Saturday Night Showcase> Robo Force: The Revenge Of Nazgar

Earlier this week I did a Free Comic Inside article about one of the pack-in minicomics for Ideal’s Robo Force toyline. Robots with “crusher arms” (using something like a flexible hose I think) and suction cup bottoms, the mostly cylinder-shaped robots didn’t stand a chance with the transforming robots Transformers and GoBots, the robot construction set Robotix, and other such toys. Still, you can find nostalgic fans of the toys and the minicomic was a bit uneven thanks to its low page count.

And yet those fans kept the line going. Toyfinity made a series of Robo Force toys using the Glyos system, a system using a set of interchangeable limbs, not just gear. Our old pal Jerzy Drozd did the art for a tie-in webcomic that as of this writing is still available. Earlier in 2023 toy company Nacelle released a reimagined take on the Robo Force, with Maxx Zero (the new name for Maxx Steele, probably to avoid confusion with the various Max Steel toylines and shows) and friends as bipedal robots looking more like mechsuits in body type. They’ve also announced a cartoon based on this new concept.

Tonight I bring you the original cartoon, a half-hour pilot produced by Ruby-Spears Productions based on the original idea (no pun intended). Journey with us now to the planet Zeton as Mark Fury leads Maxx Steele and his Robo Force to stop the evil Hun-Dredd and the cult of Nazgar from resurrecting an ancient evil general and hopefully find his father. It’s a bit rushed due to the time but you will get an idea about what the show might have been. Back in the 1980s these pilots would be released as specials, to see if it could grab an audience. They weren’t promoted very well, so if it ever aired in my area I wasn’t aware of it. It is interesting to watch now. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y03xcqfO0Dg