Zoids

Zoids (ゾイド, Zoido) is a science fiction media franchise created by Tomy that feature giant robots (or "mecha") called "Zoids". A Zoid is essentially a large mechanical animal, with designs being based on animals such as Tigers, Lions, or various Dinosaurs.

The franchise started with a model-kit-based toy line and includes four main anime TV series (Chaotic Century, New Century, Fuzors and Genesis) as well as several video games and manga products.

Model kit lines

There have been a number of different Zoids model lines over the years, both in Japan and other countries. Between these lines, over 200 different designs have been released, some several times over. Several companies outside of Takara-Tomy have produced Zoids kits. This has led to Zoids being made as die-cast figures, highly detailed posing kits, smaller action figures and even PVC figurines.

Mechabonica

The predecessors to Zoids. Released in 1982, Mechabonica was technically not a Zoids line, but is counted as such by collectors as it consisted of three models that would later be re-released as the first three Zoids (Garius, Elephantus, and Glidoler). The line was not very successful and was quickly dropped by TOMY.

Spider-Man and Zoids

Spider-Man and Zoids was a comic book series by Marvel UK that was a tie-in with the toys of the same name. The comics anthology included reprints of Spider-Man stories and an original series of Zoids tales. (The latter has no continuity with the anime Zoids and it was created to go along with the original UK—and subsequent Australian—model kit releases.) Spider-Man and Zoids is notable for featuring early work by Grant Morrison, including the epic and apocalyptic Black Zoid storyline.

Publication history

The 1985–1986 Marvel UK title Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars reprinted the vast majority of the Secret Wars and Secret Wars II sagas (incorporating the Secret Wars II cross-overs in chronological order). Featuring Zoids stories in issues #20–#26, the success of the Zoids storyline prompted the release of their own title, Spider-Man and Zoids (which picked up shortly after the demise of the long-running Marvel UK Spider-Man weekly title).

The series' cancellation with issue #51 occurred during the heart of the Black Zoid storyline, meaning that none of the unfinished plot-lines were ever followed up. A proposed monthly continuation (again written by Grant Morrison, with art by Steve Yeowell) was shelved before publication—however, at least the first half of the aborted issue exists.