Pod Stallions 80: British Annuals

It's just Jason and Brian this time around and our topic this week was inspired by some posts in our Facebook group.

British Annuals are hardback books that go back to the 1940s and over the decades they have made a staggering amount of different licenses and properties.

We start by talking about Doctor Who (a lot of people's introduction to the annual) but discuss Holmes and Yo-Yo, V, The Avengers, Adam Adamant,  Kenny Everett, The Beano, Thunderbirds, Look-In, Abba, Space:1999, UFO, Kung Fu, Star Trek, Tomorrow People, Gold Key Comics, Brian's childhood fears about England and finish off just talking about Buck Rogers for no good reason.

As a side bonus, we will be sharing our collection of UK annuals in our facebook group, join us!

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Space Trek:1999

I wonder if you could use the Communicators while wearing the chest pack radio or if it results in a devastating explosion of feedback, tearing you from earth's orbit? I gotta know....

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Dinky Space!

I love the fact that the popularity of Star Wars actually helped Dinky sell more Eagles and UFO interceptors despite the fact that both those shows were long out of production.

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Toy-Ventures: Space:1999 Rack Toys

This week's toy-ventures takes a look at the merchandising from Gerry Anderson's classic series Space:1999, particularly the lower cost "Rack Toys" made by Azrak-Hamway International.

If moonbase Alpha had a drugstore, these are the toys it would sell!

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LJN Road Stars

Which one would you go for as a kid? I'd be torn between Captain America and the Eagle from Space:1999.

Also, I wanna meet the kid who saw this display and went "Oh Wow, the Waltons truck!"

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The Zython from Mattel's Space:1999 line.

The Zython was offered in the 1977 Mattel Catalog as an alien character to go alongside with Mattel's Space:1999 action figure line. It never appeared in the series but was a rather welcome addition to the line which desperately needed more flair.

However, sales on Space:1999 merch weren't strong enough to warrant a wide release and the Zython seems to have only been offered via this contest for a German comic book above (Thanks Eddy for the scan). It's speculated that less than 300 of these were made, we'll probably never know for sure but a few have trickled out of Deutschland over the years.

But of course, this is Mattel we're talking about here, they'd never let a good toy mold go unused, so Zython would later appear in the amazing Mexican version of Big Jim (known as Kid Acero), which was produced under license by a company called CIPSA, who would dub him Nocton an alien enemy of Kid Acero.

So, while I'll probably never own a Zython (the last one went for just under a grand), I was able to buy a Nocton in the 1990s and still have him to this day. One day I hope to track down his scepter. 

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Space:1999 Lunchbox

I love Space:1999 and I occasionally dabble in lunch boxes when I find them for a decent price, so it should not come as a shock that I own the stunning Space:1999 lunch box. Say what you will about the series, it had some incredible merchandise.

More after the jump:

Choice Board Games of 1976

I'm not sure what your favourites were but I had a mean love affair with playing Hangman and staring at the Sleestak on the "Land of the Lost" board.....

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From Space:1999 to Rupert Bear

Browsing through some old magazines and found this killer licensing artwork for Space:1999, too good not to share!

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The 1978 AHI Toy Catalog

The undisputed king of the "Rack Toy" in the 1970s was Azrak-Hamway International or "AHI" for short.

They were riding high with past hits like Batman, Spider-Man, Star Trek, Space 1999 but 1978 saw them add James Bond 007, Farrah Fawcette, Donnie and Marie, the Walt Disney characters and their answer to Star Wars, Star Fleet!

It's a real blast down the pharmacy toy aisle, check it out here:
1978 Azrak Hamway Toy Catalog on PlaidStallions.


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The Dinky Space Fleet

One would be foolish to go up against the Dinky armada in the late 1970s.....

Martin Landau: A Toy Tribute

I was kinda crushed to hear of the passing of Martin Landau yesterday besides being a fan of his work, there is also a true connection to him and this site.

It was my admiration for merchandise based on Space:1999 that got me into toy collecting in the first place, so without Martin Landau toys, no PlaidStallions. I figured the best thing to do would be to showcase my favourite items that feature his likeness, so please join me after the jump!

Space:1999 Comlock Communicators

LJN really knocked these out of the park, they looked a lot like the show props and they actually worked.

I bought a set at a Star Trek show in the 1980s and I remember the woman I purchased them made a comment to me that people would never wear computers on their belts. 

Columbo on Moonbase Alpha

I owe this incredibly strange bit of merchandise to my pal Corey, who recent acquired it. A Japanese publication which seems to combine Space:1999 stories with Columbo? I fail to see the connection but also am happy it exists.

More after the jump:

UFO Eagle

Presenting the coolest cross ever toy I've seen in a long time, normally I am immune to spaceship models (cause I suck at painting them) but this just broke my brain.

More after the Jump:

Space:1999 Space Eagle by Popy Japan

It's no secret that I love Space:1999 toys although I don't own many these days. An opportunity came up to own an item I have never even held before, I couldn't pass it up.

This wonderful diecast Space Eagle was made by Japanese toymaker Popy and as we'll explore they've wonderfully left some cultural fingerprints.

Pajamas: 1977

I'd be that kid and want Space:1999 over Trek.

Arm's Master

I love Rack Toys, I love Space:1999 and of course, Knock Offs. So when all three get together and have a baby, it's a good time for me. Meet Arm's Master, a weirdly named series of toys that stole the molds from both AHI Space:1999 and Star Trek toys (seriously, check out this phaser!).

Seeing as the eagle gun pops right off the card, let's take a look at the art after the jump:

Sale:1999

Half Price? Crap, I need to rent a Uhaul.....and a time machine....

Space:1999 Eagle on sale here

This is a promotional poster Fundimensions released for the Space:1999 Eagle, I honestly have been smitten with this vehicle since i was five. Some guys love cars, I want an Eagle....