Mantech: The Weirdest Most Obscure Toyline form the 1980's?
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- Опубліковано 6 кві 2022
- Thanks to MANSCAPED for sponsoring today’s video! Get 20% OFF + Free International Shipping with my promo code “TOYGALAXY” at mnscpd.com/ToyGalaxy
Mantech: Robot Warriors was an extremely short-lived goofy looking weird toyline from Remco whose whole gimmick was interchangeability, like Centurions.
Remco managed 6 Mantech figures and a few vehicles and a playset before cancelling the line.
There was no Mantech cartoon but the was lore and it's definitely some kind of something.
We get asked about Mantech a lot, even though the people asking don't know what Mantech is.
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ManTech is the 80s version of Bionicle. I remembered my mom bought me one and it reminded me of Centurions. Even though it didn't make it to TV but it led to a legion of fans. Obviously I had the TerrorTech toy in my collection.
Yes! My first thought when seeing the thumbnail was "That looks like bootleg Bionicle sets..."
I was just about to say it looks like Bionicle 😂
@@Dargonhuman Same!!
Did someone say Bonkles?!
@@EungsuLee In the time before time, the Great Spirit descended from the heavens...
I had ALL of the ManTech line. Still have them too. Something about this toy line just spoke to me. The ability to create heroes with heads where their arms should be …. playtime perfection.
this was an excellent toyline for a creative kid. ^_^
You guys can't tell me plugging Manscaped during a video on Mantech was an accident, that's hilarious.
This was one toyline I owned nothing from, always admired it from afar. Cool stuff.
Ball Deodorant has to be the best name for a cosmetic product ever lol
Seeing our wavy haired hero in that comic panel makes me think having long lost info beamed directly into your brain is NOT healthy. His pupils are looking in entirely different directions. Check for concussion!
Interesting trivia: Mantech is also the name of the company that assembled the sunshield for the James Webb Space Telescope. Unfortunately, they didn't use cyborgs in the process.
First step, the telescope was the first step. Before you know it they'll be assembling their own cyborg workforce and launching them into space.
That company was also, ironically, started by an ex-Navy guy as well.
Yep - they a big government contract company. Variety of work they support for the DoD/military. Mostly a shit company though who doesn’t take care if their employees.
Tell me about it. I've been working for ManTech the contracting firm for about four years now, after they bought out my old company. Imagine my surprise having never learned about this toy line before today, seeing this episode go up.
@@JeffWitty All too common a management ideology these days is that management and executives are incredible talent, and anyone actually doing the work is readily replaceable. Didn't know that about this company specifically.
Even though I've never heard of ManTech before, I used to "fix" my favorite GI Joes with parts from less favorable figures,thanks to my grandfather's glasses repair kit.
There was a photo of some unreleased Mantech figures with a water-themed playset on eBay about a year ago. Reached out to the seller to find out where they got it.
The seller was a hired gun designer for Mel Appel toys who was hired by Remco to design Mantech. He asked for my phone number, called me immediately and talked my ear off for 2 hours. He must’ve been every bit of 90 years old. Good stuff.
Ah, MANTECH! Yeah, I had one of those. Remco seems like an under-appreciated gem that is getting some much deserved love these days.
1? _One's_ (not) _Better Than None!_
...which is how many I had...
WELL I guess you could still pretzel that 1's parts
Kinda like…YOUR MOTHER, TREBEK!
Alas like with many things/people, you just don’t appreciate them until after they’re gone… 🙄
Tyranic: "Hey, let's go inspect this derelict spaceship together!"
Jackson Good: "Sure, what's your name?"
Tyranic: "Tyranic."
Jackson Good: "Uh, nah, I'm going to take Steve Neverbetrays with me instead."
Tyranic: "Curses, excluded again!"
It seems sad now, but growing up with Dino-Riders I never questioned the fact the good guys were Valorians fighting the Rulons led by the emporer Krulos. But in all fairness, this goes back at least to the Bible where characters were conveniently named for their key traits.
