Battlestar Galactica is a science fiction television series that Glen A. Larson created in 1978. The story depicts the Twelve Colonies of Man and their long-lasting war against the Cylon Empire. The war then hit its climax when the Cylons executed an attack on the Colonial military and the Twelve colonies. Only a handful of survivors escaped aboard a military spaceship, Battlestar Galactica. So, they began their search for a new home with the relentless Cylons in pursuit.
Battlestar Galactica was the first piece that later became a successful multimedia franchise that included a brief sequel to the Battlestar Galactica, which debuted in 1980. There were also book adaptations of the storyline and original books based on the Battlestar Galactica. Other products like comic books, board games, and video games also came out before Ronald D. Then, Moore and David Eick produced a reimagined rendition of the Battlestar Galactica in 2003.
In 1978, Battlestar Galactica attempted to rival Star Wars‘ success. This rivalry was similar to Mattel’s attempts to rival Kenner’s successful toy lines of Star Wars. For instance, Mattel released the first of two series of Battlestar Galactica action figures. Meanwhile, Kenner successfully launched their Star Wars toy line. Later, other toy production companies like Trendmasters and Majestic Studios joined in. These companies also produced incredible action figures and toys based on the Battlestar Galactica franchise.
The ten best Battlestar Galactic action figures
10. Trendmasters’ Cylon Raider (1996)
Trendmasters released the Cylon Raider toy in 1996 as a vehicle in their Battlestar Galactica toy line. This sophisticated Cylon attack spaceship has excellent and catchy features like its realistic battle sound. Moreover, the toy has beautiful blazing lights and a cockpit light. Then, there is the fact that the cockpit opens as well. A poseable and removable Cylon pilot accompanies the Cylon Raider. It also has landing gears, laser torpedoes, missile laughing retractable wings, and wing-mounted turbo lasers.
Trendmasters modeled this action figure on the standard attack spacecraft used by the Cylon Empire as depicted in the 1987 Battlestar Galactica television series.
9. Majestic Studios’ Lieutenant Starbuck (2005)
Majestic Studios released their Starbuck action figure in 2005 as part of the second series of their Battlestar Galactica toy line. The 12-inch-tall Starbuck action figure consists of multiple points of articulation. The figure comes with an extra arm, a hand computer, a display stand, a removable helmet, a blaster, and a belt that contains a pistol holster.
Majestic Studios based their Starbuck action figure on the character from the 1987 Battlestar Galactica television series. Thus, this action figure also shares the likeness with Dirk Benedict, who played Lieutenant Starbuck. In the television series, Lieutenant Starbuck is a viper fighter pilot who is very close to Commander Adama and Apollo’s best friend.
8. Diamond Select’s Six (Red Dress) (2007)
Diamond Selects released their Six toy in 2007 as part of the first series of their Battlestar Galactica toys. They molded this action figure with her iconic red gown.
The figure reproduces an exact scene from the re-imagined three hours mini television series. Six is a Cylon infiltration expert who can perfectly imitate a human. There are several versions of her as she is the sixth of a special kind of Cylon model. Six’s countenance as a beautiful and sexy blonde female human helps her on her mission to infiltrate the colonial defense system. The miniseries also shows that there are other versions of Six, who can upload their memories into another version even after its death.
7. Joyride Studios’ Colonial Viper (2005)
Joyride Studios released their Colonial Viper action figure in 2005 as part of their Battlestar Galactica toy line. The 7-inch-long figure features two turbo cannons, a cockpit that opens, retractable landing gears, a flight display stand, and a removable Colonial pilot.
The Viper is the major fighter spacecraft used by humans to combat the Cylon Empire. The Colonial Viper is an exceptional vehicle. It signifies excellence. It is a symbol of pride as the colonies only gave these ships to the most skilled pilots to fly. Starfighter pilots like Apollo, Lieutenant Athena, and Lieutenant Starbuck were all exceptional Viper pilots.
6. Diamond Select’s Off Duty Apollo (2007)
Diamond Selects released the Off Duty Apollo toy in 2007 as a Toys”R”Us Exclusive in their Battlestar Galactica toy line. The action figure has multiple points of articulation. The figure also wears a dark green camo uniform. The seven-inch-tall action figure also comes with two rifles, one blaster (or pistol), and a belt containing a weapon holster.
