Toy-Ventures: More Knock Off Superheroes

Time to delve into the magical world of Knock Off or bootleg action figures again with these classics from the 1970s, the weirdest justice league ever consisting of Aquaman, Superman and um.......Bat-Phantom-Solider-Man?

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Super Rare!

One of the nicest things that goes on at MegoMeet is that the dealer's humour me and allow me to document stuff I can't afford.

Case in point this Official Superman Super Streak by Azrak Hamway, one of the rarest rack toys I've ever come across.

My best guess is these didn't sell well due to the price point, the battery operated items from AHI always seem to have been produced in much lower numbers than stuff like the parachutists. 

If you're inclined to purchase this lovely man of steel, you can contact Vintage Toy Rescue but rest assured that $3 price tag is just there for atmosphere.

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Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Superhero AM Radios

What was your AM Radio as a kid? Mine was "Little Sprout" from the "Green Giant" commercials, I assume my mother won it.

It was pretty cool but my older sibling had an FM radio in her room, so i mainly just kept my door open so I could hear Black Sabbath.  

New Six Million Dollar Man Shirt in our Redbubble store!

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Toy-Ventures 11- Box of Mego Knock Offs

This week's installment of Toy Ventures is a bit of a departure as I just got a big box of weird Mego Knock off items and I decided to share it with you while i "unbox". 

We talk about various Mego and Captain Action related knock offs i've found over the years and well, some of this stuff is hilarious.. 

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New Six Million Dollar Man Shirt in our Redbubble store!

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Cool Shirt Explosion!

Forgot suggested ages, I NEED ALL OF THESE IN AN XL! DAMMIT, GIVE ME THREE OF THE BIG FRANKS JUST IN CASE I LOSE ONE!

New Six Million Dollar Man Shirt in our Redbubble store!

Don't forget to join our new facebook group.

Get the expanded digital edition of Rack Toys here.

Make Brushing Fun!

How is that we don't have adult versions of these things now? 

Pod Stallions 61: Superman!

We return once again with an all new Pod Stallions and in celebration of the Man of Steel's 80th birthday we thought we'd make him our topic (We haven't done this one right? Cause it feels real familiar).

So we dig right in and talk about George Reeves, Filmation, the Super Friends, Dean Cain, Superboy, Mego figures and we finish along the way with what we think of the current incarnation of the Man of Steel.

Sidetrack conversations include Records, Michael J Pollard sightings, the Martian Chronicles, another "Brian was a dumb kid" story, local tv celebrities, Spawn and a whole long diatribe about Condor Man. 

Can you read our mind? Listen along and tell us!

What's your favourite Superman incarnation?  give us spirited debate on our facebook wall.

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Vintage Halloween Pics Round up

At the beginning of October I put out the call for your vintage Halloween costume photos and brother, did you respond with your wood paneled goodness like this photo from Jason above.

To be honest, putting them all together became a daunting task, however, that's a good problem to have. An incredible vintage costume explosion awaits after the jump.

The Man of Steel becomes the man of gold

I couldn't get over the sincerity of this licensing advertisement for Superman from 1983. which states that Superman 3 will "Make box office history for the third time in a row" and "we're expecting the strongest sales ever".

I remember seeing Superman 3 with my best friend, we were both 12 and I remember being really excited for a new Superman movie. 

The robot lady gave me awful nightmares and the popcorn had me throwing up all night. So, I don't have fond memories of Superman 3 (Unlike Trading Places, the film we saw the week prior which made men out of us, ahem) and likely didn't buy any merchandise that summer.

I think it's so weird to see a spread of Superman merchandise that doesn't include an action figure but with Mego going out of business that year and one year until Super Powers, this was a weird void.

My kids have never known a world where they couldn't go to a store and see a Superman action figure in some form. That's a weird concept because i certainly remember "the dark times"

Super Team!

No, this isn't a still from the upcoming Justice League movie (it's too bright for one thing) this my friends is from a clever late 70s promotion for a company that seems to brilliantly pioneer what we call "Cosplay" today. Take a better look after the jump. You'll be glad you did.

Major props to Robb for pointing this wonderful item in my direction.

Canadian Superhero Pepsi Cups

For the last two decades I've been quietly collecting these promotional cups given away by Pepsi in the 1970s in Canada. Similar to the US cup promotions but a much smaller character choice, different design and made in Canada. (update I've just been told they were made available at the restaurants in Zeller's department stores)

My mantra on these was to never buy them online but find them in the wild at the many toy shows, antique malls and flea markets I regularly haunt. I think I've put together a complete set and thought it would be fun to showcase them. More after the jump.

Superheroes and Apes in Japan

I was elated to find this ad full of Ourway Studios Superhero and Planet of the Apes merch in a Japanese issue of StarLog.

Especially mind warping is those Superhero stamp albums, which I totally had and collected as a kid. I wonder if they still accept orders......

Check out the Our Way Studios catalog from '77!

Pajamas: 1981

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

Superheroes and Sci-Fi

One section of any wish book that I love is the "other" action figure pages in the era of Star Wars. There is a lot of great stuff on this page!

While my time with the Mego Superheroes decreased sharply in 1979, I still viewed them like old friends. I still kinda do....

From Mickey Mouse to Star Wars

Wow, that title is prophetic ain't it? The Mouse almost owns the whole page now. There is no greater image I'll see today than that home brewed Chewbacca illustration. I miss the "Pre-Style Guide" world.

PS- I know I've featured this before but a) it was nearly a decade ago and b) some things are worth repeating.

Super Babies!

The Amsco Super Babies never warmed to me as a superhero loving kindergartener, I was well into Mego action figures by this point and Shazam's inaccurate red hair bugged me even then. As an adult, I think they're one of the most charming bits of 70s Superhero merch.

 I'm pleased top announce that things have almost returned to normal here and I'll be updating the site again. Thanks to everyone for the kindness.

Mego 12 Inch Superheroes

As I prepare for this week's Mego Meet Toy Show this weekend, I thought it would be cool to showcase this awesome catalog from the United Kingdom. Pedigree Toys began distributed the Mego Toy Lines in the late 1970s and did a knock out job with the 12" Superheroes, more pages after the jump!

Super Heroes by Croner

I found this catalog from Croner, an Australian toy distributor that carried alot of US items by companies like MPC and Azrak-Hamway International.

Nothing that I haven't seen before but it's nice to end a week looking at stuff like this.




That Captain America kite is particularly dreamy.

Superheroes 3 for $5.99

This page will be my happy place all day.

1981 Parkes Run Colouring Book Catalog

Hey remember those big colouring books you got on birthdays and Christmas? They were done by a company called Parkes Run and they made a lot of cool licensed stuff using licenses like Superman the movie, Popeye, Peanuts and the Marvel comics characters!

Adult Colouring books are the all rage right now but I'd settle for this one, which was given to me by my aunt Cathy in 1978!



Oh Man Wolf, where's your movie? 

 Anyway, check out the 1981 Parkes Run Catalog here!