Just keep telling yourself, this eleven inch tall action figure from Ideal, and manufactured in 1977, is not Darth Vader.
Try it again: the Knight of Darkness is NOT Darth Vader.
Okay. Deep breath.
Whether or not the Knight of Darkness resembles Darth Vader (d'oh!) is likely immaterial, because this "fearsome enemy from outer space" remains one awesome-looking sci-fi enemy and a great toy to boot.
Perhaps, Darth Vader, the Knight of Darkness and Baron Karza could all get together for lunch at the Mos Eisley cantina and compare notes on the Dark Side...
Anyway, The Knight of Darkness (No. 4603 - 7) looked so much like Darth Vader that allegedly George Lucas sued Ideal for copyright infringement. He reportedly lost the case, in part because Ideal's S.T.A.R. Team (of which the Knight was a new part) already had a history on the toy market of over a decade. Still, looking at the box art, at ZEM-21 (C-3PO) and the Knight in particular, it's tough not to feel a Star Wars vibe. At least a little.
I remember as a kid in 1977 that I really wanted Star Wars toys, and then my grandparents suddenly showed up for my birthday with a Zeroid (R2-D2?), ZEM-21, the Knight of Darkness and the Star Hawk ("the spacecraft of the Zeroid.") At first I was tremendously disappointed and confused. My grandparents had been snookered by a Star Wars knock-off and even at age seven, I knew it.
But then, I actually started playing with awesome Ideal S.T.A.R. Team toys, and creating my own space adventures. I must admit, it was actually a bit more fun inventing a universe than merely recreating scenes from Star Wars.
So let's hear it for the Star Wars knock-offs. There have been some great ones over the years, but none perhaps, more malevolent-appearing and yes, fearsome, than this Knight of Darkness, "dressed in his special uniform and boots," to quote the box. The Knight, based on Captain Action figure molds, also came complete with a mean-looking laser pistol.
If only Ideal had released some minions for this Knight of Darkness to command, all would have been right with the universe.
Somehow, I missed out on these toys when they were originally released and only learned of them when I started collecting Captain Action stuff in the late 90s. Since the Knight of Darkness body was made from the Captain Action body mold, they were great for creating new figures from old Captain Action parts. Just restring a leftover Captain Action head onto the Knight's body. Zem-21's body was based on Action Boy, but resculpted to look like a robot, so not really interchangeable. The Zeroid was cobbled together from various other Zeroids produced in the 1960s. The Zeroids were great toys, and I think Captain Action Enterprises is trying to put out a line of new Zeroid toys.
ReplyDeleteHi Neal,
ReplyDeleteI hate to think about the poor old Knight of Darkness getting cannibalized for parts. He deserves his own...Empire. :)
I would love to see a new line of Zeroid toys. I've been trying to get my hands on some of the ones from the sixties, but boy they are expensive!
Great comment...
best,
John
I actually don't think the actual toy looks that much like Vader at all, other than the fact that he's wearing a helmet and cape.
ReplyDeleteThe Knight of Darkness reminds me of the Sardor from the New Adventures of Wonder Woman episode "Mind Stealers from Outer Space."
ReplyDeleteI had Knight of the Darkness in the summer of 1979, still the best summer of my life. He was the coolest: that silvery chest piece, the high-top boots, the blaster that very clearly meant deadly business. I associate him with my grandmother's house, interstellar bases made from wooden blocks in the back yard, and the smell of pine trees.
ReplyDeleteI played with him until he fell apart, which he had done by the following summer.