5 replies to this topic

[CaffeineSanta]

I used to love these when I was a kid. I picked this up at the flea market from an older woman, and she tried to convince me that it was vintage. While I feel like I don't see these made out of sturdy rubber anymore - super cheap plastic, more of than not - I don't think it's older than maybe the 80's. Anyone have any input on the year this may have come out? I like it either way, just curious

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[Behemoth]

Looks like a smurf from a distance. 

[CaffeineSanta]

Haha totally

[fkro6784]

I had a bunch of those too, and learned recently that they actually have a name. They are Sky Diving Poopa-Troopers made by Imperial Toys (a company responsible for many cheapo dime store toys over the years). The original ones came out in the very early '70s and they looked more weird/alien-like than the the one in your pic. Later in the '70s the more human-looking ones came out and have pretty much been available in one form or another ever since. 

 

Believe it or not, there's an entire Facebook page dedicated to them:

 

https://www.facebook.com/poopatroopers

 

Here's some of the more human-looking ones shown in packaging, probably from the '80s or '90s:

 

https://www.facebook...?type=3

 

These things are still being sold even today:

 

http://www.amazon.co...&pf_rd_i=507846

 

Hope this helps!

[CaffeineSanta]

That helps a lot, thanks! That's awesome that they have an actual background and are still being manufactured

Looking at the FB page, I'm thinking mine might be a bootleg, as the official pieces all have the "Imperial" stamp on them. Still, I'm excited about it

Edited by be9ine, 04 May 2014 - 04:04 PM.

[Behemoth]

Poopa-Troopers? God I wish the ban on poop pics was lifted...