The Big Green Cheese — there can be only one! Last week it was Godzilla, King of the Monsters who ruled the Ant Hill. But now, fresh out of the box comes a NEW challenger! He’s mean, he’s green, he’s the most squishable monster you’ve ever seen…
KRUSHER!
Stomping onto the Toy Battleground of 1979, Mattel’s KRUSHER had some heavy opposition. Star Wars was all the rage and larger, gimmick-style toys were out. GI Joe was already six feet under, the Six Million-Dollar Man was spent, and even KRUSHER’s more respectable cousin Stretch Armstrong had worn out his welcome. What chance did an inflatable reptilian monster have?
None, sadly. KRUSHER was a flop. While he is remembered fondly today by those who owned (or wanted to own) him, KRUSHER was on the shelves of major retailers for less than a year; by the end of 1979 he could be found on clearance in Sears stores throughout the land and vanished shortly after that. Obviously, he escaped to Monster Island.
As you can see by the fantastic box art, KRUSHER’s action feature was his ability to be inflated via a small tube and then “krushed” into weird shapes; release the tube and “He GROOOWS!” providing a child with healthy lungs hours of entertainment.
“Mash him down!” demands the box, breathlessly adding: “He’s a compact molehill!”
SKRUNCH! indeed!
This formidable beastie is a fearful 15” tall. Made of a pliable green rubber, he met the most important requirement for a boy’s toy — he could take a beating. Surprisingly, KRUSHER is more durable than cousin Stretch — find one today and he’ll probably still work. That’s quality construction, kids.
“Stunt his growth any shape you want!”
The simple paint application of lighter green across sections of KRUSHER’s body brings out the subtle aspects of the sculpt. The scales, while cartoonish, still have enough of a real-world feel to them that your aunt might just choose to use a dish towel to pick it up.
As you can see, KRUSHER’s action feature is integrated into his belt. It’s a nice way to address the issue of the valve, avoiding any potential “bad taste” areas. The valve is the weakest point on the toy, and KRUSHER is sometimes found with his valve permanently “pulled!” Poor guy…
KRUSHER is a great monster. He’s colorful, he’s sturdy, and he possesses a unique play feature that gives him an edge over other, more “standard” toys. His size and affordability made him a great value for the time, and, let’s face it, he was great for stomping those little Star Wars figures! In spite of his failure as a retail item, he remains one of the most memorable of the forgotten toys!
So what do YOU think? Does KRUSHER have the juice to take on GODZILLA? Write and let us know!
Jason R Mink is The Man In The Ant Hill! — Dec. 2012
