Who Wants Modern BraveStarr And SilverHawks Figures???

Editorial

by Jay Cochran
May 12, 2020

There is no denying that the 80's was a great time for cartoons and action figures based on those cartoons. The decade produced a lot of classic properties, some of which are still active today. The three most well known, arguably are G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Transformers and Masters of the Universe.

Still there are many properties from the 80's that developed decent size fan followings, but have never really been brought back for a major modern toy line. One of the most notable properties that fits that description is M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand), which is currently held by Hasbro. There have been rumblings in recent years that Hasbro is looking at ways to bring that property back to toy shelves and TV, but nothing definitive.

Two other animated shows/action figures from the 80's that I am often asked if they will ever return are Silverhawks and BraveStarr. For those not familiar with these two properties, Silverhawks was an animated series that first debuted in 1986 from Lorimar-Telepictures. It focused on a team of cyborg-like character lead by Commander Stargazer. They fought the evil Mon*Star. The most recognizable character from this franchise is Quicksilver, who wears a silver bird-like armor. In 1987 Kenner produced a fairly short-lived action figure line based on the show. Interesting enough, it was LJN who was supposed to make the toys for this show, but backed out of the deal at the last minute. LJN is probably best known for making the original ThunderCat toys.

Warner Bros. now holds the rights to Silverhawks when they purchased Lorimar-Telepictures back in 1989. Mon*Star actually made a brief appearance in the 2011 ThunderCats remake animated series.

BraveStarr followed in the foot-steps of Masters of the Universe. The animated series was created by Filmation and the toys were produced by Mattel. The figures hit shelves in 1986, a year before the show aired on TV. Both were fairly short-lived. In fact the show is somewhat notoriously noted for being the final series made by Lou Scheimer's Filmation before the company shut down.

The concept of the show and toys were based on a space/western type mash-up. The main character was a Native American named Marshal BraveStarr, and his main adversary was a dragon like creature known as Stampede, who was voiced by Alan Oppenheimer. The same person who voiced He-Man's arch-nemesis Skeletor on the Filmation Master of the Universe series. Another notable villain in the BraveStarr series was a character known as Tex Hex, who was originally created for the Filmation Ghostbusters series.

Mattel only made one series of 8" action figures which did not include Stampede. Both Bravestarr and Tex Hex did get figures, and they featured an interesting gimmick called Laser Fire Backpacks. These backpacks shot infrared beams that activated sound effects. the line also got some playsets made for it but was canceled before the second wave of figures could go into production.

While I can't say 100%, I believe Mattel still retains the licensing rights for BraveStarr action figures.

So that brings us to the question at hand today. Will we ever see modern versions of Silverhawks and Bravestarr action figures officially made? I honestly don't know, but I do think it is possible. As to who would make them, well the two most likely choices would be either Mattel or perhaps more likely a smaller company like Super7. I don't think Mattel would bother with either license unless there was a movie or new animated series in the works.

Super7 however has a seemingly good relationship with both Mattel and Warner Bros, and made action figures for both companies with He-Man and ThunderCats. Super7 has even teased in recent months that they have some pretty exciting licenses in the works for 2022.

To illustrate how cool I think modern versions of these characters might look in action figure form, we are featuring the custom work of boy_toys528, who has created custom figures of both Quicksilver from Silverhawks and Marshal BraveStarr from the BraveStarr series.

Let us know what you think, would you like to see new Silverhawks and BraveStarr figures made, and which company do you think would be best suited for the job?

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Comments...

Last 10 comments - ( Read All Posts )

MagnaPrime - 2023-04-25 @ 1:08 pm

Soooooo why are we not discussing this?

jsmooth - 2020-05-15 @ 9:06 pm

1 hour ago, Neovorticism2 said:
??This, however, I'd add one more caveat: if I'm going to pay a price above that of a retail figure, the QC would also have to be above that of a retail figure, although in the case of S7 that is kinda uncertain IMHO.

