Toy-Ventures- The Greatest Star Wars Knock Off?

This week's Toy Ventures is all about the bootleg toy series "Warrior from beyond the Stars" which is actually a knock off of a Star Wars Knock Off! Also Batman is thrown in for good measure, why not? Check out these weird and wonderful toys with me! Hosted and edited by Brian Heiler (@plaidstallions) PlaidStallions Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Plaidstallio... Plaidstallions facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/22262... Twitter: @plaidstallions

Space Wars 1977

Christmas 1977 is such a unique period of time, every kid in the country had space toy fever thanks to a certain movie. However, no physical toys existed  (the cardboard promissory note was clever but come on) meaning it was a golden age for the Ideal Star Team (hastily slapped together to captilize on the movement) and pre-existing space toys like Mego's Micronauts, Mattel's Shogun Warriors and Zee Toy's Metal Man.  

It all hit the fan in 1978.

A message to the Toy Industry from 20th Century Fox

From the October 1977 of a Toy Industry magazine.

And behold, in the very same issue!


Ulp!

1978 Ideal Toys S.T.A.R Team Catalog

The Humble Origins of Kenner Star Wars Part 2

Just a  follow up to last week's post about the late start that Star Wars got toy wise. In the very same toy trade magazine that nonchalantly showcased the photo of Lucas meeting with Kenner execs had this impressive add from Ideal at the very front.

Ideal invaded alright, the company worked very fast to crank out a Star Wars inspired series of action figures using old molds and a brand name "S.T.A.R Team" they used in the late 60s.

The publication date on this magazine is late September (ironically my 7th birthday) that means Ideal got a toy line to market in 90 days. Pretty impressive stuff and don't think people didn't notice,in October a new full page ad appeared in the toy trades.

Scarier than Darth Vader and the Imperial Senate, Fox unleashed their lawyers. It's a battle many would lose but Ideal actually won, seeing as S.T.A.R Team existed prior to 1977. It didn't matter because once Kenner launched real Star Wars, everything else paled and the landscape was forever changed.


More Star Team

Vintage Toy Store Photos Volume 17

Yes! A new installment of  one of my favorites, vintage toy store photos. A journey back to the days of oddly named department stores and independent mall toy stores and chains that are fondly remembered but sadly mostly gone.



Vintage Toy Store Photos Volume 17 covers the US and Canada this time and features appearances by Big Jim, Kenner Bionic Woman,  Barbie, Shogun Warriors, Mego Star Trek, Space:1999,  Ideal Star Team, Mattel Donnie and Marie and Kenner Star Wars.

I hope this edition brings back some powerful memories like it did for me.

And hey, check out volumes 1 through 16 when you're done.

TOYFINITY Presents: The Return of the Greatest Villain from ALL of the 70's Space Franchises - ROBO FORCE'S THE KNIGHT OF DARKNESS!

For immediate release - April 1st, GROVERS MILL NJ - 

Somber. Powerful. A grim-masked menace that strikes terror into the bravest heart. A perfect bad guy for long hours of imagination and excitement. - Ideal Toys Catalog 1978 So read the official description of the awesomest bad guy from the greatest space franchise in the 1970's, Ideal Toys' SPACE TRAVEL AND RECONNAISSANCE (S.T.A.R.) TEAM™ - THE KNIGHT OF DARKNESS™. And now, HE'S BACK. 

 Originally created by a nameless Ideal executive in the late 70's as a way to revive the long-dormant IDEAL'S ZEROIDS WORKER ROBOTS OF THE FUTURE™ franchise and their own SPACE TRAVEL AND RECONNAISSANCE (S.T.A.R.) TEAM™ franchise of the early 70's, Ideal Toys' SPACE TRAVEL AND RECONNAISSANCE (S.T.A.R.) TEAM™ was a completely original concept revived by Ideal because they knew kids of 1978 were dying for some awesome space-based action figures for some reason.

 With impeccable sculpting prowess, THE KNIGHT OF DARKNESS™ was formed from the imagination of one of the artisans of Ideal Toys to provide the key figure in the franchise which the heroic ZEM-21™and ZEROID SCOUTS™ could battle in endless original adventures throughout a child's imagination. Along with their human friend KENT AND HIS COSMIC CRUISER™ and their S.T.A.R. TEAM SPACE HAWK™, ZEM-21™ and the ZEROID SCOUTS™ battled THE KNIGHT OF DARKNESS™. His magnificent black and silver uniform encased THE KNIGHT OF DARKNESS™ in a cloud of mystery, as his futuristic weapon cut a path through the toy shelves of the time, destroying all the cyborg and military heroes that were his competition in the 12-inch action figure market. But THE KNIGHT OF DARKNESS™ had one problem - he was just too evil and imposing for the children of the time, who had never seen such an evil and imposing character in any medium ever. He's just so evil and imposing and dark and knight-ish. 

So after only one series, Ideal Toys' SPACE TRAVEL AND RECONNAISSANCE (S.T.A.R.) TEAM™ disappeared from the shelves, never to return. Or so everyone thought.

 Now, after multiple years of complex legal matters, Toyfinity Toys has removed Ideal Toys' SPACE TRAVEL AND RECONNAISSANCE (S.T.A.R.) TEAM™ from the scrapheap of toy history and they will now be part of the revamped ROBO FORCE™ franchise. Toyfinity CEO and Owner John Kent said, when reached at his new mansion in Grovers Mill, NJ, "I couldn't be happier with the acquisition of Ideal Toys' SPACE TRAVEL AND RECONNAISSANCE (S.T.A.R.) TEAM™, which will now be known as ROBO FORCE'S SPACE TEAM™. I mean, Starriors wasn't available and I wasn't paying six more figures for the rights to MANTECH™ and STARCOMM™, so this was the next best thing, I guess. At least until we finish up the DOCTOR DETROIT™ license." 

