Name: Astro-Apes: Warrior Ape, Artemus, Myra and Dr Zorma License: Knock-Off of Planet of the Apes Manufacturer: United Manufacturing Company, HK (inflatables: Dan Brechner, Taiwan) Year: 1970s Material: plastic, fabric clothing (inflatables: vinyl) Height: 8” (inflatables: 3”) Type: action figures, mini inflatables
Astro-Apes! I wish this had been an animated series! It took a long time to assemble this family of rare British PotA knock-off characters—now my set is complete. Artemus and the Warrior Ape came as disintegrated shards of plastic inside dry-rotted clothes. I replaced the bodies and cleaned and resewed their outfits. The face sculpts are kinda great—cartoony, but detailed.
The Warrior Ape has a Flash Gordon helmet and jumbo ray gun. Artemis totes a mysterious tiny briefcase. Myra wears a yellowish space flower in her hair. Dr Zorma sports professorial glasses. And they’re all rocking their brown galactic pleather.
The header card features character art with an 8th-grade notebook feel and lets you know their names (collect them all!).
The Astro-Apes are probably the only knock-off toy line to have spin-off licensed mini inflatable versions. Assorted colors, full-body illustrations. You can often find these (and other great stuff) at I Had That Toy.