1979 Kenner Megabug Gladiators Catalog

 

Described by Kenner in 1979 as “Combat vehicles of the future….half insect, half-machine” Megabug Gladiators were perhaps just too ahead of their time.

That’s pretty much the only reason I can think of to justify why this cool toy line of insect tanks wasn’t a hit with kids. Had it been spawned in the 1980s, Megabugs would have likely gotten an animated series to support the concept and would have been a bigger hit.

As it stands, it’s one of those toylines that deserves more fanfare, for being one of the most creative concepts of the decade.

 

 

 Get Toy-Ventures Issue 2 now!

PlaidStallions Toy-Ventures Magazine #2 is now available and it’s been called “not only an entertaining read, but it’s also an impeccable work of reference” by PopCult.

About The Author

Mantooth
AKA Brian Heiler author of "Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings" and co-editor of "Toy-Ventures Magazine". Co-Host of the "Pod Stallions" podcast. Host of the Brick Mantooth Youtube channel, painter, designer, writer, mental health advocate, toy collector, Mego, and Mego Knock-Off enthusiast. I have large feet, ADHD and I live in Canada. Talk toys, not others.

4 Comments

  • Darran Hight on December 26, 2020

    I have zero recollections of these! They so far under my radar that they must have been underground.

  • Gamera977 on December 31, 2020

    I had the dragonfly when I was a kid. It was packed with play features, a winch in the ‘head’ that you could operate by turning the compound ‘eyes’, suction cup feet, and the middle legs that closed/opened by pressing a button on the back that could clasp the green bomb or a 3 3/4 inch figure.\

    Never bought the other two toys though.

  • ben crawford on February 24, 2021

    I think Thundarr fought that scorpion-car once.

  • DON CHISHOLM on March 10, 2021

    I don’t remember these at all from when I was a kid…. and I would have lost my mind over them! I wonder if there wasn’t some distribution hiccup, and poor exposure is why they didn’t go over. They’re very Thundarr-esque.

    Don C.

Leave a Reply