I am in agreement with both those statements. Super7 did have some nice sculpts and they did offer some nice accessories as well. They are awful though on timing and shipping.

jsmooth - 2020-05-13 @ 10:24 pm

3 minutes ago, Nosferatuman62172 said:
I always thought Mattel or Super 7 should be done Bravestarr figures in the style of Motu classic.

I don't think there is enough following for Bravestarr figures.

Nosferatuman62172 - 2020-05-13 @ 10:23 pm

I always thought Mattel or Super 7 should be done Bravestarr figures in the style of Motu classic.

jsmooth - 2020-05-13 @ 10:20 pm

48 minutes ago, Roadpigmaster said:
Silverhawks for me and I think it's more feasible for Super 7 to since MASK is based mostly on vehicles and that implies more investment on their part...

You are probably right, plus i think I heard the owner of Super7 once say that Silverhawks was their next line anyway.

Roadpigmaster - 2020-05-13 @ 9:34 pm

4 hours ago, jsmooth said:
I agree with those lines coming out after the Thundercats run is complete or nearing completion. Too many lines at once makes you have to pick. BUT...once Thudercats and TMNT is done...which line would you MOST like to see next? Mine would be MASK!!!!

Silverhawks for me and I think it's more feasible for Super 7 to since MASK is based mostly on vehicles and that implies more investment on their part...

jsmooth - 2020-05-13 @ 4:53 pm

I agree with those lines coming out after the Thundercats run is complete or nearing completion. Too many lines at once makes you have to pick. BUT...once Thudercats and TMNT is done...which line would you MOST like to see next? Mine would be MASK!!!!

Sy23 - 2020-05-13 @ 3:21 pm

Both of the lines have been HIGH DEMAND on my list. I still dont why they havent made yet. If the Four Horsemen is reading these post...... start on PRODUCTION!

Roadpigmaster - 2020-05-13 @ 1:42 pm

7 hours ago, InspectorZartan said:
Id be game for both lines eventually, but given the high price point these would be likely to hit I think I could hold off for awhile. I mean between, all the current Hasbro/Mattel/NECA,/Super7/McFarlane/Diamond/BossFight/Jazzwares offerings theres only so many lines collectors can afford to keep up with collecting all at once. Once some of the current older collector lines like the S7 UltimateThundercats/TMNT lines or the NECA Turtles/Defenders of the Earth lines run their course and wind down it would be great to see those resources transition to Bravestarr and SilverHawks but if these launched now they would probably just be 2 more lines stretching the collectors dollar in an already stretched marketplace.
Adding yet more lines to the fray makes it tougher for any of them to survive. For instance there is a good chance many many of the collectors currently buying Thundercats would also be the target audience interested in SilverHawks or Bravestarr. But while some would just keep on truckingbuyingall 3 lines the majority would probably have to make a choice on which onesto collect. Whichmeans some current TCats customers wouldstop collecting that line in order to jump in on these new ones (thus causing the TCats sales numberto drop which damages the health and continuation of that line while others would not jump in on these lines simply because their dollars are already committed to TCats or other properties). With the dollar becoming even more stretched for collectors of these niche properties it becomes harder for any of them to do well.
In an ideal world I say let some of these newly brought backnostalgia lines like Defenders of the Earth and Back To The Futureand Thundercats run theircourse then as those first two lines come to a close and as the Thundercats line is winding down with less yearly releases thats the time to transition into Bravestarr and SilverHawks. To introduce them now in a marketplaces this crowded would probably work against them. Again Im all for both lines and would definitely collect both I just think this isnt the right time with ThunderCats and Defenders of the Earth just starting. Give it a couple of years and lets transition into these lines as we transition out of others. (And in the meantime Ill just have to enjoy my vintage collections of these lines).

I think this is the logical thing to do but will see because sometimes the demand for new lines gets into the mindset of the company that See's the market open for new business...

jsmooth - 2020-05-13 @ 1:37 pm

The silver guy was the best one and the leader. Iforget his name but Silverhawks would do well I think if they redid them. Iam not so sure about Bravestarr though. Ido not think there is such a following. even as a kid, my friends did not play with them.

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