Valorians, Rulons, Decepticons, *Sinestro!* It always helps for the characters' and groups' names to be more obvious than the color of a ripe orange.
A teacher wonders who lobbed spitballs all over the blackboard. She looks at little Miles Mayhem.
"It wasn't me," he shouted. " *They* did it!" (Miles points at 2 other kids.)
The teacher looks at Ace Goodheart and William Wordsworth. Then she looks back at Miles Mayhem and points to the hall.
And we still could laugh when George Lucas clumsily named characters in the prequel stuff like "Darth Sidious". At least "General Grievous" was probably self-applied. Although nothing can hope to explain "Count Dooku".
Hey Dan? I tried calling but the hotline was busy. There's this toy I had in the 80's that was like Centurions, but not Centurions...
Centurions:"We had a Saturday morning cartoon."
Mantech:"We have Dan Larson's hotline."
I had literally no recollection of this until I saw the commercial mid way through. Yet Centurions is etched solid in my memory despite never owning any Toys. The power of promotion!
Manscaped sponsoring the episode of Mantech……nice.
I remember these soooo clearly, I loved ManTech. For my birthday that year, I was begging for Power Lords toys. My Dad, instead, bought me every ManTech toy he could find. I'd never seen them before, but my god I loved them. Thanks for the video, Dan! Oh, and I never forgot their name :)
Your dad was a wise man.
Cheers!
I loved Mantech! My brother and I had 4 of the 6 figures we picked up at a CVS and we were working on the rest and the vehicles & playset. It was one of the toys that let us begin playing together. Till around then we never played together much, with our age differences and liking different things, but this line started to bridge the gaps.
I remember getting Negatech as a kid in 85. Basically the scrag-end of what was left after the line failed and got bought up and sold in the UK. Never saw any more of them after that.
And then in 87 I saw the Centurions cartoon, thought 'hey, neat, it's a Mantech cartoon' -- and was quickly disabused of that idea. Especially since no other bugger seemed to know what I was talking about and the toy I had in my box was nothing more than a 15-piece delusion of a toyline that never existed, and I only thought existed because I was crazy.
Watch yo mouth, sailor!
Am I the only one who was waiting for this line to take the next step and become ManimalTech?
I vaguely remember these. So much awesomeness in the 80's there was bound to be some toy lines left behind.
Hi, Dan. There's this toyline that I've never heard of before... something about characters with interchangeable parts... you know, like Centurions? The Toy Galaxy channel on UA-cam just covered it today... I don't suppose you'd know what it was called?
Yeah, it's HumanMachinery
Darude - Sandstorm
It's Techman.
@@Zeldafanatic69 @TechMoan - great channel!
That's - THAT'S GOTTA BE KANE!
Huh, so if it wasnt for Mantech Bionicle couldnt be a thing, so Mantech walked so Bionicle could run, that's interesting indeed.
I remember seeing one of those at another kid's house in '85. However, despite visiting toy aisles fairly regularly, I never did see anything related to this on an actual store shelf.
I was actually interested in these back in the day but never got any (primarily because there were many toy lines to choose from in the 1980's and- hey, I couldn't have it all). Looking back as an adult, they remind me of cheap Happy Meal toys- crude and blocky.
I still think they, like many Remco toys, have a certain charm to them.
I want Mantech to come back if only for commercials to feature an increasingly frustrated Dan Larson exclaiming “That’s a Shitload of Mantech!(R)”
Wow, I thought I remembered all of the action figures I played with as a kid but I had apparently forgotten these. Such a memory blast!
When I started the video I wondered what Mantech was & when it ended I realized I actually had one. That’s why I love this channel.
My god! THANK YOU! For 20-something years I’ve been trying to figure out what these were. And everyone kept telling my I’m crazy and it’s Centrurions
I loved these toys when I was a kid. I also didn't know what they were called until I was 35 and saw them referenced on another 80s toy nostalgia show. I used to call them the "tech guys" when I was 6.
I also remember that commercial! I kept pretending that little dude was me because we looked a lot alike. And I just realized that "little dude" is over 40.
