Super Friends go all Galactic!

My pal Chris found this toy hunting recently, I don't know it's origins but I know it's probably from 1978. 

it kind of reminds me about how "Galactic" the Super Friends got during this period in time, it seemed like every week they were in space fighting a guy with a "laser sword". 

Anybody know where this is from?

Pajamas: 1981

Oh Legend of the Lone Ranger, you had such big ambition, you even knocked Batman out of the selection this year.

Robin High Flying Hang Glider

This one is new to me, even when I saw it I assumed it was an 80s or 90s piece and the seller had made a mistake but nope, this is 1978 Robin Rack Toy by Jotastar. The boy wonder can't get enough toy love as far as I'm concerned.

The Dynamic Duo nab the Penguin

i'm almost positive this slide comes from a former Kenner file, especially seeing as these are the suits used in the mid 80s to promote the Super Powers brand. I'm loving that Batman suit.....

Update: Someone was kind enough to tell me they have a similar slide with the Care Bears, this is the Cincinnati zoo and most definitely Kenner related,

Send me your vintage mall appearance photos!

Send me your mall appearance photos!

Comic Heroes Tube Socks!

Pretty commonplace now but back in '76 some Shazam! socks would have really brightened my day. Especially 65% Orlon Shazam socks.

Super Frame!

I found this little oddity in a local flea market, produced in 1978 by a Canadian company called "Friendly Photos" it features a rare appearance by Green Lantern. Even if he is blonde with large red gautlets, it's nice to see ol' Hal.

The biggest mystery about this piece is why I haven't slapped a third grade photo of myself in there....

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

1984 Remco Toys Catalog

By 1984, all of the toy lines Remco had called staples in the 1970s like utility belts and helicopters were long gone as the company dove  head first into the crowded marketplace of 1980s Action Figures

Batman and Superman had been replaced by less known DC characters like Warlord and Sgt Rock, the company experimented with home grown figure concepts like The Sarge Team, Warrior Beasts and Pirates of the Galaxseas. 

Their big launch for the year was the futuristic Man Tech line and there wasn't a single whisper about Krystar to be heard.

All this and some very familiar rack toys!

Visit the 1984 Remco Toys Catalog here.

For more Remco  toys, Check out these fabulous links:

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The Superhero Sales Force

Another cool sales piece from LCA (licensing Corporation of America) extolling the virtues of DC comics superheroes. LCA was the engine that drove the superhero merchandise explosion of the 1970s, so it's safe to say I'm a big fan. Click on any of the images to see them larger. (Thanks to Corey for the scans)

I can't resist blowing up that mall appearance shot and the Superman boutique picture (which was previously seen here)

A blow reveals that Batman and Robin aren't played by just anybody but by Batman and Robin. Nice gig considering it's nearly a decade since the series was cancelled.

This is the Superman boutique at Macy's, we've previously featured it in the booklet below:



More LCA and DC comics goodness here.

Super Sharp

This past weekend while I set up at Canadian Toycon, my son made a comment about what he hoped to find and how I'll probably go home with nothing, as usual. This is usually the case, as I'm pretty much into oddball things while he loves that unsold Star Wars prequel merchandise, toy shows are pretty much his oyster.

So, I was elated to turn a corner and run into these wonderful carded pencil sharpeners by Alco. I have been quietly trying to piece together a set of their Superhero school supplies for years, not by ebay searches but merely by finding them at shows and antique malls.

Above is Batman and below is Wonder Woman in although that's pretty obvious,  I don't know how many they made in this set as they're made later than the ones I remember but I look forward to finding out....

The Alco sharpeners are in my book:

Rack Toys: Cheap, Crazed Playthings is a limited edition 144 page book from the creator of Plaid Stallions. Order from us and get three free promotional post cards.

Batman with Robin: live and in person!

One of my favourites from my burgeoning collection of such things. Do you think if I write my address and tomorrow's date on this in magic marker, that they'll show up and spend the day with me?

Send me your mall appearance photos!

War is fun!

This Official Sgt Rock Stunt Cycle may be one of the last toys AHI released before they folded from Remco. The majority of the AHI Rock line was derived from Batman items they created a decade earlier.

Check out our upcoming book!

Sleep in the golden age

These awesome bed sheets depicting nothing but classic golden age DC characters were sold in Canada during the early 1970s.

It's one of the things I keep my eyes open for at thrift stores as they are highly collectible. I've even found a set of the curtains before, whatever kid had them, he sure liked to smoke....

Nerd Therapy Session: Towel Redemption

tio

This one takes place in 1977 and involves vacationing, towels, a slightly embarrassing confession and I guess an overall  reluctance to grow up. Go figure on the last one....


More after the jump:

WW2 parachuting team up

Behold the very last parachuting AHI figure ever made (at least I think it is, although I'm still convinced there are Mighty Crusaders ones out there) Sgt. Rock, based on the DC comic series. AHI rolled out a lot of old favourites like the Batplane and the motorcycle toy for Sgt. Rock. Their other company Remco producing an action figure line meant to compete with G.I. Joe. Even though I can't remember reading a SGT Rock comic as a kid, I can't resist that Kubert artwork.

And here was have an AHI Captain America Parachutist, Cap got in just under the wire in the late 1970s along with the Hulk and was one of the last superhero parachutists made. Cap may be one of the more logical parachuting superheroes ever made seeing as he actually used them in comics.

 

Explore the Wonderful, Weird, World of Azrak Hamway

Superhero Games

These Hasbro Hero games from 79 look really fun and colourful but what the hell is Wonder Woman fighting? A tree?

 

Justice Weague of Amewica

The super babies may be the first clue in my young life that I was something of a nerd. Upon first sight of them as a child,  I was just a little bothered by Superman's blonde curly locks.

Aquaman and his queen visit the surface world

Another wonderful contribution from Matt S, this time it's the King of the Sea himself Aquaman and his super sexy and under utilized wife Mera performing appropriate water ski stunts for the crowd at Sea World. When you think about it, this really should have been his show....

And if you have anything to add, I'd be your friend for life.

Comic Hero Kites

This is a new one to me, these Comic Hero kites from Remco were made in 1971, which was an odd year to be making Superhero merchandise seeing it was pretty close to the late 60s explosion. There are some pretty interesting things to notice about this line, first is the absence of Aquaman ( although I'm not sure if he had a monthly by this point) and the other is there is not one but two Flash kites, even one where he's punching Mirror Master.

I mean that's some pretty obscure character choices there, even for 1971 when kids actually read comics. The other big tell this is from the early 1970s is the appearance of Wonder Woman in her weird-0 powerless Emma Peel days.

I wonder how many kids would have even realized this was supposed to be Wonder Woman?

Scene from the new Green Lantern Movie

Ok, apologies for the misleading title but wouldn't the new Green Lantern movie be so much better if it had a scene where Ryan Reynolds leads the entire Justice League to victory via water skis? Hunh?

Many, many thanks to Matt S for these fab pictures, more to come.

And if you have anything to add, I'd be your friend for life.

Nasta Toys for 1980

We have a new company listing into the Gallery of Racktoys today with the addition of NASTA

Like a lot of it's counterparts in the late 1970/early 1980s, Nasta was rack toy manufacturer creating products based on the DC and Marvel Superheroes brands, Barbie and Hanna Barberra characters.

What sets them apart are their products, for the most part Nasta sold oddball items like Sunglasses, Sandals and Ice Pop makers. Some very non traditional licensed items that will put a smile on your face.

Visit the 1980 Nasta Toys Catalog for More

More Rack Toy Links

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