The programmable Bat Machine and Spider Machine first made their debut in a 1980 Mego Electronics Catalog, although they eventually made their way into the regular Mego catalog in a later printing (Replacing the Spider-Man Alley Play set, which by this time had been scrapped)
Essentially these vehicles were similar to the “Big Trax” marketed by Milton Bradley Electronics around the same time, however Mego did a clever thing and tied them to their Superhero license and then popular Pocket Heroes brand. Both items were sold in Mexico as well by distributor Ensueno.
Batmachine in the second edition of the 1980 Mego Catalog
The Bat Machine as it appeared in the second printing of the 1980 Mego Catalog.
Mego Bat Machine from the Pocket Superheroes Line
Here is a boxed version of the Batmachine bearing some great artwork as usual. You can put Batman into any toy and it’s plausible. Figures were not included.
Mego Bat Machine from the Pocket Superheroes Line Mego Museum Batman
Shot of the box flap.
Mego Bat Machine from the Pocket Superheroes Line Mego Museum Batman
This version is signed by both former Mego President Marty Abrams and the late Neal Kublan, former VP of research and Development at Mego.
Mego Bat Machine from the Pocket Superheroes Line
Our version doesn’t have the decal sheet, if you have a Batmachine with the decals or the sheet itself, we’d love a shot of it!
Programmable Spider Machine by Mego Corp.
The Spider-Machine wasn’t quite ready for the second printing of the 1980 Mego Catalog, so we just got the box art. Anything Batman got, Spider-Man got as well by this point as he was one of the “heavy hitters” in the figure category.
Mego Boxed Ensuano Spider-Trax Mexico
We have the Mexican version of the Programmable Spider-Machine which was called “Spidertrax” and sold by a company called Ensueno (who also distributed the flying superheroes) The major difference other than the Spanish language box is that Ensueno included the pocket Superheroes Spider-Man figure. This is likely because they didn’t sell them separately.
If you have a boxed American Spider-Machine and want to sent us a photo, drop us a line!
Mego Pocket Superheroes Spider-Man by Ensueno for the Spider Trax toy
The Spider-Man (un hombre arana articulado!) figure Ensueno included with the Spidertrax with it’s original baggie.
Label Sheet for the Spider Trax
Original label sheet for the Ensueno Spidertrax toy. In the US, it was called the “Spider Machine”
Loose Spidertrax by Ensueno
Loose Spider-Trax, even though this item has never been played with, it no longer works.
Spidertrax by Ensueno of Mexico
Electronico!