If memory serves me correctly, during the Galaxy High video, you were specifically told to stay off the phone during the show 😆
I found a few of these at an antique store in town and I had to get one. Transforming action figures with big goofy helmets? That's my wheelhouse.
Oh, God, thank you! I half-remembered that ManTech playset from when I was a kid. For decades I could not remember what it was called, what toyline it was from. Anything. Whenever I mentioned it to friends or the fellas at my LCS no one knew what I was talking about. (No! Its not Boulder Mountain!!) This video has been a huge relief. Mystery solved!
Never had any Mantech figures (I was all-in on Joes & TFs in ‘84 😎) but for some reason i was one of the probably… _three kids_ who actually read the comic books 😄 It always killed me how their creators just _happened_ to be named “Goode” and “Tyranik”… gee, i wonder who’s gonna end up on which side of this conflict 😅 Great vid as always (Dan you may wanna rethink giving out your phone number to new subscribers 😆) and name-dropping Zybots gives me hope for a future episode 😁👍
Perfect timing! Last night I was trying to remember what toy line that red action figure I had as a kid belonged to👍
Yeah, it's ManTech
@@skippermatt7939 It's always Mantech.
This was a new one for me, so thanks for that, first off. Also, I love that so much of this video was devoted to the comedy -- it feels like the outright humor has been more scarce of late than it once was. Thank you guys.
Holy hell, 37 year mystery solved! I remember cutting up the laser base playset to build a Boba Fett costume when I was a kid. I have wondered ever since what the toy line was called. All that remains is a blue shield-thing and an orange laser gun. Crazy. Thank you!
Finally!!! And now, the list of all my childhood toys is now complete. I can't believe you finally did it!
The only thing left of everything, is Specterman! I used to watch him and Tranzor Z religiously in the 80s.
Toy Galaxy you are the man!! I could not recall this toy line! I searched the not so almighty internet but to no avail. But, Toy Galaxy came through. After 39 years of not remembering I can rest. MANTECH.
I’ve been waiting for this video! My brother and I would always bring up these figures and never could remember the name. I had the purple and green guys. I think they were on clearance because I had received them as gifts from aunts and uncles several times. Thank you Toy Galaxy!
My best friend in first grade got me one of these figures. I haven't seen him in about 35 years, but I still have the head and helmet of this toy (the only parts that did not get lost) in a little box with other odds and ends I've kept from my life that sits in the back of my closet.
mantech and manscape such synergy.
I never would have remembered these things if I hadn't seen them, but I'm pretty sure I had TerrorTech (but he was the only one). And I *know* I had that coloring book! So many action figure lines from the 80's were just a blip on the radar, and I swear I think I had exactly one from each of them (with most of my collection at the time being from the big popular lines).
I literally used one of your vids to look up a toyline last night, the start of this vid was so on brand.
I feel like it's only a matter of time before we get a Mantech-inspired Glyos-compatible drop. if I had to guess I'd say it'll be from Spymonkey or Warlords of Wor.
One can hope!
Man, you went deeeeeeep in the archives for this one! Oddly, I remember the comic book more than the toys themselves.
Hey Dan, There was a robot interchangeable limbs toy that had assorted weapons. It was kind of like Centurions. I remember my father bringing me boxes of the toys when he went on business trips. Ah... it was Starriors.
The memory of Mantech comes and goes like Animax. Like a Mandela Effect of 1980s properties. Glad to see other people had the same experience.
I have tried to remember the name of those toys for years. Thank you! I had one bad guy and one good guy.
Coincidentally enough, a few months ago I was also trying to figure out what this toy line that I had a faint memory of owning was called. I had to Google combinations of words and action figures until I finally stumbled upon an image of one that I had owned.
Thanks for the great information!
Thank you for this! For decades, I have tried to remember what the name of the toy line was! As a youngster, I thought the idea was great, though I only knew one kid who had any.
Dad has never heard of these before now, but he says there were several toylines that tried the interchangeable gimmick. He had some plastic army men that did this also and of course the matchbox cars with the magnets. Great video guys
Holy smokes I loved these. I had the playset for a long time but it finally disappeared as they always do.
