Being someone who’s extremely fond of the Zeroid robot
range by Ideal Toys, which appeared in 1968, it’s not surprising that I also have a soft spot for
some of Ideal’s S.T.A.R. Team action figures.
The S.T.A.R. team, (the acronym stands for Space Travel and
Reconnaissance) Space Adventure Gear originally came out in 1968 and continued
until 1971. This range included a space helmet, space boots, utility belt, an
‘Astro Beacon’ , actually just a fancy flashlight and a ‘nebulizer’, which was a
water pistol producing a fine mist. There was also a ‘remote gripper device ‘to
pick up moon rocks, and an air pump fired Rocket toy which was hastily recalled
as it was prone to injure any unprotected space child.
The S.T.A.R. Team action
figure range, which is what I’m interested in came out a little later in 1977, more or less at the same time as a
film called Star Wars was being shown
in cinemas.
The S.T.A.R. Team action figures were, of course unashamedly
Star Wars knock-off toys, and as they appeared prior to Kenner releasing the film’s
official toys they had a bit of a head start.
The Knight of Darkness was the best seller, which was a
recast in black of a Captain Action body.
Captain Action first appeared in 1966, curiously enough as a rival to
Hasbro’s G.I. Joe doll, or action figure
as it was newly described - a clever idea, presumably coined so young lads
wouldn’t feel like sisssies playing with dolls.
The Knight of Darkness was obviously a Darth Vader- like character,
who rather than brandish a light sabre, carried a ray gun (actually, an
accessory from the Captain Action Flash
Gordon outfit)
The story goes that George Lucas sued Ideal, claiming that
the toys were infringing copyright, but as the toys, and even the similar name
were just rehashes of previous lines produced by Ideal , the case was
dismissed.
The ZEM-21 was the C3PO lookalike. The name was taken from
an earlier Zeroid spaceship accessory, the Zeroid Exploration Module XXI or
Z.E.M. XX1.
The ZEM 21 figure’s body was adapted from a 1976 J.J. Armes
body. The J.J. action figure was based on the real life actor and very
successful private detective, Jay J. Armes who’d lost his hands through an
accident at the age of eleven. However,
during the following years Armes made exceptional use of the latest
developments in prosthetic hands, adapting different ones depending on what was
required. Although he had ‘normal’ five
fingered versions, he also had powerful claws that could apparently slice through
steel, but delicate enough to thread a needle. Apparently, he also had a .22
Magnum attached to his wrist. His fame as a successful detective and the ability to change his hands, coupled with the
then current craze for the Six Million Dollar Man led Ideal to produce their
J.J.Armes action figure complete with interchangeable ‘Bio-Kinetic ‘hands.
Two Zeroid Scout robots,
resembling R2D2 were also part of the S.T.A.R. Team.
Zeroid Red was the
pilot and gunner of the Star Hawk, the S.T.A.R. Team’s space craft. This was
just the Zeroid Exploration Module toy from 1968, in a different colour and
slightly altered to suit the less sophisticated new Zeroids.
The Star Hawk box art.
The Star Hawk toy with Zeriod Red at the helm.
Zeroid Blue was the engineer and mechanic. Both these toys
were just headless versions of the original Zeroid Commander, Zogg which
appeared in 1969.
The S.T.A.R. Team action figures featured in their own
promotional 16 page Marvel comic, written by Archie Goodwin and drawn by Dave
Cockrum. Set in the year 3000, it deals
with the invaders from the Black Nebula led by the Knight of Darkness and his
Shadow Warriors. The humanoid robot ZEM-21 and it’s two Zeroid Scout companions
patrol the solar system in their spacecraft, ‘Star Hawk’ thwarting the evil
Knight’s plans on conquest.
Exciting stuff and a nice little freebie.
A character not mentioned in the comic was late comer and
last gasp for the S.T.A.R. team, Earthman Kent
and his Cosmic Cruiser. The Cruiser was a rehash of Ideal’s Evel
Knivel Canyon Sky Cycle from 1974. You couldn’t really include Kent as a Star
Wars rip off as he’s just an insipid looking action figure in a red spacesuit ,who
rides in outer space in an open ship that resembles a carnival ride. Kent
arrived in 1978 shortly before the S.T.A.R. Team toys were finally discontinued.
A short video showing the STAR HAWK door opening.
