The Weird History of Crystar: Marvel, Remco & Glenn Danzig

The Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior was an 11-issue fantasy-based comic book published by American company Marvel Comics in 1983.
It was associated with a toy line from Remco, consisting of seven figures, some vehicles and accessories.
But it's legacy has nothing really to do with the comic or the toys and instead has a lot to do with Glenn Danzig.
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[@MatthiasPowerbomb]

I had Crystar as a kid and he was one of my absolute favorite action figures. He always featured prominently in every "crossover event" I ever created during playtime, right alongside his faithful allies Optimus Prime and He-Man.

[@perfectallycromulent]

me too. and that is why the toy line failed: Crystar was awesome, and you wanted him to play with the figures from the better toy lines, and you didn't want the non-crystal figures.

[@MatthiasPowerbomb]

@@perfectallycromulent As your name indicates, your point is perfectly cromulent.

[@angussutherland4401]

I’m always blown away by how quickly these episodes go from “I have no idea what you’re talking about” to “oh, I definitely had that.”

[@willybshreddn3794]

Every time for me bro.

[@ivantorres1536]

Facts bro! Lol

[@jamesoblivion]

Yeah, I got a good ways into this one, convinced I'd never heard of this line, only to realize that I STILL have Moltar's axe, and have wondered for years what it came with.

[@KurtisLWoods]

I got a comic book in the 90s everything here was news.

[@NeverQuit87]

I forgot all about this. I think I had the coloring book. Loved it

[@misterRDF]

I use to have that toy... it was one of my favorites. My third-grade teacher took it from me in class and I never got it back... this many decades I still remember. and will NEVER FORGIVE!

[@epiclvlpurple19]

Hasbro Marvel Legends revealing this figure at SDCC 2023 brought me here. Thanks for the great history lesson of Crystar.

[@seibervideo]

Man Crystar would’ve gone along great with Masters of the Universe back in the day.

[@Rojixus]

OG Odie: Wizard by day, rapper by night!

[@lanceturley7745]

I saw OG Odie in a concert with Probabilitizzle. Shit was lit.

[@Mister_Phafanapolis]

The OG part of his name was to distinguish him from Garfield’s dog friend.

[@alkebulon7488]

I have his original mixtape...🔥🔥🔥

[@perceivedvelocity9914]

I'm a sucker for clear plastic. I wanted these toys when I was a kid. Never got any.

[@slapittywapitty8173]

Got ONE: Crystar, himself. Just pretended he was Capn America & put him w/my GI Joes. IKYN

[@28Pluto]

So how big is your tupperware collection?

[@nvfury13]

Had them all...still do somewhere.

[@SnakeHiggins]

Same here, I had so many but I never had a Crystar figure. I had this amazingly cool Iceman figure that was see thru and just totally epic.

[@Thehavok75]

Who is here after seeing Marvel Legends is bringing back Crystar! Figure looks amazing!

[@TravDadGamer]

I wanted all of the Crystar figures so badly when I was a kid. My parents told me that they couldn't afford it. However, they got me a rock tumbler for Christmas. I guess somehow they thought, "He must like rocks!" Not even close. Now that I'm a parent ...I'm probably just as clueless about what my kids actually want.

[@deathsnitemaresinfullust2269]

I just wanna say, i have never found it So easy to Enjoy hearing and Learning about All of the tantalizing toy topics featured on this channel. Even if it's covering something i wasn't crazy about as a kid i Still get a little excited whenever there's a new video. 👍

[@haruruben]

I had a beautifully illustrated children’s book featuring Crystar. It was fully painted, I thought the art was amazing and I must have read that book hundreds of times

[@OldManTheseDays]

I LOVED these toys. IMHO still one of the... I dare say prettiest action figure series ever made.

[@justinhuber5371]

Omg how did I miss Weird World? Love crystar! Thanks Dan. You’re the best!

[@8ByteBrian]

Every time I hear O G Odie I'm literally just thinking "OG Odie" Like Odie from Garfield

[@OzzieAstaroth]

I remember having a figure of Crystar. I always loved clear molded action figures like the old Tron toys. I probably would have watched the animated series when it came out, but I didn't have much access to comics as a kid.

[@40ozAk]

"We'll f#*&ng lead as two kings!" Nice

[@stevencooper1103]

"I've poisoned you... As well."

[@wadebrashear7517]

Get the scientists working on the tube technology right away.

[@p.d.l7023]

Does that ever work out?

[@pr0t34n]

Did not know anyone else knew about this. For a while, I thought I'd imagined the whole thing

[@timahlberg6824]

Same!

