Virtual Toy Chest's Spiral Zone Archive

The Black Widows, an evil army bent on conquering the world, have released an infectious virus that is spreading across the earth. The virus has spread in a sprial pattern around the globe and now covers nearly half of the earth. The infected areas have been labeled the Spiral Zone. People who are infected become Zoners, mindless slaves of the Widows. A group of elite soldiers, called the Zone Riders, has been assembled to combat the Black Widows. The Zone Riders have been selected for their exceptional skills from armies from around the world. Do they have what it takes to defeat the Black Widows and their army of Zoners? Some of the pictures on the page are from the great collection of Anthony Lindgren. He had the great fortune of rediscovering toys as an adult. While recuperating in the hospital after a motorcycle accident he saw The Transformers on T.V. and was hooked. It did not take long for him to go to the toy store to pick up his favorite characters. Once he was there, he saw all of the great toys and he set out to buy all of the Transformers stuff he could find. Before long he had amassed an amazing collection. Sadly all was not well. Although he would recover from the motorcycle accident, he contracted H.I.V. from a transfusion. In the early 90s he developed A.I.D.S. After many difficult years, he lost his battle with the disease. His wife wanted to share his love of these toys with you, so she gave us these pictures of his collection.

Zone Riders


Colonel Dirk Courage
Commander (U.S.A.)


Dirk Courage in Thermal Attack Suit


Lieutenant Max Jones
Second-In-Command (U.S.A.)


Master Sergeant Wolfgang "Tank" Schmidt
Weapons Expert (Germany)





Lieutenant Hiro Taka
Infiltration Expert (Japan)


Thermal Attack Suit, Dragon Warrior Suit, Desert Combat Suit, Frogman Suit, Paratrooper Suit, and Jet Pilot Suit


Rimfire


Combat Cycle



BanDai Protect Suit Hyper Boxer




The Black Widows...
The Most Evil Assault Force on Earth! Chosen for their fighting skills and criminal specialties. Given powerful weapons capable of awesome destruction. They can appear anywhere... At any time. Nobody is safe when the Black Widows attack!

Their Spiral Zone already covers half the Earth. Only the Zone Riders -- Earth's Most Powerful Soldiers -- can stop them. But the Evil Black Widows will do anything to win the battle for control of the world!

SUMMARY OF INTELLIGENCE:
On June 18, 2007, renegade military scientist Dr. James Bent-code-named Overlord-uses a hijacked space shuttle to drop his deadly Zone-producing generators across the Earth. Thus is born the Spiral Zone. Millions of people are trapped in the dark mists of the Spiral Zone, and become "Zoned"-that is, transformed into "Zoners"-with lifeless yellow eyes, and strange red patches growing on their faces. Because they have no will to resist, Overlord makes them his slave army.

To help him, Overlord recruits a small group of dangerous criminals to be his captains. Code-named the Black Widows. Their Goal: Destroy the forces selected to fight them, and conquer the world by bringing everyone under their control with the Zone-producing generagors. To accomplish this, Overlord has created vehicles and weapons that give the Black Widows awesome power in and out of the Sprial Zone. Some of these are: the "Bullwhip" Cannon; and the "Sledgehammer" Battle Tank.





Overlord: Leader of the Black Widows


Tech File:
Overlord
Black Widow Leader
TOP SECRET
SECURITY WARNING: The information in this file is highly classified.
Do not let it fall into Black Widow possession.

Overlord:
Personal Equipment & "Zone Bomber" Backpack

Combat Protection Suit: Bulletproof. Constructed of special fabric that bends light rays to blend in with any background.

Zone Chest Armor: Bulletproof chest armor is constructed of incredibly strong Zirconium. Also has a built-in communications system. Full capabilities unknown.

Hand-Held Lancet (Particle-Beam Pistol): Mini-stun gun temporarily immobilizes personel.

Boots: Standard-issue bulletproof boots. Additional capabilities unknown.

Snatcher "Mind Control" Helmet: Zirconium helmet has pincers which drop over prisoner's head for mind control. Also has a mini-video terminal mounted inside.

Standard Zoner Communications System: Nuclear-powered system links all Black Widows via microwave transmission and monitors chest-armor functions.

Multi-Purpose Energy Rifle: Can stun 25 people with one burst. Full capabilities unknown.

Dual Band Utility Belt: Carries hand-activated weapons such as stun grenades.

Zone Bomber: Backpack-mounted Zone mortar system. Fires a variety of short-range tactical and mortar shells, including Zone-producing missiles. Maximum Firing Range: 5,724 yards.

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OF THE WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL M.C.C. (MISSION CENTRAL COMMAND)

BLACK WIDOW PROFILE

1. NAME: Overlord
2. RANK: Black Widow Leader

PERSONAL

3. AGE: 36
4. HAIR: Brown
5. EYES: Yellow (formerly brown)
6. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.A.

EDUCATION: PHDs in genetics, pharmacology and psychology from Stanford. Received PHD in Quantum Physics two years later at the age of 23.

GENERAL BACKGROUND: Two years after he joined the military, Dr. James "Overlord" Bent became the youngest and most respected researcher ever to head that facility. It was there that Bent first conceived the idea for the Zone. The U.S. Government rejected it. During that period the world's first ion-powered space shuttle, capable of reaching unheard-of speeds, was developed. It was the vehicle Overlord and his companions stole and used to disperse the Zone generators.

NOTES & COMMENTS: Overlord is the most dangerous man on Earth. He leads his army of Black Widows with an iron fist. Anyone who crosses him is turned into a mindless Zoner and forced to join his slave army! Overlord is obsessed with his plan to rule the world with his Sprial Zone. He will let nothing stand in his way. Overlord must be stopped.