Diamond Selects based their Off Duty Apollo action figure on the character from the reimagined 2003 series, Lee “Apollo” Adama. Unlike the original series, rather than being a given name, Apollo was the call sign that Lee Adama used. Even though his real name was Lee Adama, Diamond Selects choose to use his Apollo callsign for the toy’s packaging.
5. Mattel’s Daggit (1978)
Mattel released their Daggit action figure in 1978 as part of the first series of their Battlestar Galactica toy line. Mattel produced two color variations of their Daggit toys, brown and tan. The action figure features a pull string mounted on the back of its neck. When someone pulls the string, the figure begins to make some realistic growling and chirping sounds.
Mattel modeled their Daggit action figure after the creature that appeared in the 1978 original television series. Daggits were small dog-like animals that used to live among humans across the Twelve Colonies of Man. Humans could train them to warn soldiers of impending Cylon attacks. Unfortunately, humanity left all the Daggits behind because of the urgency in which the Twelve Colonies of Man fled their home. So, Dr. Wilker of Galactica built mechanical Daggits to replace the animals.
4. Bif Bang Pow’s Lieutenant Athena (2012)
Bif Bang Pow released their Lieutenant Athena action figure in 2012 as a basic figure of their Battlestar Galactica toy line. This eight-inch-tall action figure also features multiple points of articulation. Meanwhile the jacket, pants, and boots are clothing fabrics based on a particular episode. The action figure comes with a removable Viper pilot helmet, a detailed pistol (blaster), and a belt that contains a weapon holster.
Bif Bang Pow based this action figure on Lieutenant Athena from the 1978 original television series. Athena was not just the daughter of Commander Adama. She was also a Bridge Officer, an expert Viper pilot, and she was helpful in the evacuation of refugees from the Cylons assault on the Twelve Colonies of Man.
3. Amok Time’s Cylon Centurion (2008)
Amok Time released their Cylon Centurion in 2008 as part of their Battlestar Galactica toy line. The action figure features chrome parts. The toy also has twelve points of articulation. Moreover, Cylon Centurion comes with a sword, a blaster, and a rifle.
Amok Time modeled this action figure after the Cylon Centurion from the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series. In the television series, the Centurions are a mass-produced race of robotic beings that the Cylon Empire created. The Centurions also made up the majority of the Cylons military that follow the orders of the Imperious Leader. The Centurions are the primary antagonists to the Twelve Colonies of Man since they lead the charge on the complete extermination of all humans.
2. Mattel’s Baltar (1979)
Mattel released their Baltar action figure in 1979 as part of the second series of their Battlestar Galactica toy line. These series are very scarce because of the limited number of quantities produced. The action figure comes with a small black blaster (pistol). It also features five points of articulation.
Mattel based this action figure on Baltar from the 1978 original Battlestar Galactica television series, where he was the secondary villain of the series. Although human, Baltar aided the robotic race against his fellow human after they promised to spare his home colony. The Imperious Leader also promised to make him a leader over the survivors. However, the Cylons did not keep these promises as they destroyed all the Twelve Colonies.
Later, the Cylons installed Baltar on a Cylon Basestar with Lucifer as his second in command, with the sole purpose of destroying Commander Adama and his Battlestar Galactica. In a turn of events, Baltar helped Adama and the Colonials with information about the Cylon Basestar, which helped the Colonials defeat the Cylons. The humans left Baltar alone on a habitable planet and sufficient supplies by Commander Adama.
1. Mattel’s Commander Adama (1978)
Mattel released their Commander Adama action figure in 1978 as part of the first series of their Battlestar Galactica toy line. Now, the action figure is a rare, vintage toy and collector’s item. The toy features a real cloth cape and five points of articulation. Also, it comes with a removable blaster.
The Commander Adama action figure is a replica of Commander Adama, who Lorne Green played, from the 1978 original television series. In the series, Commander Adama is the commander of the military vessel, Battlestar Galactia, and strongly opposed the Cylons peace conference. Since he is the only commander to keep his ship on battle station drill, the Battlestar Galactica became the only spaceship that survived the Cylons attack.
Final Thoughts
The Legacy of Battlestar Galactica remains strong with the toys and collectibles from the decades. Even when no new shows are coming out, the toys remind fans of the excitement.
Did your favorite toys from Battlestar Galactica make it to our list? Let us know.
Do you have old and used Battlestar Galactica toys?
If you have a collection of old and used toys, you can turn those toys into cash. There is no reason to let those old toys collect dust. Contact us today to sell your Battlestar Galactica toy collection.
About the author
Author: Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!