Kriozere, Steve :: covers

Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior #1 (1983)

Artist: Bob Larkin (All)

11 Comments - 4,899 Views - 4 Likes

Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior #1 (1983) Comic Art

Additional Images:

Marvel Age #1 (1983)

Crystar & his amigos!

Crystar appears on the cover of Marvel Zombies #

Crystar action figure print ad

Crystar action figure

Saga or Crystar, Crystal Warrior #1 -- published cover

Previous Item:
Marvel Premiere #59 by Gene Day - Doctor Who! (1981)

Next Item:
Secret Six #4 (1968)

Artwork Details

Title:	Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior #1 (1983)
Artist:	Bob Larkin (All)
Media Type:	Paint - Watercolor
Art Type:	Cover
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	4,899
Likes on CAF:	4 5
Comments:	11
Added to Site:	2/27/2019
Comic Art Archive:

Description

This is the cover prelim painting to Bob Larkin's SAGA OF CRYSTAR, CRYSTAL WARRIOR #1...the issue that started it all! The Crystar toys were first sold in late 1982; the Marvel Comics series was first published in the spring of 1983. Since the toys were released first, many assumed the comic had been a licensed adaptation of the toyline, but Crystar and all of the characters in the toy line and comic book were created and owned by Marvel Comics, which had created the concept with the express intent of selling the license to a toy company. Guess what, it didn't work. The series lasted 11 issues, with other great covers by Larkin and Michael Golden, and even guest-staring Marvel mainstays such as Doctor Strange, Nightcrawler and Alpha Flight. Crystar was even included in the 1980s Marvel Handbook, Secret Wars, the resurrected Weirdworld series and even Marvel Zombies. Long live Crystar!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Saga_of_Crystar

https://instituteofidletime.com/2016/08/14/the-saga-of-crystar-and-its-weird-reintroduction-to-the-marvel-universe/

Also, Walt Simonson's cover to Marvel Age #1 (1983) is clearly based on Larkin's painted cover to Crystar #1.

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About the Owner

	Steve Kro Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	July 2007
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Steve's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Will K
Member Since 2006

Posted on 2/27/2019

I would've assumed Marvel bought the license (not the other way around). Marvel was really unique in that they licensed all kinds of properties and did so many movie adaptions.

Lee Benaka
Member Since 2004

Posted on 2/27/2019

I don't remember those toys, but this cover prelim sure is memorable. It looks about as good as the published cover. Bob Larkin had a lot of talent. Big congrats Steve!

Rick W
Member Since 2017

Posted on 2/27/2019

Nice choice Steve! Lots of good memories associated with this cover!

Ken R
Member Since 2006

Posted on 2/28/2019

Damn bro! Just went into nostalgic overload! LOVED the toys as a kid, never read the books...

Aaron N.
Member Since 2009

Posted on 2/28/2019

Coolio!

Lenny Da Collector
Member Since 2005

Posted on 3/4/2019

In 10 years, Crystar will fade into oblivion. Consign this to HA now!

Steve Kro
Member Since 2007

Posted on 3/4/2019

Lenny Da Collector wrote:

In 10 years, Crystar will fade into oblivion. Consign this to HA now!

Way too late. Crystar faded into oblivious 6 months after it debuted in May 1983.

Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004

Posted on 3/5/2019

I remember being 13 and biking home from 7-eleven with this comic holding it like it was the holy grail. Fun memories.

Nils E
Member Since 2014

Posted on 3/5/2019

THIS is the way a No1 should look! ;-)

Bill C
Member Since 2009

Posted on 4/20/2019

Whoa! This is killer. I remember Crystar being advertised everywhere as a kid. A prelim to the first cover brings back some memories- the published cover would certainly be an "A" list piece in most collections, but I don't recall ever seeing it around. Does it exist?

Jeremy Radisich
Member Since 2004

Posted on 5/30/2020

Not sure how I missed this--LOVE Crystar. My favorite toy as a kid--still have my beat-up Crystar action figure! This is awesome--very nostalgic.

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