[@jahmd8377]

Ditto. Actually, I have that same reaction with most of the videos featuring toys from the 70’s and 80’s.

[@freakmagnet2737]

Like a Mandela effect

[@JeremiahMcCoy]

Growing up as a D&D nerd who was also a comics nerd, I was always inordinately fond of this character.

[@darthvader4876]

Thank you Dan! I had Moltar and Crystar figures growing up and had no idea what they were from. I used Moltar as one of the top bad guys for almost every other series. Mystery solved.

[@leyenda6149]

I remember seeing these & Blackstar figures at Shop Rite when I was a wee lad. Money was so tight forbus that I didn't dare ask my parents to buy me one

[@philipportelli7700]

I have the complete series of SAGA OF CRYSTAR and it's a lot more imaginative than, say, US1 or TEAM AMERICA despite its reliance of Marvel's feuding brothers trope like THOR or INHUMANS.

[@austintrousdale2397]

Do The Kinks receive royalties from Marvel? Then again, do the estates of Cain and Abel deserve royalties paid by Ray and Dave Davies?

[@linseyfalls6961]

Thank You! I was a Huge Crystar fan. The comic was the first series I had in its entirety (including the annual!), huge for me at the time. That first issue was a monster how could a 9 year old Not be drawn into that?

[@superpaul79]

I'd be happy with a Crystar Marvel Legends figure.

[@xiaocatmaster3754]

Dan needs more clear plastic figures

[@timvanboening9432]

I’d be about that.

[@bostonmeadhorn4897]

Marvel doesn't own the rights to Crystar. They just produced the comic.

[@alexandervelez2774]

Not sure how accurate that is if they can put him in their comics at will

[@xiaocatmaster3754]

@@bostonmeadhorn4897 according to Wikipedia they do own the rights to Crystar

[@alyssinwilliams4570]

Oh wow. I had forgotten about these guys. I think I had a couple of the comics, but never had the toys. Also, Shogun Warriors!!

[@scottandrewhutchins]

Vault Comics ripped off the first issue's cover on a new comic i saw at the store the other day.

[@maples328]

The toys were awesome 🤩, I remember having Crystar as a 10 year old. Yes, Shogun Warriors always underrated !

[@scottandrewhutchins]

@@Yroko The three in the Marvel comic book were Raydeen, Combattra, and Dangard Ace. They were operated by humans. It was set in the Marvel Universe. I believe the Fantastic Four made a guest appearance. Unfortunately, my complete set of 20 issues in in storage 700 miles away for now. :(. An ad in the comics showed quite a few more, but to my '80s kid eye, I didn't think they'd just be plain plastic with moving arms.

[@billpagan3070]

Dan and Greg, You guys always amaze me how well you both gather your information and then translate that to pure entertainment! Thanks guys👍😁

[@kevinthomas4239]

Crystar's tie in comic is actually quite good. It only lasted the 11 issues, but had great art and writing. It'd be cool to see Super7 tackle a Crystar line.

[@nvfury13]

Oh yeah, wish those hadn’t disappeared on me during a move.

[@benadrylthundercrotch7144]

Sir, you need to warn people before you slap them in the face with that freshly hewn dome.

[@andhe]

Didn't hear a word of the intro as was searching around to check if I'd clicked on a pre-covid video.

[@Ouja]

I had one of these action figures when I was a kid. It was always frustrating. I had one toy from every IP. My Dad didn't understand the different toy lines, so he just bought the coolest looking one at the store. This became a nightmare for me, because no two toy lines were the same size. Try putting an Insectoid in a Tron Light Cycle. It wasn't until G.I. Joe rolled out that I finally got him to understand that the reason I didn't play with most of my toys was because they were intentionally designed to discourage interplay. He liked it when I got into G.I. Joe because those action figures were cheap compared to other lines. He would make sure there were always 4 or 5 figures and one vehicle under the tree at chrismas. And I actually played with all of them.

[@jackofallclaws6672]

I wonder when ROM will get an episode. (Edit: Warlord and Sgt. Rock? AWESOME!!!)

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Agreed

[@BagoPorkRinds]

I have been more of a fan of Warrior and Arion spinoff than any other DC storyline which makes me quite an oddball exception.

[@brianborstein8456]

Not sure if you have caught it yet, but there is a ROM episode. It's way cool.

[@kristophermyers2255]

I never had the toy, but LOVED the comic.

[@mikeywood1516]

YES! FINALLY! This was one of my favorite toy lines, when I was a kid, and I thought I WAS THE ONLY ONE.

