Galoob

Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. was a toy company headquartered in South San Francisco, California, USA.

Lewis Galoob Toys was founded in 1957 by Lewis Galoob and his wife, Barbara Galoob, as a small distributor of toys and stationery. Galoob’s first toy success was the reintroduction of a battery-powered Jolly Chimp, a cymbal-banging monkey toy that nodded his head when activated. The company was incorporated in 1968.

In September 1998, American toy giant Hasbro purchased Galoob for $220 million. Today Galoob is a Hasbro brand name. The name began appearing on retail products starting in 2005. Hasbro has used the Galoob brand logo on its Titanium Series die-cast metal collectibles, including various items from Transformers, Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica.

In 1985, Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. (commonly referred to as Galoob) introduced a range of toys licensed by King Features Syndicate to coincide with the animated television series, Defenders of the Earth. Among the products released were action figures of the six primary characters, which included the Phantom, Flash Gordon, Mandrake the Magician, Lothar, Ming, and Garax. Additionally, various other toys inspired by the animated series were made available, including the Phantom Skull Copter, Defenders Claw Copter, Flash Swordship, Garax Swordship, and Mongor.

Below is the poseable Phantom figure that was released in the United States in 1985.

The same figures were released in the United Kingdom. Note the ‘Rainbow Toys’ logo on the card, plus the Defenders of the Earth logo changes slightly from the USA version, with Lothar now added. ‘Rainbow Toys’ was the leading licensee in the UK in the 1980’s, distributing US brand name toys to the UK market.

The figures were also distributed in Italy by ‘GiG’, with the ‘Defenders of the Earth’ title translated to ‘i Difensori della Terra’. The ‘GiG’ Toy Company was founded by Gianfranco Horvat, in 1968. Son, Giocattoli Horvat based the company headquarters in Florence, Italy. During the 1980’s ‘GiG’ was the leading licensee in Italy, distributing US brand name toys to the Italian and European market.

Similar variations are found with the Phantom Skull Copter toy as seen with the figures. Below we see the version released by Galoob in USA.

The Phantom Skull Copter was also released in the United Kingdom by Rainbow Toys, whose logo can be seen prominently on the box, showcasing the brand’s unique style and flair. In addition to this, the Defenders of the Earth logo underwent a slight transformation from the USA version seen above, with Lothar present.

And finally, the Phantom Skull Copter was released in Italy by GiG. The box is printed with the title ‘i Difensori della Terra’, which translates to ‘Defenders of the Earth’. The name of the toy, ‘Phantom Skull Copter’ has also been translated for the local Italian market to ‘L’Elicottero Degli Eroi’.

The other toys within the Defenders of the Earth vehicle toy collection, released by Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. in the United States, comprise the Defenders Claw Copter, Flash Swordship, Garax Swordship, and Mongor toys. Each of these toys is expertly crafted to encapsulate the essence of the characters and vehicles they represent, providing children with a stimulating play experience that ignites their imagination. The collection serves not only as a homage to the cherished franchise but also features intricate detailing and vibrant colors, ensuring they are distinguishable among other toy offerings available in the market. The toys may be viewed below, illustrating the variety and creativity that characterize the Defenders of the Earth series.