Merchants of Space Death

Merchants of Space Death

star force toysThe influence of Star Wars is incredibly obvious in any Christmas Catalog from 1978 to about 1982. Space Toys were pretty much in the minority prior to 1978, then all of a sudden cool, crazy stuff like these helmets and pistols started popping up. “Space Swords” were my favourite, awesome “nudge, nudge, don’t sue us!” stuff like this is the best.

About The Author

Mantooth
AKA Brian Heiler author of "Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings" and co-editor of "Toy-Ventures Magazine". Co-Host of the "Pod Stallions" podcast. Host of the Brick Mantooth Youtube channel, painter, designer, writer, mental health advocate, toy collector, Mego, and Mego Knock-Off enthusiast. I have large feet, ADHD and I live in Canada. Talk toys, not others.

9 Comments

  • Nikademus on November 10, 2009

    Is that a purple Cylon I see in the upper-right corner?

  • chunky B on November 10, 2009

    Helmet "A" looks like it stepped out of a Micronauts set!

    That does look like a purple cylon in the right hand corner.

  • John III on November 10, 2009

    It sure looks like a Cylon. I would have really dug that stuff back then. I would have been anywhere from 4 to 9 years old,(1978-1982) so yeah…would have loved it.

  • Plaidstallions on November 16, 2009

    No doubt that the purple one is heavily cylon inspired. I really want that green helmet but in a size that would fit my adult head.

  • Jamie Snell on January 27, 2010

    I had that purple GOR helmet back in the day.

  • Jason M. in San Diego, CA on June 6, 2010

    I have been looking for this for years!

    I grew up in New Windsor, New York and I got the "bug force" helmet (green with red eyes) and mathing yellow pistol for Christmas, circa 1980 (I was born in 1972).

    I could never recall the actual name of the helmet (other than "bug force" for some reason) nor could I the company that made it.

    I've been looking on google, yahoo, and ebay for years but have always come up empty – UNTIL NOW!

    Anybody have an idea as to what the actual name is or the company that made it?

    The helmet was very cool. It had a microphone inside that would change your voice so that it would have a reverberation, other-worldy type of sound to it.

    The pistol made 3 or 4 different types of firing sounds.

    I've always remembered that the purple (which I didn't have) was called "GOR" and for some reason the green one – which I did have – comes back to me somehow as "bug force." Go figure, eh?

    Anyway – what a blast from the past! Many thanks for the pictures!!

  • rich on August 21, 2010

    No one makes toys like those any more.

  • Mary Sellers on August 8, 2016

    I have 3 of the star force helmets what are they worth now

  • Mary Sellers on August 8, 2016

    I have 3 of the star force helmets what are they worth now

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