[@mrspeigel3593]

I really liked it as well

[@darkmyro]

Robot chicken being canon to any universe kinda terrifies me.

[@senorstyx3011]

This cystar could be part of the marvel space universe.

[@UltraMagnus3786]

Love the VHS style blinking lines whenever the comic strip is shown. Nice touch.

[@drewchase6577]

Thanks Dan, 4doing this... Crystar is EVERYTHING. I love translucent figures.

[@maplejames6992]

Dan was given an ultimatum: haircut or no more num-nums.

[@Sabretooth-gz7pp]

Ha ha ha 😄 , Good one.

[@maxbrandt6]

Ya gotta save up those Good Boy points for some extra chicken tendies!

[@BingleBangleBungle]

What I find amazing is that there were people who actually took the time record the commercials for these things.

[@ryantwombly720]

“Each figure comes with a crystal prism that makes everything look like this.” You would think they would care enough to explain the “why” of the gimmick. Details count, commercial man.

[@oldschooltommyim]

My favorite part

[@KornerGFX]

I heard that & laughed 😂

[@djdresden242]

was just gonna make the same comment lol

[@BenFrayle]

Dumb kids probably said "Woah cool!"

[@stuartbagley2586]

That line was hilarious!

[@ElGordoBandito]

“I got something to say: I remembered Crystar today”

[@ronniepartin71]

“Doesn’t matter much to me as long as the comic is read”

[@ralgore]

Thanks for the explanation of this toy series, it was...crystal clear. ......

[@coryarnold3369]

Man,I read and owned the first three issues and a couple of the action figures (Warbow and Moltar)! I had totally forgotten all this,until recently,couldn't remember wth the title was,had to Google "crystal men vs. lava men".😂 This all brings it back to me now.Hella cool! Thanks for this!

[@spideysnakeeyesoptimusfan]

The names in this toy line are so ridiculous & hilarious. I LOVED this video. One of the funniest Toy Galaxy reviews, along with the GI Joe Classified one where he's dressed as Shipwreck.

[@Froggievilleus]

"But, dude was sincere" needs to be a T-Shirt.

[@brucelaborin2124]

I remember leaving drawings of Crystal and Warbow all over the house with stupid slogans like, "Defeat evil, Crystar!" and "Success Crystar!", in the hopes of getting Warbow and Crystal for Christmas that year. Needless to say that my onslaught of kid advertising paid off, and I was extremely excited to have these figures. I wish they showed a pic of the Warbow figure in this video. Always wished I was able to get Crystar's Dragon too.

[@oxwah]

In the late 80's, my great aunt would always have a pile of clearance toys she bought for me. I got Zardeth and the deluxe Ogeode from her. I had fun with them even though I had no idea what the source material was. The crystal lenses were cool, often becoming the objects my multi-franchise action figures would fight over.

[@firmpulse]

Marvel still owns the prop. Hasbro with Jesse Falcon announced and showed an upcoming Marvel Legends Crystar figure at SDCC.

[@Wis_Dom]

This was one of those toys that I saw in comic ads, as a kid, but never knew what it was.

[@AntoineJenkins80sChild]

Hell yes!... Crystar would have been an epic cartoon. Another great bit of nostalgia, thanks again Dan for (as usual) a great video.

[@kilo-watt]

The first comic I owned as a kid was a Crystar issue.

[@thetvbaby83]

I still have a few in my boxes lol. Learned to read from comics

[@jeremybrooks7415]

As a kid, my first Crystar comic was its last, #11. I've since gotten all of them.

[@MattTee1975]

Holy crap, I'd forgotten all about these.

[@ronniepartin71]

I have a scar over my right eye as the result of a Crystal Dragon incident.

[@TitularHeroine]

I love that! Sounds hard core. And prob'ly absolutely no BS either when said just like that.

[@ronniepartin71]

@@TitularHeroine no BS. That thing was dangerous.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

I miss dangerous toys.

[@slapittywapitty8173]

@@JohnDoe-wq5eu: Yup. '70s-'80s. "Go have fun, kids!" (NO safety equipment AT ALL) ;-)

[@spideysnakeeyesoptimusfan]

Hilarious. Lol..those toys were way too pointy

[@platthepollutypus]

Danzig also wore a Captain Harlock shirt in the early days of the Misfits.

[@jimmyju76]

That wolverine video plus the dude looks like wolverine lol

[@odinson99m]

Literally one of my favorite toys of All-Time! Fantastic design.

[@Doughy_in_the_Middle]

8:10 The puffy Crystar stickers were the pride of my sticker collection. Was just waiting for the mention.

