He was Marvel’s attempt at getting in on the action figure craze of the eighties. You see back in the 1980s, many toy companies would team up with Marvel to make comics for their toy lines. In fact, it was Marvel that basically created the backstory to Hasbro’s Transformers, GI Joes and Rom the Space Knight. These found great success so Marvel, along with the now defunct Remco Toys, decided to create their own toy line. Thus, with Mary Jo Duffy and Bret Blevins, Marvel created Crystar the Crystal Warrior.

First appearing in comics in Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior #1 (1983), Crystar and his twin brother Moltar ruled their planet Crystalium together, but they would have a falling out on which wizard they should ally with, the good Ogeode or the evil Zardeth. When their uncle sided with Crystar, Moltar smashed him against a wall. In retaliation Crystar attacked Moltar but Moltar stabbed him. In order to save his life, Ogeode placed him in a Prisma-Crystal, which turned Crystar into crystal. His uncle and allies also turned themselves into crystal to serve him. Eventually they worked to defeat Moltar and his minion and he would eventually marry Ambara.

It would be many years before he returned to comics, which being after Dr. Doom created Battleworld following the defeat of the Beyonders. He was captured by Morgan Le Fay, who was ruling over the domain of WeirdWorld and was seemingly shattered. However, he was rescued by his ally, Warbow, and Arkon. Warbow worked to rebuild the shattered pieces and Crystar was reborn, though without his left arm. Working together with the rebels, they were going to overthrow Le Fay, but the universe was restored just before they did. The faith of Crystar and his friend is unknown.

Let’s be clear. No one ever thought we would be getting this character. As mentioned by Jesse Falcon, Marvel’s marketizing rep, there was a whole legal limbo that they weren’t sure they could use the characters. However, Marvel now fully owns the character and we now have a figure of this, in a yet unknown wave/set.