Tomland Starroid Raiders etc.

[gort]

Does anyone remember these guys?

They were released by Tomland around 1977 and from what I can work out the first figures were around 8 inches (similar to Mego) and called either 'Star Raiders' or 'Creatures From Other Worlds' or even 'Famous Monsters From Legend'

They line seems to have quickly moved to 3 3/4" figures called 'Starroid Raiders' or 'Space Raiders' around 77-78. Later figures were released as 'Space Fighters' or 'Space People'

I had a few of the Space Raiders with glow in the dark heads and weapons, and a couple ofthe later figures.

I'd love to get hold of a few of the 8" figures or some of the 3 3/4" glow in the dark line

More info here:

www.toymania.com/334archives/tomland/dado.htm

brtb.com/articles/tomlandindex.shtml

[madmartigan37]

I think that the 8 inch ones confused Star Wars fans for a while, no one knew what they were and they were pictured in a cataloge with the star wars toys. I think that Sansweet even gave away a autographed copy of his Encyclopidia to whoever figured out what these were.

[10incher]

These guys are pretty cool, I own 2 loose ones and one hashis gun. They seem pretty tough to come by. Don't remember them being around as a kid though.

[clambo]

I have 12 different of these 3 3/4" figures. Two have the same head, but have different arms and legs. They are pricey and hard to get. There are some serious collectors after these. I've been paying between $15 and $40 for individuals, but I did just get a lot of six for around $80 w/ shipping. I already had two of the ones in the auction, but it was still cheaper to buy the lot.

[gort]

Dado (glow in the dark head and weapons) was one of the first 3 3/4" figures I ever owned, I think I had about 3 star wars figures at the time. I want another one (although I still have his head )

The distribution did seem pretty sporadic though, I picked up my second one (glow head again) a few years later, second hand, and then got a couple of star people new a few years after that.

[clambo]

www.toymania.com/334archives/tomland/index.htm

[robomonkey]

I didn't realize that they made that many of these guys. I've always wanted to pick a few of these up, but seeing some of the wonky prices that they can go for on eBay leaves me a little hesitant.

[gort]

Anyone know which series came with orange belts?

I recently picked up a beat-up Starroid Raiders Waah (I think? non-glow, small head, normal limbs - another one not on the cardback) and he came with an orange version of the glow in the dark belt that came with the Space Raiders series.

I didn't think much of it at the time but I've not been able to find a pic of a carded example of any of the non-glow series with a belt. I've also not noticed one in anyones collection pics, although I could have missed it.

Anyone else have an orange belt??

[clambo]

Nope, I've never seen an orange belt. I do have two belts that have turned close to orange in color do to the conditions they were in. I think I still have them, i'll see. Are you sure this is actually orange plastic and not a color fade/change thing?

[gort]

Short of cutting it to check I can't be 100% but it looks like orange plastic to me. The colour is uniform not patchy.

I'd still be interested to see your examples to compare.

[clambo]

I just looked for them and they aren't with my other Tomlands. They may have been tossed. The two I had came together and weren't as orange as yours, but they were pretty orange. I don't know, i'd keep it just in case. It doesn't really seem like it would be authentic though, if it were actually orange. It wouldn't make sense for them to use orange plastic for a minute and then continue on with the magical glowing plastic. I do know the only figures they included these belts with, were the glowing headed figures. Stranger things have happened. I too have the small non-glow head of Waah. I just need a good sticker. Don't know the deal with him, probably a "use all the stock" deal like the Dado.

[gort]

I'm not sure what to make of the non-glow Dado and Waah. I have a theory all the glowheads were previously released as non-glow, but it'd take carded versions to confirm it. I won't be surprised if a non-glow Coky turns up, though.

[dannyrand]

I love this line. I've been on the edge for a while on whether or not to persue and collect, but there are some figures which impossible to find; unless you got big bucks. Clambo has one of the finest Starroid Raiders collections I've ever seen!

[themicronerd]

I'm a big fan of the Starroids, having had Toko and Wag when I was a wee larva. Nowadays I have an entire legion of Starroids.


Also did some Starroid-related art:
inkbunny.net/submissionsviewall.php?rid=21a8142caa&mode=pool&pool_id=6408&page=1&orderby=pool_order&random=no&user_id=

Also looking to acquiring the rights to the Starroids so I can make a line of vinyl toys based on the line to sell at places like Kidrobot. Tomland (which still exists) let the liscense go stale and the copyright is supposedly up for grabs, but I won't know for certain till I actually get enough cash together to get a patent lawyer to do all the checking... And if I can't do that, I might just go ahead with making a line of "Starroid Inspired" toys that are different enough to avoid copyright issues.

[themicronerd]

Also forgot to mention. Created a Yahoo group dedicated to Starroid Raiders and similar toys.

groups.yahoo.com/group/starroidraiders/