Toys Archives : Page 8 of 10 : The Retro Network

Transformers Collaborative Wish List

With Hasbro finally giving us a full-fledged GI Joe/Transformers crossover with their Megatron/HISS Tank and Baroness set, it feels like a great time to be a fan of both toylines. We’ve got some toys that

Toy of the Week: Han Solo (Star Wars Collector Series)

Karen Flieger

Next week, pop culture will be celebrating the 45th anniversary of Star Wars. The franchise marked a major turning point in pop culture on multiple fronts from cinema to toy marketing. My mom used to

Toy of the Week: Rainbow Brite

Karen Flieger

As I’ve mentioned in a few of my previous articles, many popular toy franchises of the 1980’s originated as greeting card characters. Rainbow Brite is no exception. However, instead of being a member of the

Yahtzee: From Yacht Parties to Living Rooms Everywhere

Mickey Yarber

A bejillion years from now, when archaeologists are digging up the suburban dens of our buried civilization, amid all the broken down ColecoVisions and My Buddy dolls, a Yahtzee box will be reverently dusted off and carted away.

Toy of the Week: Medley of My Little Pony

Karen Flieger

For St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to feature a green toy and this sweet filly fit the bill. The My Little Pony Wikipedia page describes Medley’s coloring as turquoise, but I thought of her more

Mouse Trap: Building the Game Was Half the Fun

Mickey Yarber

It may be time to revise the old maxim, “Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.” The mousetrap in the board game of the same name may have

Risk Was the Board Game That Conquered the World One Roll at a Time

Mickey Yarber

Lay out the board, parcel out the territories, build up the armies, and commence global conquest. Even people who “don’t play strategy games” know Risk. Simple enough for a young mind to grasp, yet elaborate

Sorry!: The Board Game Where Payback Is the Point

Mickey Yarber

Woe to the unlucky Sorry! player, and the torrent of conflicting advice he hears from the little animated angel and devil that perch on either shoulder. Angel: “Show some sportsmanship! Prove you know the fine

Monopoly: The Game That Turned Kids Into Tiny Tycoons

Mickey Yarber

A board game that hinges on buying and selling imaginary real estate might not, at first glance, seem like such a shoo-in for the All-Star Toy team. Kids like to pretend, sure…they imagine they’re superheroes,

A Brief History of Battleship

Mickey Yarber

In this “classic naval combat game,” the open seas were cluttered with ships of war, five on each side. But unlike real war, these nautical enemies decided to play fair, standing perfectly still and taking

Penny Racers: The Most Fun You Could Have For a Penny

Mickey Yarber

Matchbox and Hot Wheels were great for driving fast or for zipping along tracks and play sets, but for the spin-crazy, wheelie-happy, stunt driving kid, only a genuine Penny Racer would do.

Favorite Pop Culture Bears of the ’80s

OldSchool80s

There are many memorable non-human characters and mascots throughout history. There are lots of dogs, cats, robots, aliens, monsters and countless other animals as well. One of those animals that made an impact is the

When Toys ‘R’ Us Came To Spartanburg, SC for Christmas 1985

Jason Gross

If you were a kid in 1985 and lived near Spartanburg, SC, the excitement of the holiday season had to be intense! While flipping through Google’s Newspaper Archive recently, I happened to notice that “The

Mattel Creations Brings Original Street Sharks Designs To Life

Walter King

In September 1994, the Street Sharks animated series was released in syndication. In conjunction with the cartoon, Mattel also released a series of action figures featuring the half-man, half shark characters. The successful series and

No Love for G.I. Joe’s BattleForce 2000?

YoJoeJustin

BattleForce 2000 is an all-time favorite as an adult collector, yet as I’ve been around the G.I. Joe community, I’ve found that there’s not much love for BattleForce 2000. 1987 was generally the beginning of

Super7 Adds Michael Knight to ReAction Line

Walter King

If you were a Knight Rider superfan as a kid, you may remember the “talking” K.I.T.T. toy vehicle that came with a Michael Knight figure. It was a sought after toy and remains nostalgic for