[@timmirkes7178]

I kept hearing "O.G. Odie" and picturing a yellow cartoon dog in a "thug lyfe" T-shirt, but seeing it spelled out on the toy package, it's Ogeode. Like, "Oh, Geode". As in the phrase you utter immediately before you groan at the dad-pun.

[@michaeldebraccio74]

One of favorite comic books. Thanks for doing this.

[@TitularHeroine]

6:26 That smarmy vintage TV commercial jingle is a frikkin *banger*. Rock out with your.... rocks out. Thanks, Crystar!! 😂😂😂😂 You did it a- f*kcing- gain, Dan. Thank you!!

[@alx42013]

Marvels WeirdWorld! Is an amazing comic.

[@RestoringYourVoice]

Ok, this is awesome. I asked and you guys came through. I attempted to shoplift this figure as a kid. Then my mom caught me and I ended up getting it for Christmas. I actually loved this toy line and the mini comics. I was a kid so I didn't think about how shallow the story was. Good memories.....

[@sebastainjohnson4123]

One of my favorite toy lines as a kid.

[@andyking894]

I can't stop thinking of Jim Davis' "Garfield" comics now because I kept hearing it as "O.G. Odie," and as far as I'm concerned, that's the first use of it in pop culture. Fight me. 😶

[@stevenunyabidness]

I kept thinking of a sweet natured little yellow dog who led a street gang every time I heard that.

[@mightyfilm]

It's time for Garfield to kick Ogeode off the table.

[@seatspud]

The true O.G. Odie? Odie O. Cologne! How's that for obscure?

[@GusMcGuire]

I remember reading this in the 1980s when it was featured as a guest story in the regular Star Wars comic in the UK. It covered the initial storyline over maybe 12 issues and then ended with the words "Fear not, Crystar fans - the sagas of Crystallium will return", but for as long as the original Star Wars comic was printed, they never did.

[@OscillatorCollective]

Wow...that commercial gave me goosebumps...such good FEELS🥰🤤😢

[@geardog24]

I can totally see Crystar hanging out with the Guardians of the Galaxy.

[@DenimJim]

I loved Crystar: The Crystal Warrior! I had all of them when I was a kid! On another note, you guys should do a video on Power Lords! Such a fascinating line of figures. I'd really love to know more about it! I love all of your videos and always look forward to seeing them!

[@kneeludog37]

I found a complete set of the comics in my used book store when I was younger. I LOVED Danzig and saw the skull on the issue and bought it. I loved them and I actually still have them 25 years later. Still love Danzig and his comics too!

[@Mithrandir69]

"We'VCaPtUrEdOgEeOdEeEeeeeeee!" That took me back.

[@maplejames6992]

Each and every week, Dan brings me back to Saturday morning with Capn Crunch. Toy Galaxy is my way-too-sweet cereal that I can't get enough of.

[@TitularHeroine]

Whoaaa. What kind of surprises would be packed in at the bottom of a box of Official Toy Galaxy Crunch™.......??

[@maplejames6992]

@@TitularHeroine Boba Fett.

[@TitularHeroine]

@@maplejames6992 Huhhuhhuh..... Of course. How silly of me.

[@steelman774]

I had Warbow as a kid. I still occasionally come across his crossbow at my parents every once in a while.

[@corvus1970]

Fess up: you've sold off that crossbow on eBay 10 times, but it keeps turning back up like a bad penny. 😉

[@steelman774]

@@corvus1970 if I could find it again, and now that it might be worth something... 🤔

[@rmglover3191]

Welp, you CLEARLY own my childhood. Gotta say Crystar *really* looks like copy/trope/precursor to He-Man

[@Summertimeblues28]

Yes finally Crystar. Thanks guys

[@Malcolm_in_the_Magic]

Love your videos. I had this toy line. Lost my main figure at my Great Grandmother's house and was still looking for it years later in her couch.

[@leeconrad3663]

FINALLY!!!! Been waiting for this one.

[@Ultrazilla]

Loved the property. Not sure why it's never been rebooted properly. Warbow was like an all-time favorite childhood figure!

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Sounds like they don't own the rights to the name anymore. That could be a big problem.

[@Ultrazilla]

@@JohnDoe-wq5eu I don’t think that’s the case. CryStar is pronounced as Dan said Cry Star, and is a Japanese property so I do think it’s different. Marvel’s use of the character in recent years would have protected the property for many years to come.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@@Ultrazilla I'm not exactly an expert at copyright law. I know that the public domain system is an absolute nightmare/mess these days and you're right marvel (by which I basically mean by extension Disney) is known for being incredibly litigious so they probably just don't want to do a reboot.