Bandit: 2nd in command


Reaper: Commander of the Zoners


Tech File:
Reaper
Black Widow Manhunter
TOP SECRET
SECURITY WARNING: The information in this file is highly classified. Do not let it fall into Black Widow possession.

Reaper:
Personal Equipment & "High-Powered Stunner" Backpack

Scanner System Helmet: Standard-issue helmet with Class-5 thermo-heat scanning system has 180-degree sensors tuned to sound, light, motion and temperature.

Zone Chest Armor with Sensors: Bulletproof chest armor has sensors that monitor sound, light, motion, temperature and pressure.

Hand-Held Lancet (Particle-Beam Pistol): Mini-stun gun temporarily immobilizes personel.

Chest-Mounted Hand Weapons: Explosive devices such as hand grenades and mini-Zone bombs.

Dual Band Utility Belt: Carries hand-activated weapons such as stun and Zone-producing grenades. Zone Camouflage Suit: Bulletproof protection suit has a jagged camouflage design to blend in with Zone conditions.

Boots: Standard-issue bulletproof boots. Additional capabilities unknown.

High-Powered Stunners: 2 high-powered stun rifles swing down to fire. Liquid-nitrogen-powered. Each stunner has the firepower of 5,000 lancets. Stunner gunsight flips down over helmet. Can be linked to helmet Scan-System for increased accuracy. Maximum Firing Range: 6,254 yards.

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OF THE WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL M.C.C. (MISSION CENTRAL COMMAND)

BLACK WIDOW PROFILE

1. NAME: Matthew "Reaper" Riles
2. RANK: Black Widow Manhunter

PERSONAL

3. AGE: 32
4. HAIR: Black Mohawk and Beard
5. EYES: Yellow (Black pupils)
6. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.A.

EDUCATION: Various Military Academies. He was expelled form the last one. Reaper was sentenced to 17 years in Leavenworth Federal Prison, but escaped and fled the country.

GENERAL BACKGROUND: After his escape Reaper became a mercenary, selling his services to the highest bidder.without regard to justice or honor, or anything but money. Because of his ruthlessness and his military knowledge-and his willingness to fight for even the most hated and feared armies-he became the highest-paid mercenary in the world.

NOTES & COMMENTS:
Reaper was one of the 2 Black Widows that Overlord recruited and used to hijack the Space Shuttle. He feels strong resentment that Overlord chose Bandit to be Second-in-Command, not him.

Reaper is the meanest soldier the world has ever known. He trained outlaw armies before joining the Black Widows. He commands the Zoner slave army, but wants to be the Black Widows' Second-in-Command. Only one thing stands in his way: Bandit. But they don't call Reaper a "Manhunter" for nothing.





Razorback: Bladesman Expert


Duchess Dire: Special Operations Expert


Tech File:
Duchess Dire
Black Widow Special-Assignments Expert
TOP SECRET
SECURITY WARNING: The information in this file is highly classified. Do not let it fall into Black Widow possession.

Duchess Dire:
Personal Equipment & "Grappler Launcher" Backpack

Standard Communications Helmet: Standard-issue helmet with voice-and-data systems for communicating with all Black Widows.

Zone Camouflage Suit: Bulletproof protection suit has a jagged camouflage design to blend in with Zone conditions.

Zone Chest Armor: Bulletproof chest armor is constructed of incredibly-strong, high-density plastic.

Hand-Held Lancet (Particle-Beam Pistol): Mini-stun gun temporarily immobilizes personel.

Collapsible Stun Net: Indestructible net has spikes and magnetized mesh to capture non-armored civilians. Can also be electrified to capture armored Zone Rider enemies.

Standard Utility Belt: Has pouches for holding various items, including stun and flash grenades for close fighting.

Boots: Standard-issue bulletproof boots. Additional capabilities unknown.

Grappler Launcher: Grappler harpoon can pierce or hook onto almost any surface. Wearer can use it to climb up to 600 feet. Backpack can also launch a variety of multi-purpose shells, including Zone-generating pods.

DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OF THE WORLD SECURITY COUNCIL M.C.C. (MISSION CENTRAL COMMAND)

BLACK WIDOW PROFILE

1. NAME: Duchess Dire
2. RANK: Black Widow Special-Assignments Expert

PERSONAL

3. AGE: 25
4. HAIR: Black
5. EYES: Yellow (Formerly Blue)
6. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Britain

EDUCATION: Duchess Dire attended some of the finest public and pirvate schools in the world. But even her wealthy parents couldn't keep her from being expelled every time. She developed a well-known reputation as a troublemaker.

GENERAL BACKGROUND: Dire is wanted in half a dozen countries for blackmail, grand theft and other crimes. She is interested only in power-as much as she can get. When Overlord launched the Spiral Zone attack, Duchess Dire actually went into the Zone.gambling that she could find and join the Black Widows before the Zone affected her mind.

NOTES & COMMENTS: Duchess Dire is extremely dangerous. She will do anything she can to gain more power-in or out of the Spiral Zone-as long as there is no risk to her. The Duchess can be deceptively charming. But when your back is turned, watch out!





Bull Whip


Sledge Hammer


These toys were made by Tonka in 1987. They tied into the cartoon of the same name.

Charaters from the Cartoon:
Zone Riders
Corporal Katerina "Kat" Anastasia / (Russia)
Lieutenant Ned Tucker / (Australia)
Lieutenant Benjamin Davis Franklin / (U.S.A.)
Black Widows
Richard "Rawmeat" Welt
Jean "Crook" Duprey / (France)


Special thanks to Patrick Jackson for compiling the information on these toys.

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