Ideal 1977 S.T.A.R. Team Ad "Ideal Invades Space with Star Team"

Ideal 1977 S.T.A.R. Team Ad "Ideal Invades Space with Star Team"

I'm not sure where this ad was originally published, I'm thinking either Playthings Magazine or Toys Magazine (both defunct toy industry publications). It was originally posted by Andy Yanchus, former Marvel Comics artist (RIP) into one of the 70's toy forums (now defunct I believe) under his StarRunn username. It's interesting that the ad doesn't use the S.T.A.R. acronym, seems kind of last minute.

Transcript:

EXTRA

IDEAL INVADES SPACE WITH STAR TEAM®.

Image caption: 1. Robot Zeroid® flashes light as automatic door opens and ramp descends from the space ship Star Hawk™.

Image caption: 2. The dastardly Knight of Darkness® challenges Zem 21® to a science-fiction showdown.

Image caption:  3. Battling Spaceships™ game permits players to battle for control of the universe.

Hollis, N.Y. Ideal Toy Corporation announces immediate delivery of the entire Star Team line.

At the same time, two exciting new TV commercials are scheduled for National airing.

It is expected that the impact of Star Team products will result in a great demand from the large audience of humanoid children.

Therefore, Ideal recommends that space be set aside for these new entries in the space race.

For science-fiction sales today.
IDEAL (logo)
1977 IDEAL TOY CORP., 200 FIFTH AVE. NORTH, N.Y., N.Y. 10010

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The Gastonia Gazette October 10, 1968 Page 5A Mathews Belk Toyland Ad

The Gastonia Gazette October 10, 1968 Page 5A

The Mathews Belk in Gastonia, North Carolina featured a quarter of their half-page ad to the Zeroids in the October 10, 1968 Gastonia Gazette. The overall focus of the ad is to prepare for Christmas through their lay-a-way program.

ZEROID

By Ideal

Here they come from the planet Zero, the Zeroids, incredible workers of the future. Moving across the landscape overrunning all obstacles. Special magnetic hands, battery powered motor with forward and reverse drive. Capable of grabbing, carrying and hauling functions.

4.48

 

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The Jersey Journal September 25, 1968 Page 19 Great Eastern "Big Super Discounts" Ad

The Jersey Journal September 25, 1968 Page 19

This is the earliest newspaper ad I could find featuring the Zeroids with an image, published by the discount retailer Great Eastern in The Jersey Journal September 25, 1968. The Zeroids featuring Zintar get half the page!

AS SEEN ON TV
FROM THE PLANET ZERO

ZEROID by DEAL (logo)

3.47

Our Reg. Low Discount Price 4.66

Here they come! From the Planet Zero; the incredible workers of the future! Each Zeroid has a unique pair of hands: interchangeable magnetic and throwing hands! In operation Zeroids are capable of grabbing, pinching, carrying, clawing and more! Choose from 3 models... batteries extra!

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Playthings Magazine 1968 "ZEROIDS AND NEWBORN THUMBILINA...two of your best salesmen during the Long, Hot Winter." Ad

Playthings Magazine 1968 "ZEROIDS AND NEWBORN THUMBILINA

This single-page ad appeared in a fall 1968 issue of Playthings Magazine, a publication marketing to the toy industry. Prior to Mattel's Barbie, Ideal was the largest toy doll producer in the world so introducing the Zeroids with a doll seems to have made sense, although it might seem a bit incongruous now.

Transcript:

ZEROIDS AND NEWBORN THUMBELINA

...two of your best salesmen during the Long, Hot Winter.

While BATTLING TOPS™, FLATSY™ and New OUTBOARD BOATERIFIC® are making a hot impact, your customers will also see the full line of ZEROIDS™ and NEWBORN THUMBELINA®.

ZEROIDS. The futuristic robots that willingly serve their masters. And you are their master during the Long, Hot Winter.

NEWBORN THUMBELINA. She turns, twists and rocks her cradle from side to side, just like a real baby. And she'll be walking off your shelves and into kids' arms during the Long, Hot Winter.

These hard workers will continue to be seen on NATIONAL NETWORK TELEVISION.

ZEROIDS and NEWBORN THUMBELINA. Two of the best salesmen you ever had working for you.

DEAL (logo)

IDEAL TOY CORPORATION, 1107 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY.

