Birdman was known simply as the aviary superhero
Birdman (during the 1967 Hanna-Barbera series Birdman & The
Galaxy Trio). He fought crime
throughout the world with his specially trained pet eagle,
Avenger, and his sidekick, Birdboy.
But the superhero
business is a demanding profession, and as Harvey entered
middle-age his days of playing hero went by the wayside. At
one point he pursued a career in television, hosting the pilot
episode for a new talk show (which would eventually become
Space Ghost: Coast To Coast), but he lost that gig and any
chance of making it in show business.
Harvey's career path eventually led him to
fight for justice behind the scenes, representing his fellow
former and current Hanna-Barbera cartoon stars as an
attorney-at-law. With opposing council made up of
villains from his superhero days, and
his pet/partner Avenger working as his personal secretary,
Harvey tackled the highly unusual cases as only a guy in a business suit
with a mask and large wings could. Despite his
dedication, he never received credit for his hard work or the
respect of his (insane) boss, who maintained the view that
Birdman was completely incompetent and who perpetually
interfered with Harvey's chances of advancing in the firm or
of taking important cases.
Harvey Birdman may no longer have lived the
exciting life of a superhero crime fighter, but it wouldn't
take long for his fans to discover that his life as a lawyer
was no less exciting and strange.