Oh my god!!! Thank you!!!
I had the playset as a kid.
I swore it was from centurions.
You are the man.
I'm a kid of the 70s and early 80s and I never heard of ManTech before. Is anybody else more fascinated by the Mr. T cereal box in the background?
So...I have one that's not Mantech (well, I don't have the figures, not anymore) but I think was a late 80, begning of 90"s, unexpensive but well made packs of space barbarians minifigures, with interchangeable pieces like weapons, helmets, boots, parts of the body and a chest piece that the was like a crest/symbol. The helmet and boots was always some beast theme. The mold was really a very tiny He-man. Here in Brazil the name was something like "Galaticus" or something like that.
3:20 what the hell is he looking at?! Those eyes are going in some crazy directions
My grandmother bought me a huge amount of these at a garage sale when I was a kid! I had the fortress, the vehicle & all of the characters! It was actually really fun to play with!
"Hey Dan, why are the leaves on my plant turning brown? You say Mantech? Well, okay..." Granted, I did have Aquatech as a kid.
I had some these, including some of the Traxon's, the base, and also the comics too. Liked the Starriors more, but they were very cool. Now there is a toy series I do not remember the name of. I remember the one toy I had for the line was a black F4 Phantom that transformed with mechanized parts and such to a base. The figures were like tiny futuristic army men, but even smaller. Anyone have any idea?
M.A.S.K?
Yeah, I’ve never heard of ManTech before, but this was still another fun episode!
I’d also love to see a Tekkaman Blade episode, tho probably a Tekkaman vid would make sense first. 🙃
And, there was a 90’s sort of figure, sort of model kit toy line that was at least somewhat sold on runners, made out of a rubbery plastic and whose names will likely eludes me much like all those imagined callers that Dan answers. 🤣
My wife buys some times some kind of bar called "mantecol", I think it's peanut-based. It's kinda flavorless, and oily, but strangely addictive. Is that related to this?
Yes. You are supposed to smear it on the Mantech figures.
@@machupikachu1085 Oh, I was already doing that. I mean, it just makes sense to do it.
No, no. They were dinosaur skeletons that could be disassembled and rebuilt into vehicles and combined with other dinosaur skeletons. I think it was called Bone Age. Toy Galaxy should definitely do an episode about that. Thanks for reminding me of Mantech. I think my brother had one of the figures when we were kids, but im pretty sure i never knew the name of the line. It felt like a knock-off of some other, better toy line.
lol That Centurions call out was great.
Mantech, the parent company of Kidtech!
Apparently Mantech was never advertised in eastern Montana. I’ve never heard of this toy line but it seems very awesome!
I had solartech. Got it for x-mas one year… the feels
Dan, you complete me! Every week you manage to fill the gaps of my weak and failing memory and remind me of the poor latch-key child I once was.
I've been trying to remember the name of these for years...! If only I had the number for your hotline.
Within the 1st few moments of this excellent video, I see a flash of purple plastic that gets me excited. I thought this backpack was some kind of knock off Ghostbusters thing, but after all- the Answer WAS Mantech! Thanks, Dan for solving another toy riddle for me!
AWESOME video. I had a Mantech toy (the black & purple guy) and my mate across the road had the blue armoured guy. I used my Mantech figure with my MOTU figures and made him Skeletors vehicle inventor. I also used Sydot the Supreme from the Power Lords line in the same vein but as Man-At-Arms’s offsider. Aaaaaah the ‘80s. Such a fun and carefree time.
Had a bunch of these, still remember the rubbery heads
Bringing me back. A fun problem, several friends got different figures, and we had to keep track with which lower legs, gloves and head went with certain figures when we played with them as kids. I thought the bad guys had some great headsculpts.
There was a line of figures similar to ManTech that had lcd screens for faces that "changed" expressions as they "talked" ie played a voice/sound snip when a button was pushed. Hell if I can recall anything else about that line other than knock off lol. For the record, I do recall ManTech but couldn't remember if they came before or after Centurions.
