Kenner Megabug Gladiators- Scorpion

Kenner MegaBug Gladiators Scorpion

My friend Scott from the MegoMuseum forums gifted me this toy recently; it’s his original one from childhood. It’s the Scorpion from the Kenner MegaBug Gladiators toy line, which we both share a love for.

Kenner introduced the MegaBug Gladiators in 1979, and while they are well-designed toys, it seems they didn’t market them in any meaningful way, and they just withered on the vine.

That’s a shame because the line was absolutely ahead of its time.  A series of futuristic war machines with an insect theme, the name “Gladiators” suggests a world where this sort of combat is sport. Oh man, I think we just wrote a Full Moon movie!

Kenner Megabug Gladiators- Scorpion

Three vehicles were in the range: Scorpion, MegaSpider and Dragon Fly. There is no world-building included anywhere. Kenner expected kids to build their own backstory, which, combined with little to no marketing, probably hurt this line.

Scorpion has some neat features: his claws are spring-loaded and can hold army men, his tail is posable for different attacks, and his legs crawl if you push it forward.

Kenner Megabug Gladiators

I’ve spoken to several former Kenner people over the years at Toy-Ventures, but none have much insight into this line, let alone remember it. That’s a nut I hope to crack in the coming months as I find this toy line an excellent companion piece to Micronauts and Shogun Warriors. 

Kenner Megabug Gladiators

Also, these things are really photogenic, I will be revisiting this topic this year.

#kenner #plaidstallions #megabuggladiators 

The Lincoln Monsters are here!

The Blood-A-Rama Shock Festival Pack

Toy-Ventures is our magazine; we’re an independent publisher trying to bring back print toy magazines; if you would like to support us, please check out the latest issue: https://plaidstallions.com/reboot/shop

Toy-Ventures Issue 12- Stretch Monster

Click Here for past installments of 5 Awesome Things on eBay this week

Join our weekly newsletter.

The Super Collector Newsletter combines all the news from Mego Museum and Plaid Stallions and a lot of other fun stuff across the Interwebs. It’s got customs, new action figures, vintage finds and a lot of pop culture. Sign Up Here!

We co-produced this amazing action figure with White Elephant Toyz; it’s an 8″ Mego Style Officially Licensed Tura Satana figure with a beautiful box by Joeseph Linsner! Get yours while supplies last.

Knock Offs; Totally Unauthorized Action Figures the book

Knock-Offs Totally Unauthorized Action figures is from the demented mind that brought you “Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings” and features hundreds of hilarious, charming, copyright infringing toys. Get a signed copy in our shop!

Facebook Groups we enjoy

The official FB group for PlaidStallions, come for the conversation, stay for the chill vibe. Remember, you keep the glass

. 

Kenner, MegaBug Gladiators, Micronauts, Shogun Warriors, 1979, DragonFly, Mega Spider, Scorpion

The post Kenner MegaBug Gladiators Scorpion appeared first on PS.

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.

The post 1979 Kenner Megabug Gladiators Catalog appeared first on PS.