40 Years Later, The Transformers’ Forgotten 1980s Successor Is Ready For Its Big Reboot

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Growing up in the early 80s, it felt like Hasbro owned my childhood! They were absolutely killing it with action figures and cartoons. I remember when they relaunched G.I. Joe in ’82, making the figures a much more manageable size – closer to Star Wars scale than the original, larger ones. Then came the cartoon, and it was instantly a classic. But they didn’t stop there! In ’84, they took a brilliant idea – combining two different Japanese toy lines – and created Transformers. That show and those toys were huge. And let’s not forget My Little Pony! Hasbro was on such a winning streak, they even bought up Milton Bradley, adding tons of classic board games to their collection. Seriously, it felt like everything they touched turned to gold.

In 1986, Hasbro was riding high on success with toys like G.I. Joe and Transformers. They planned to launch a new line with a movie presented as a series of animated shorts for home video. While those earlier toys focused on military action and transforming vehicles, this new series would be different—stranger, darker, and a little bit disgusting. It would feature heroes, but the main attraction was supposed to be the creepy, slimy villains known as the Inhumanoids. Unfortunately, the toy line didn’t succeed. However, even after 40 years, many people still remember these unique toys that stood out from everything else available at the time.

Inhumanoids Brought Eldritch Horror To The Kids

It’s hard to say exactly what Hasbro was aiming for with Inhumanoids. G.I. Joe made sense – it had been successful before, and a fresh take could bring it back. Transformers was a sure thing, too – kids love both trucks and robots, a combination guaranteed to be popular. While some kids enjoy creepy things, there wasn’t much of a demand for the kind of horror found in H.P. Lovecraft’s stories, but Hasbro decided to try it out anyway.

The story of Inhumanoids is straightforward: a science team called Earth Corps finds a massive monster preserved in amber. This discovery sparks the interest of a ruthless businessman who begins searching for more of these creatures. Before long, the world is facing ancient, terrifying monsters – the kind that would inspire John Carpenter’s horror films. Though the show and toy line featured many creepy creatures, three monsters were particularly memorable.

D’Compose

D’Compose was a terrifying creature with a bird-like skull, decaying flesh, and visible ribs. Its gruesome plan was to trap victims inside its ribcage to decompose. As if that weren’t enough, D’Compose could also transform people into massive zombie monsters, and then bizarrely, dance with them.

Tendril

Tendril looked like something straight out of an H.P. Lovecraft story, with a face covered in tentacles and skin that resembled a swamp. Instead of arms, it had vine-like appendages. The toy version of Tendril featured rubber vines that were surprisingly strong. Kids could pull them back and launch them at other action figures, sending them flying. Or, more likely, they’d use them to hit each other, leaving a painful mark.

Metlar

Metlar was known as the leader of the Inhumanoids, but his story was more complicated than it seemed. He originated deep within the Earth, formed from molten lava, and could breathe fire and burn with a single touch. Despite appearing to be in charge, Metlar was once a slave to the real ruler, a snake-like monster named Sslither. Metlar eventually rebelled, defeated Sslither, and trapped him within stone.

Inhumanoids Were DOA

One of the main appeals of the Inhumanoids toyline was its scale. Both the Earth Corps and Inhumanoid figures were six to seven inches tall – larger than G.I. Joe or Star Wars action figures. However, the three main Inhumanoids – D’Compose, Tendril, and Metlar – were truly impressive, standing at a massive 14 inches tall. This size really gave them a monster-like, ‘kaiju’ feel, and they were definitely a cool feature. Unfortunately, the toyline only lasted a year, as sales were reportedly poor. They never even got around to producing the Sslither figure.

It’s hard to say exactly why the Inhumanoids toy line wasn’t successful, but timing likely played a big role. In 1986, kids’ interests were shifting thanks to the rise of video games. The Nintendo Entertainment System launched in the US in late 1985, and suddenly, many plastic toys seemed less appealing. Even popular lines like Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe, and Transformers saw a drop in sales, making it difficult for newer toys like Inhumanoids to gain traction.

The timing of the Inhumanoids toy release likely didn’t help its success. The 1980s were filled with widespread fears about Satanic cults and child abduction, and a toy line featuring monsters from Hell just added fuel to that fire. Even parents who weren’t concerned about the ‘Satanic Panic’ might have been put off by how scary and unsettling the toys looked, fearing they’d give young children nightmares.

It’s a little surprising that, after all this time, Inhumanoids hasn’t become popular again. Despite having a dedicated fanbase and the current wave of nostalgia for 80s and 90s properties, combined with a love for horror, you’d think characters like D’Compose, Tendril, and Metlar would be attracting new viewers. Perhaps we’ll see a revival when the show celebrates its 50th anniversary.

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2026-05-17 03:38