Zoids: Starriors, also referred to as Zoids: R.A.T.S. (Robot Anti-Terror Squad), was a robot toyline created by Tomy in association with Marvel Comics in 1984. It was a sub-line from Zoids, but had a new, different storyline. Six Marvel mini-comics were distributed with the toys. Marvel also produced a four-issue limited series written by Louise Simonson, with art by Michael Chen, Ian Akin, and Brian Garvey, and covers painted by Bill Sienkiewicz. The toys were not commercially successful. After the initial wave, there were only eight more toys produced, and only two additional minicomics. Consumer Reports' Penny Power, when it reviewed robot toys in late 1984, found Starriors the "least-appealing robots in the group".
Background Story
In the future, solar flares threaten all life on Earth. Its scientists build three classes of intelligent robots known as Starriors, which are Protectors, to restore Earth for human use, Destructors, to ward off any potential alien invasions, and Guardians, to protect humanity after they go into a state of hibernation underground and have their essences transferred into the machines. The brains of the Starriors, called control circuits, are crafted in Man's image as androids. The leader of the Destructors, Slaughter Steelgrave, becomes craven at the thought of deactivation upon the restoration of the humans and enslaves the Protectors after what he believes to be a successful attempt to destroy all of the Guardians. Eventually, the human race and the Starriors' mission is forgotten as a reality and regarded as a myth - none of the Starriors had been activated when the humans disappeared. Then the Protector Trashor, Nipper, discovers a human skull. A band of Protectors, eventually joined by a few dutiful Destructors, sets out to release the humans from their overly prolonged hibernation.
Terminology
Each Starrior has a Class and a Series, while several of them have a Model. As the Starriors lived on, and their intellect advanced, they developed more defined personality traits and most took on mental gender characteristics, though with the exception of Geo, a non-toy character exclusive to the comics, their body designs were genderless.
Class
- Blue Protector — Originally programmed to rebuild civilization so that structures, facilities, and ecologies would be established and ready for use upon Man's return. The Protectors were forced into the role of a slave caste by Slaughter Steelgrave, and set to the task of fortifying his city and/or menial labor. An underground resistance formed, meeting in secret, though due to their core programming making it difficult to turn their weaponry/tools upon any other Starrior, their resistance actions mostly ran along the lines of repairing or restoring Protectors that had been physically "punished" by their Destructor masters. Their dominant colors are often blue, white or light beige and silver.
- Red Destructor — Originally programmed to defend the works designed and built by the Protectors, and to eliminate the mutant animal lifeforms expected to develop on the Earth's surface during the interim years of high radiation which Man put themselves into suspended animation to avoid. Under the leadership of Slaughter Steelgrave, the Destructors were forged into a militaristic ruling caste, lording over the Protectors despite their one lack of programming to create the fortress-like city which they depended on their slaves for. Their dominant colors are often red, black and gold.
- Blue Guardian — Programmed to defend the slumbering Man, especially from their rivals known as the Red Mutants. Slaughter Steelgrave erased all memory of Man's true location, deactivated the timing system that was to awaken Man, and set about the eradication of all Guardians, believing he was successful. One of the remaining two, however, managed to survive, as well as the Armored Battle Station under which Man was actually located.
Characters
Those loyal to Man, and the ideal of living in harmony with humanity
Those loyal to Slaughter Steelgrave, and the ideal of Destructor dominion over the Earth
The second series, did not appear in the comics, allegiance not definite
Comics
The Protector band sets off, pursued by the Destructors. Throughout the series, the Protectors have several disadvantages to overcome. They are programmed for non-violence. Until they are able to override that programming, they cannot use their tools as weapons even if they want to. Since they are not designed for combat, they have little armor and only a few, such as the leader Hot Shot, are fitted with cutting lasers. Most have tools that are not very useful as weapons. Finally, Slaughter Steelgrave brings with him Deadeye, a Cosmittor. Deadeye is a huge tyrannosaurus rex-style robot who fires explosive discs from his mouth. Designed to destroy the largest and most powerful mutant monsters on the planet, Deadeye is far larger than any Protector, immune to their attacks, and capable of killing large numbers in a single assault. His presence means the Protectors must flee constantly. It is not until they find the Guardian, Stinger, and the Armored Battle Station under which Man sleeps, that those who search for Man gain enough firepower to mount a real defense against their enemies.
The mini-comics did not muddle who the good guys and bad guys were, unlike the comics, where the functions the Starriors were built for meant little to where their loyalties lay. Most notably in the cases of Sawtooth, who had always been sympathetic to the Protectors, and Auntie Tank, who questioned her loyalties throughout the mini-series before finally siding with the Protectors, too. The Protector Motormouth was revealed to be a spy for Slaughter Steelgrave as well. When the first human is released, it is decided that the Starriors retain their own identity and remain active amongst the humans. However, Slaughter Steelgrave remains to be reasoned with.
- Mini-comics
- 1. Deadeye
- 2. The Forest
Animation
There is much speculation about the existence of Starriors animated material. A 1984 trade advertisement released by Tomy stated that there was currently a Starriors television miniseries titled "Starriors Odyssey" in production to air in the spring and fall of 1985.[1]
Uses of the molds in other toylines
The Runabout and Speedtrap toys were originally developed for the Zoids line, but they were released as Starriors instead. As a result, the toys have a number of stylistic links to the early Zoids, such as the Bigasaur, as well as sharing similar labels and even carrying Helic Republic insignias.
Many Starriors figures and vehicles were recolored and released by Tomy in Europe under the name R.A.T.S..
The molds for Runabout and Speedtrap were reused and released in at least three-color variations each, for the small Japanese toyline Transforming Machine Beast Starriors (変幻機械獣スタリアス Hengen Kikaijū Sutariasu).
External links
- – Toy artwork, comic scans, "Book and Record" multimedia