Hello all,
I'm back to post about a recent obsession I've been dealing with. It is over a toy line called 'Monster 500' (or 'Monsters 500'). I saw these at ToysRUs years ago, back in 2014 and 2015. I didn't pay them too much mind. They looked really cool, but I am not a fan of pull-back or electronic cars. I thought they only made 6 of them and that was it, not worth it to focus on them. My mind was focused on hunting Mystery Minis and other knick-knacks gosh darn it! Those plastic figurines weren't going to hunt themselves!
Now its 2026, and guess what shows up in a recommended listing in ebay? What do you know, I remember them! Same thoughts as before rushed over me, they look cool but not my jam. Then I saw some show-up I hadn't seen before. Whats this, a werewolf? Some chainsaw psycho? A crocodile in a toilet? What. Wait, was there more to this toy line than I first gave it credit for? Yes there was.
After extensive digging and a lot of research (thanks 99% to the Monster 500 fansite and youtube channel), I was able to see almost all there was about this toy line. And let me tell you, I am both impressed, shocked about its history, and (as previously mentioned) obsessed.
Here is an archive link to the Monster 500 official website: Monster 500 | Meet the Monsters! If you dare! (archive.org)
Here is a link to the previously mentioned Monster 500 fan site: https://www.monster500fanclub.com/
(And if any Monster 500 employees or the host of the fan site ever wants to chat and/or geek out over the toys, feel free to reach out!)
Monster 500 is a toy line of monsters racing each other in a post-human world. Everyone has been zombified, so the monsters no longer have anyone to scare. They take advantage of the situation by doing what they love to do: Race! This brings you monsters like Evil Clownevil, Drac Attack, Captain Heinous (from Uranus), and many more! They are divided into different teams, such as 'Lunatic Legends', 'Freak Force', etc. which group the monsters into their own subtypes. Their designs are reminiscent of the classic Ed Roth's Rat Fink and other hot rod-like creature designs you've seen. Even their vehicles have custom appearances to them, like they were built by the monsters themselves. It gives them all a nice and unique feeling.
Below are renders/promo artwork of some of these racers:
