Super Powers Figures
The Super Powers
Robin Figure |
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The Super Powers
Cyborg Figure |
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KENNER SUPER POWERS [1984-1986]
In almost a parallel to Marvel's Secret Wars toy line, DC Comics also wanted
in on the comic/toy line idea. With the help of the legendary Jack Kirby,
DC had jump-started their lagging sales with a high-visibility comic book
and toy series titled Super Powers. Like Marvel, DC also wanted to utilize
their most popular characters.
In conjunction with Kenner, three separate series were made through the years
1984 to 1986. The first series showcased DC's "heavies". The second
and third series included many characters that never had their own action
figures before, thus creating a risk factor for Kenner; this warranted a low
print run making them quite scarce. When interest died down in 1986, Kenner
released a few figures on half cards, which are considerably cheaper than
the original full carded ones. Known for their fine craftsmanship, the Super
Powers collection is constantly rising in price and are very much sought after
by collectors. Prices that are in a constant state of flux are the extremley
rare Cyborg and Mister Miracle figures, so watch out for them.
Spin Offs
The ideas for several spin-off lines were also prepared. Boards with logos
for The New Teen Titans, Legion, Justice League of America and a special Joker
line have been found among several different former Kenner employees interviewed.
Early boards show many ideas not used in items eventually produced. Most interesting
are the larger vehicles and accessories which never saw the light of day.
There was to be a Bat Signal, Wonder Woman's invisible plane, a Super Coupe
for Supergirl and Green Lantern's Rejuvenator Communicator. The unmade Lois
Lane figure was to have her own Reportair vertical take-off jet and two different
designs were prepared for the Green Lantern X-1 ray powered plane. A space
shuttle vehicle was considered for the Justice League, though it doesn't seem
to have made it beyond the rough sketch stage.
New Teen Titans Plans
The New Teen Titans appears to be the line that was pitched to follow the
Super Powers Collection to market. More work seems to have been done on it.
There is a report that several figures made it to the prototype stage. The
whole female aspect of the Super Powers and associated lines hinged on past
female figures.
Several female characters in the G.I. Joe line were accumulating on the shelves
along with the Wonder Woman Super Powers figure. Girls didn't recognize them
as dolls and boys preferred the male super heroes in three-dimensional form
even though female characters were selling in comics. Manufacturers and toy
companies were not big on female figures, and the adult collector market was
still in its infancy. Ironically, it was the Super Powers line that helped
launch the tremendous growth of adult collecting in the late '80s. Still,
many of these great toys never saw the light of day because of sluggish Wonder
Woman sales and a belief in the toy marketing and toy retailing industry that
female action figures didn't sell.
Many pieces of artwork were taken from comic books of the time to help designers
put together the Teen Titans figure line. Character artwork from such characters
as Terra [with cover art from New Teen Titans #30] Blackfire [with cover art
from New Teen Titans #23] and Cheshire [with cover art from Tales of the Teen
Titans] were given as style guides.
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A design sketch for a proposed
Titans Tower
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Actual design artwork for a
Wonder Girl action figure
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information courtesy of Wizard Magazine and Tomart's Action Figure
Digest #88