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Playthings Magazine 1968 "We Are the Zeroids. Take Us to Your Buyer"

This ad appeared in a spring 1968 issue of Playthings Magazine (a toy industry publication). It features a two-page spread marketed towards wholesalers and retailers of the toy trade.

Transcript:

WE ARE THE ZEROIDS.

TAKE US TO YOUR BUYER

OUR INVASION OF EARTH IS TAKING PLACE NOW.
WE ARE INFILTRATING YOUR TV STATIONS.
WE WILL TAKE OVER THE IMAGINATIONS OF YOUR CHILDREN. WE WILL BE SEEN EVERYWHERE - COAST TO COAST.
WE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BUILD SALES.
WE ARE THE ZEROIDS.
WATCH OUT!
ON TV (NETWORK AND SPOT) BEGINNING IN AUGUST!

IDEAL (logo) IDEAL TOY CORP., 200 FIFTH AVE., N. Y., N. Y. 10010

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DC Comics October 1968 "The Zeroids Are Here!" Ad

DC Comics October 1968 "The Zeroids Are Here!" Ad

Ideal published this single-page comic book style ad in multiple issues of DC Comics released in October, 1968.

Transcript:

THE ZEROIDS ARE HERE!

FROM THE PLANET ZERO... THE INCREDIBLE AUTOMATONS FROM OUTER SPACE.

MOVING ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE, OVERRUNNING OBSTACLES, THESE AMAZING, FEARLESS AND POWERFUL AUTOMATONS HAVE BUT ONE PURPOSE... TO SERVE THEIR MASTERS ... YOU!

ZERAK, THE BLUE DESTROYER. FREES HIMSELF FROM HIS OWN CONTROL STATION. HIS BRUTE STRENGTH FORCES THE EXIT RAMP INTO POSITION, AND HE EMERGES WITH FIGHTING FISTS READY FOR ACTION!!!

EACH ZEROID COMES WITH THESE EXTRAS:

THE ACTION-HAND THAT THROWS LASER BOMBS.
THE MAGNETIC GRABBER THAT PICKS UP AND CARRIES METAL OBJECTS

ZOBOR, THE BRONZE TRANSPORT ROBOT HAS SPECIAL-DUTY GRABBING HOOKS. HIS CONTROL STATION BECOMES A COSMOBILE FOR HAULING HEAVY LOADS. 

NO TRANSPORTING JOB IS TOO TOUGH FOR ZOBOR.

ZINTAR, THE SILVER EXPLORER, IS GRIPPER-FISTED, HIS CONTROL STATION BECOMES A DRAMATIC LUNAR SLED THAT MOBILIZES HIM FOR ACTION.

ZINTAR HAS THE POWER TO BATTER HIS WAY THROUGH ANYTHING.

EACH ZEROID COMES WITH A UNIQUE PAIR OF SPECIAL PURPOSE HANDS PLUS MAGNETIC AND THROWING HANDS FOR ACTION JOBS PLUS AN AUTOMATIC REVERSING TILE. ALL ZEROIDS ARE EQUIPPED WITH FORWARD AND REVERSE MOTOR POWERED TREAD-DRIVE SO THEY CAN HAUL, BATTER, RAM, ATTACK LAUNCH, TRANSPORT, FIGHT -- ANYTHING!!!

THE ZEROIDS BROUGHT TO EARTH BY IDEAL (logo)

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1968.11.07 Binghamton NY Press Page 6-B Children's Super Mart Week-End Specials Ad

1968.11.07 Binghamton NY Press Page 6-B Children's Super Mart Week-End Specials Ad

The Zeroids are the headliner in this ad published in the Binghamton Press November 7 1968. Neat Zintar clip art. At $4.39 the Zeroids I think were coming in at a fairly expensive price point, but you did get the extra hands and functioning case.

1968.11.07 Binghamton NY Press Page 6-B Children's Super Mart Week-End Specials Ad Detail

ZEROIDS by Ideal

Enjoy hours of fun with:

 

ZERAK, The destroyer,

ZOBOR, The transporter,

ZINTAR, The explorer

$4.39

All content, including images and editorial, is Copyright ©1999-2025 John Eaton and/or contributors unless otherwise stated. If there are any comments or objections, please contact John Eaton.