 | |
| Type | action figures |
|---|---|
| Company | Hasbro |
| Country | USA |
| Availability | 1992–1993 |
The Original Battle Trolls was a brand ofaction figures produced byHasbro from 1992 to 1993. They were made in attempt to market the popular concept oftroll dolls to young boys in the early 1990s.
Introduced in 1992 at $4.99 to $6.99,[1] the trolls were marketed with theslogan “Big Haired Dudes with Bad Attitudes”[2][3] and were actually quite large at approximately 4 3/4 inches tall (not including roughly 4 inches of hair). The line did not establish astory arc to provide a unifying narrative for the characters as a group. However each individual troll was provided a brief biographical profile (in parody of aG.I. Joe file card), and, details on their cardbacks as how to properly "neglect" them suggested that the owner hide them in "a dark, smelly place" and keep them "cranky, mean and ready to fight anything or anyone for years!". In association with their tough nature, many of them had facial stitches and their toes poking through their boots.
The line featured 26 individual characters, two of which wererepaints available in special "vehicle sets". Each Troll featured a single cut joint at the waist and included two handheld accessories. All but four had an accessory designed to launch a projectile by flicking with the finger. The individual characters were styled on either generic action/adventure themes (a pirate, a ninja, two Vikings, a robot, a policeman, a knight, a punk rocker, and a Wild West outlaw); athletes (an American football player, an ice hockey player, a boxer, and a skateboarder); military servicemen (a general, a navy diver, and an air force pilot); monsters (a vampire, Frankenstein's monster, a werewolf, and two cyclopes); or outrightspoofs of famous franchises (John Rambo, theTerminator cyborg,Superman, aMad Max-style villain, andThe Ultimate Warrior).
While initially successful, theBattle Trolls line failed to achieve the popular success that the 'original' troll toys enjoyed. Though much of the line consisted of references to classic fiction and popular culture, it was retired in 1993 after a third, much scarcer run with eight final characters. A fourth series was planned, but never produced. Theprototypes were displayed at the 1993New York Toy Fair. This featured a line of six villains called theEvil Horde, including trolls styled after theJoker,Swamp Thing, anAlien, and one that looked like a hooded executioner. A promotional photo of the group can be viewed online.[4]
Several imitations of Battle Trolls were made by competing companies: "Stone Protectors" byAce Novelty Toy Company, "Troll Warriors" byTyco, "Troll Fighter" bySimba, and "Troll Force" byToys 'n Things.
Battle Trolls were introduced in three assortments.[3]