Video command
The only thing from Mantech that I had growing up was a coloring/activity book.
I picked up a Robotech model one day at TRU, and one of my little bros wanted to copy me, but the 'rents forbade him from having any models. He found a ManTech figure and that sounded close enough to him.
I thought the figures were too blocky and chunky and under-articulated. When we occasionally threw them at each other, those things hurt! And the interchangeability of the parts that was lauded so proudly quickly just resulted in uglier and uglier figures with deep sea diver and welder helmets, IMO. So when the family dog chewed them up beyond recognition, I was pretty happy.
Centurions took their place and everybody forgot about ManTech.
This is that kind of post often called a "roller coaster".... Wowww. 😂😂 Nice.
in the early 2000's I worked for a company that was formed in a merger between Management Technologies and Aegis Research, and they confusingly chose MANTECH. No one had a clue but I was thrilled and would always add TECH to the end of everything we worked on.
I found parts of one of these guys recently.in a bin of random 80s toys.one of those lines I had no clue existed. There’s always something new to discover
The Robot Chicken sketch was hilarious.
You've got a man-tech on your hands sounds very euphamistic
I turned 10 in 1984 but, amazingly, I have no recollection of Mantech. I guess I was having too much fun already with GI Joe, He-Man and Transformers. Absolutely awesome to learn I don't know everything about 80's toys and a great video as always.
One of my favorite Christmas gifts i ever received was a Mantech figure i still remember a family picture i have in my Pajamas with my cousin and brothers holding our Mantech action figures.
9:06
Sweet!
Thew Adams Cameo
And Robo ^^ much much luv to the Fwoosh ^^
HOLY CRAP - You made a tube just for me?!
Like- Im pretty sure that you read my email as if I was the guy calling on the phone in the beginning. I love it! This was an excellent episode. I love your channel. lol
the world building done in the 80's just to sell toys is amazing
I remember the commercials for these,between He-man,GI Joe and Transformers had to give my parents a break,And I'm answering all spam callers with "It's ManTech". Thanks!
Hell yeah, it's Mantech! I only had Lasertech, so I couldn't swap his parts to create any nightmare creatures, but just the idea that I could if I had another figure was so intoxicating to me.
The horror-obsessed kid I was lusted after Negatech and Terrortech, but sadly it was never to be. Luckily, a year later, I was given Modulok to take care of all my gruesome part-swapping desires.
I saw this, and the memories flooded back. I had completely forgotten this until now! I think my friend had these.
Man, I have such fond memories of ManTech! Specifically that high I would get upon randomly find a piece that actually connected to another of the piece in a way that made sense. With that said, I have no memories of ever having them whole.
Yes!!! FINALLY! I love this line! Thank you you much for this Dan!
Manscaped promo for Mantech? I see what you did there!
Thank you so much for covering these!!! I bought one for someone's birthday when was in 2nd grade but never saw them again so I always thought I misremembered them.
Remember getting one for Xmas in '84. The purple bad guy ( Negatech) is his name??? Like so many people, I remember the toy but not the name. Also, Had Zy bots figures as well but couldn't remember their name either until you pictured them. One of your best videos yet.
When you see two of your favorite youtube toy channel hosts pop up in your other favorite youtube toy channel, you know you've done a fine job at selecting your online entertainment.
I like how "It's always Mantech" has become a running gag on the videos
What about the Zoloworld figures? I feel like there were a lot of independents mentioned, but to my memory, they not only single-handedly brought back 5.5, but predated all the interchangeable lines you spoke of.. 🤔
Enjoyed the mini-skits - keep em coming!
3:15 when you get so wise, you can see two points of view at once!
I was thinking about this random blue suited, robotic bald guy figure I had as a kid a few weeks back. Glad to finally know where he came from
I had the purple and black bad guy, wondered for years what this toy line was called. Thank you so much!
I had those figures back in the day. Mom got them for me from Pic 'N' Save on the cheap. They held together well for years. Never saw the playset or vehicles though.
When I first heard the name growing up, I mistakenly thought it was an off-shoot of Robotech.
Manscaped… with mantech.