The SilverHawks toy line, based on the animated series of the same name, is a beloved piece of toy industry history. The original SilverHawks action figures carry a sense of nostalgia for many people. They also have an intriguing history. Let’s take a look at how the SilverHawks began!
The SilverHawks Animated Series
SilverHawks is an American animated television series from 1986. It was developed by Rankin/Bass Productions and distributed by Lorimar-Telepictures. Pacific Animation Corporation, the working group of Japanese animators who later formed Studio Ghibli, provided the animation. The show was a space-themed spinoff from ThunderCats, another popular animated series by the same production company. Like ThunderCats, SilverHawks featured a team of anthropomorphic, superheroic characters and a mix of science fiction and fantasy elements.
The Premise
The story of SilverHawks involves a team of heroes set in the 29th century. They were given metal bodies and wings to protect the universe from the Mon*Star, an escaped mob boss. This villain was transformed by “moonstar” from a limbo prison into a metal-faced creature with immense powers.
Captain Jonathan Quick, also known as Quicksilver (after the process of his transformation), led the SilverHawks team. Other team members included Tally Hawk, Bluegrass, the twins Steelheart and Steelwill, and the Copper Kid from the Planet of the Mimes. A late addition to the team was Hotwing, a gold SilverHawk. Their bird-like attributes included wings under their arms and hawk-like masks that could descend over their faces, giving them enhanced abilities. The SilverHawks also had a bionic bird companion, Tally Hawk.
Series Popularity
SilverHawks was not as long-lived or widely remembered as ThunderCats, but it did have a substantial following and has seen something of a cult resurgence among nostalgic fans of 1980s pop culture. It’s also notable for its unique design elements and blending of various genre tropes. The series also had Marvel Comics create a comic book series under the Star Comics label. The series lasted 7 issues and was discontinued in 1987.
The SilverHawks Action Figures
Kenner Products, a famous toy company known for creating the original Star Wars action figures, produced a line based on the “SilverHawks” animated television series. Released in 1987, these figures captured the essence of the show’s characters and themes.
Toy Line Features
The SilverHawks figures were known for their shiny, metallic finishes, reflecting the cybernetic nature of the characters in the show. They also had “action features.” For instance, their bird-like wings would snap out by squeezing the characters’ legs.
The line represented key characters from the show, including Quicksilver, Steelwill, Steelheart, Bluegrass, the Copper Kid, and Mon*Star, among others. Kenner sold some figures with companion figures or accessories, like the bionic bird Tally Hawk that came with the Quicksilver figure. One notable figure was the Mon*Star action figure. Mon*Star was one of the most prominent figures in the line, and he had an action feature where his face transformed to his armored state when his legs were squeezed.
There were also vehicles produced, like the “Miraj” (Quicksilver’s bird-shaped spaceship) and the “Sky-Shadow” (Mon*Star’s squid-like spaceship).
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the SilverHawks toy line had a short life. It never achieved the same level of popularity as some of Kenner’s other products, like the Star Wars or Ghostbusters lines. As a result, Kenner only produced a few waves of figures and vehicles. Still, for fans of the show or vintage action figures, the SilverHawks toys are a desirable collectible.
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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 versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!