[@isabellenicoleherman6816]

You look lots more handsome with your haircut. Plus I remember seeing a copy of the comic when I was 7 in early 80s

[@fightingtyler14]

I had Crystar as a kid. Loved the translucency of the figure.

[@GeneralKenobisBunker]

Love the light you shine on properties like this, awesome job as always!

[@OscillatorCollective]

Omg...I think I had most of those toys, even that big crystal dragon. Thank gawd for my mother getting me all these toys, pretty much the best part of my childhood.

[@BusinessMan1619]

I have this entire series stored away in a comic longbox. I haven't pulled them out and looked the books since the 1980's.

[@nicoleseraphita7613]

You make 80s cartoons make sound way more awesome then they tend too really be.

[@lanceturley7745]

That's the problem with a lot of 80's cartoons, they were sold on the strength of an outrageous premise or gimmick that they couldn't possibly live up to.

[@JoelCarroll]

Man, I always dug Remco! I mean, sure, they're the toys you got at K-Mart, instead of the slightly higher-end Kay-Bee or K&K Toys in the mall, but From Crystar to the awesome Sgt. Rock sets, you could tell they were really trying to make cool stuff...well, until ManTech. ManTech was pretty rough....

[@Desslar]

Surely ManTech is on its way to this channel soon.

[@alexwimberly1268]

I love how he mentions Crystar's Robot Chicken and Marvel Zombie variant cover appearances as if those are equally helpful to Crystar's official return as his Weirdworld appearances

[@dzobie]

I had a couple of those action figures. Mostly I remember looking at stuff through the crytal lens and how funny the plastic smelled.

[@Danelectro_56-U2]

Dan and @toygalaxy have now officially moved to the top of the toy/retro-animation-themed KZbin channel. Love the content! If there were a way to add vintage toy repair ideas, all other channels would just need to shut down.

[@deepdwellerthekonundrum0029]

I had them as a kid. Marvel legends just put a Crystar fig out and I have it. Very nice!

[@maples328]

I remember as a 10 year old loving 🥰 these toys.

[@Shiznaft1]

I had these toys, loved them, but I had no idea about the origin until today. Thanks for posting this.

[@TA3DArtist]

I owned the Crystar figure as a kid. Loved that figure. Kept pretending he was John Blackstar since I couldn't find a Blackstar toy anywhere.

[@darkdeity2012]

I randomly had a figure of Warbow when I was young and knew little or nothing about Crystar until I watched this video. Interesting to find out what it was actually about.

[@alexandervelez2774]

Always wanted warble. Nice.

[@3dagalathor]

i had that Universal Monster Collection as a kid, loved those back then

[@iamniveous5626]

Comic-Con 2023. Didn't see that coming.

[@astrozombiac3535]

Looking slick Dan. I love hearing the history of obscure and often forgotten media. Best of luck and keep up the good work.

[@WrenPhoenix]

Great Episode! Thanks Dan and Greg!

[@fwfocus1708]

Oh man! I was trying for the last year to remember the name of this series. As a child it was how I learned the word Malachite and what it was.

[@SamuelAna4Ever]

Your attention to detail on these retro topics is amazing. I was sure you'd miss the Heroclix version but you had it in the show! This channel is amazing and will only continue to grow as more of Gen X finds you. I am showing an episode of yours at all my board game nights from now on.

[@elgroucho]

Crystar!? Fucking Crystar!? GIMME MY HISTORY OF RONIN WARRIORS, ALREADY! Aside from that -- GREAT work, as usual.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

I only remember bits and pieces of being able to watch it on TV.

[@manicpixiefangirl4189]

I recently went through my collection of Crystar comics and realized I didn’t have issue 8. Rewatching this video, now I know why. Darn you Danzig! 😫

[@nosferatu-369]

I had a Moltar figure. He was a cool looking hunk of plastic with a badass battle axe.👍

[@thepuma77]

thanks for giving me another dopamine hit of nostalgic bliss. My brother and me had these action figures. They were very cool figures too.

[@BurnRoddy]

"(...)makes everything look like this" Back then toy commercials also aired on the radio, I can only guess what kids back then would've imagined by hearing it.

[@themilobarboyzfoodtryouts8280]

I am so glad you covered this toy line!!! I had a few of the figures, Moltar and the molten men were awesome girthy well made toys! It seemed like it was on the shelf and then off soooo quick as a kid. I wanted that crystal castle bad lol

[@user-hf2qt2di2k]

I remember that commercial takes me back!