Playing Mantis Johnny Lightning The Challengers Bug Bomb (Pink) Playing Mantis, 1995
Day #2,730: July 17, 2024
The Challengers Bug Bomb (Pink) Commemorative Limited Edition
Johnny Lightning The Challengers
Item No.: Item: 100-180 Model: 105 Manufacturer:Playing Mantis Includes:Silver Plastic Limited Edition Coin, #3,618 Action Feature:Rolls Retail:$2.99 Availability: ca. 1993 Other: Available in many other colors
Because I have lots of cheap toy cars, I'll be doing Wheels Wednesdays for a while. If people don't already follow this particular toy genre, there's a lot you missed. There's a lot I missed. Who knew they made Home Improvement Hot Wheels? I didn't.
In the 1990s, the first big swing to selling collectible toys to Boomers and Gen Xers was doing well after what may have been the first salvo in 1989 with Batman. Hot Wheels, Star Trek, not-quite-Mego products, and so many more enjoyed revivals that smaller companies with less famous brands got into the game and made some really cool stuff. Playing Mantis did a big licensed die-cast vehicle game, but also brought back Topper Toys' classics like the Bug Bomb (Pink). The 1970 original was, as far as I know, not sold in this eye-searingly bright pink. But in 1993, toy companies knew repaints were good for business and getting a better return on their investment - see also, Kenner Batman - so you can find this particular reissue in emerald green, maroon, red, purple, and so on. They're also quite cheap - I got mine in an eBay lot.
As I missed much of it, I am not familiar with how toy licensing worked for cars back in the 1970s. Most toy cars in the 70s, 80s, and 90s frequently looked very close to real carmaker vehicles but rarely included any notes of branding. If you liked Jeeps, Playmobil made a ton of toys with the signature grille and no licensing on the packaging. Kenner made Volkswagen Bug-alikes in multiple lines, including M.A.S.K. and The Real Ghostbusters, plus Hasbro brought the vehicle to the USA with its Bumblebee and Goldbug toys from Transformers. The first time I ever heard of a company saying "Now cut that out" was in the early 2000s when Dodge saw Side Burn in Transformers: Robots in Disguise and those actually started to have licensing marks on the packaging. Now licensed cars are de rigueur, but that wasn't the case when the original Bug Bomb toy or its 1990s reissue came out.
One of the reasons for that is that it isn't a perfect match - and a lot of later Transformers toys seem to take inspiration from multiple cars, so many of these toys aren't of a specific license. The Bug Bomb lacks signature elements of the vehicle like the distinctive hood, or headlights. There's no bumper, no side windows, no door handles, and the silhouette is just a little different. I'm sure someone would say "I know it when I see it," but even in the 21st century where third-party not-quite-knock-offs persist in the toy world I doubt this car may have resulted in a lawsuit
It doesn't have the glossy finish of most toy cars, but it is sharp. The chrome engines and black plastic pipes give it that modified appearance that's so important to making yours a distinctive toy that's potentially protected from copying (see also, G.I. Joe's 12-inch thumbs) which could make it more exciting than a 1:1 replica. It looks souped-up, like a faster and more ridiculous vehicle. Car culture doesn't seem to be quite what it was 50 years ago, but it's hard not to look at the incredibly bright and UV-reactive pink paint and feel some sense of awe. It may not be perfect, it may not be quite as sharp or as accurate as a toy from Mattel or Jada, but it stands out.
The toy feels like an old toy - I assume that's due to production rather than actual age. I can open up Hot Wheels from the 1990s and they generally feel as fresh as a brand new release, with nicely rolling wheels and generally clean metal. This one looks a little but more aged, a little tarnished despite coming out of a sealed package. I don't know if they were always this way or not. The axles also don't roll quite as smoothly as other makes of cars, but aren't bad either. There are some very cheap store brands - you may know the ones - that don't have the same heft or general quality of build. I'm not saying this is an amazing little car, but it's very good for a remake of a toy that's as old as it is.
The only accessory is a coin that's plastic with sticker on it. It's big, but not huge - about 1 1/2-inches across.
I bet if someone put a clear coat over the pink part and polished up the base, it would look utterly superb. The chrome elements still look quite good, the red lines on the wheels are a clear nod to the original toy's peers, and it stands out due to the fact that it's pink. Super pink. I may have a few toys that are pretty pink, but this may top them all. Don't expect something to feel quite as refined as a modern $1 car, but it's a hefty chunk of metal that looks cool and won't cost you more than four or five bucks if you stumble on one in an antique mall. I wish it had more sculpted detail, but it's neat to see a very old remake of a very old toy, and be able to afford it.
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