Mutagen Men Toycast

This week we explore the tip of the superhero toyline iceberg with Toy Biz's sprawling X-Men line from the mid-1990s. It's easy to forget the world before the MCU and other big-budget summer superhero pictures ruled pop culture, but in the 90s, the Fox Kids X-Men cartoon and its associated action figure line were among the bigger influences in the realm of superheroes. Join us as we scour the Kay-Bee Toys discount bin for the best Wolverines, Rogues, and Gambits of the 90s.

Previously on X-Men: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-K1D8y_Pxs 

Pryde of the X-Men Pilot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E21a-0mywUc

X-Men Arcade Game Longplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnfuVat0zxA

X-Men Toyline Checklist at the Figure Archive: http://figure-archive.net/manuf.aspx?manufID=263 

This week, a toyline we don't need to introduce: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The heroes in a half-shell have enjoyed countless revivals, redefinitions, and reissues over the decades since they debuted in the 80s, so for our first foray into the mutant-filled sewers of Manhattan, we discuss the early years of the original Playmates toyline, the origins of the turtles themselves, and our time living through the TMNT-obsessed 90s. 

In the 2020s, video game toys are everywhere: major video game series often get multiple toylines aimed at all age groups. But during video games' humble teenage years, the landscape was very different. Only a few game series were lucky enough to see representation on toy shelves. The Mutagen Men talk about growing up obsessed with Mario, Sonic, and Mega Man but having very few options to bring their beloved pixelated heroes into the physical world of play. Join us as we dig deep to unearth the peculiarities of game toys in the 90s.

Glyos is one of the longest running and most successful independent, artist-run toylines in existence - but it's not just one toyline, it's many, all with their own individual themes and styles. We start with Onell Design's original modular fit function concept and spiral out into many of the other members of the Glyos System family. Interested in exploring more? Here are some places to visit next: Onell Design | The Crafsman Steady Craftin's video on Glyos | The Glyos Wiki

In 2023, He-Man and Skeletor are more present than ever in the toy aisles, and are enjoying a mass retail revival the likes of which hasn't been seen since the 80s. But this wasn't the first time Mattel tried reviving the venerable Masters of the Universe property. In this episode we talk about the promising beginning, frustrating middle, and bitter end of the first big MOTU revival, and all our memories of scouring Targets, Toys "R" Uses, and Walmarts full of endless endcaps of Skeletors and He-Men.

Much more than just the predecessor to Transformers, Diaclone was a toyline brimming with creativity and transforming robots, many of which were never reassigned as Autobots or Decepticons. We follow this line from its genesis in the 80s through its revival in the 2010s, talking about robots, bases, robot bases, Waruders, Dianauts, Gats Blockers, and much more.

Looking for high-resolution photos of many classic Diaclone toys? Here's a great collection. 

We talk about one of the longest-lived, most successful, yet least discussed toyline in history, Lanard's G.I. Joe competitor, The Corps! This line's 30-plus year history is full of weird helmets, triple chainsaws, laser troopers, wild animals, dinosaurs, aliens, and lots more, and we only scratch the surface.