 To mark the occasion, Toyfinity Toys has prepared a special piece of artwork showing ROBO FORCE'S THE KNIGHT OF DARKNESS™ dispatching some type of robotic entities and reclaiming his territory on collectors' shelves, in a piece done by Robby Musso, acclaimed artist who has worked on many, many comic book projects. Additionally, ROBO FORCE'S ZEM-21™ and ROBO FORCE'S SCOUTS OF ZETON™ will appear in an all-new ROBO FORCE'S SPACE TEAM™ comic book on Toyfinity.com to continue their adventures in the cosmos later in 2014. 

The very first ROBO FORCE'S THE KNIGHT OF DARKNESS™ action figure will appear later in 2014 utilizing the revolutionary GYLOS™ System from Onell Design , with ROBO FORCE'S ZEM-21™ to appear in 2015, maybe. ROBO FORCE'S KNIGHT OF DARKNESS™ - dare you add him to your shelves? Your other toys will be terrified as #DARKNESSFALLS. About Toyfinity Toys, LLC Toyfinity Toys, LLC is a New Jersey-based toy company who legally acquires the rights to old franchises and then makes new toys from them. 

Buy some at Toyfinity.com. Trademarks are legal right and property of the various companies that own or owned them, copyright the years they were valid. No one reads these sections anyway, right? 
Special thanks to PlaidStallions.com for their scans of the Ideal 1978 Catalog.

Star. Team Day

I found this great promotional piece for Ideal's Star Team relaunch in the 1970s, I really haven't written much about these in years so I think they deserve some fanfare.

While Kenner was running around selling empty boxes and promises to kids for Christmas, Ideal resurrected an old brand used to market roll play space toys in the late 60s, dusted off some old molds and viola, they rushed some space toys to market.

They even released their own promotional marvel comic as mentioned above, I've scanned the book if you'd like to see it here.

The prototype Star Team cast.

Of course, the famous story is Lucasfilm sued Ideal but lost because all of the Star Team stuff was made prior to Star Wars. The Zeroids was a toy line from the late 1960s, Knight of Darkness utilized a Captain Action body and other parts, it's a rich tapestry.

While Ideal won, Star Team had a brief two year run before Kenner unleashed so much Star Wars goodness on us, our kids were born knowing who Chewbacca was....

1978 Ideal Star Team Catalog

Spider Man takes on the Knight of Darkness?

Today's Mall Appearance shot comes from Patrick, who also added a great story of the day he got it, I'll let him tell it, budding in of course...


"It was a beautiful Saturday in Woodbridge Center Mall, Woodbrdge, New Jersey. It was an open area (which exists to this day) in the JC Penney wing. The mall had two levels to it, and the "Cityscape" set was on the lower level. The jazzy "Spider-Man" TV theme began to play...and a very brave stunt-actor decended from the upper level courtesy of a "web-ladder".

The. Place. Came. UNGLUED!!!!!!

I know, I was one of the people screaming. This *was* Spidey, as far as I was (heck, still AM) concerned. One of your readers mentioned a Spidey appearance being received like the Beatles @ Shea Stadium...I can relate!

And Spidey's Villian du jour? Doc Ock? Green Goblin? Vulture? Electro? Wrong....remember, this was 1977 and a certain movie was all the rage back then. Spidey's foe looked like Ideal Toys' Knight of Darkness from Space Team (you never forget a Darth Vader knockoff)...the voice over sounded like a ham talking into a coffee can: "Ha-ha! I will destroy the city, and Spider-Man cannot stop me...ha-ha!, etc." ...and the finale was a "Lightsaber" battle, with Spidey webbing the 'Knight up, another day saved, game over.

My mom and sister asked me if I wanted a picture with Spidey, which, to their surprise, I eagerly agreed to. That little paper sleeve (autographed!) with the attached picture is THE childhood treasure of my life. I have it to this day (I am 39 - 1/3). Note that I have an X-wing fighter pendant and a Star Trek 'Scotty' shirt (note the collar)...so I began my journey with sci-fi at a VERY early age.

Thanks Patrick for the great story and if anybody out there has shots of Spider-Man fighting the Knight of Darkness, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME. I need to see this spectacle for myself.

Send me your mall appearance photos!

S.T.A.R Team Promotional Comic

In 1978, Ideal Toys hobbled together a series of space toys using old molds and a generous helping of inspiration from George Lucas..

S.T.A.R Team actually beat the Kenner Star Wars product to the stores (Kenner was forced to sell empty boxes promising action figures but you probably knew that) and the lawsuits flew!

In an effort to create a back story kids might enjoy Ideal contacted the Marvel comics bullpen (as they had done for their Evel Knievel line) to create a promotional piece outlining the adventures of Zem 21 and his nemesis, the extremely talky Knight of Darkness.

It's a gripping tale written most likely in a gin soaked afternoon..

Read the Ideal Toys Star Team Comic

Other related links

Ideal Scare Cycles

Rip Off of the Jedi

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Ideal Toys certainly was sweet talking George Lucas with their line S.T.A.R Team toys in 1978. Each action figure had a vaguely "galaxy, far, far away" look to them. Also included is Ideal's electronic action figures Electroman and Zogg, enjoy.