DC
SUPER HEROES
RETRO
Figures
For Sale
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Back in
the 1970s Mego produced action figures in several different themes with its most
famous product line called the World’s Greatest Super Heroes.
The line became
a cult favorite among many collectors with an extensive line
of figures outfitted in cloth costumes representing comic book
characters from DC and Marvel Comics.
Mego
would also produce many movie and television characters as
well in the same style and format. Other
licensed properties were Planet of the
Apes, Tarzan and Star Trek to name just a few.
Mattel responded in 2010 with
a new
line called Retro Action DC Super
Heroes or DC Super Heroes Retro figures very similar in format to the
Mego
figures.
The figures are highly poseable with multiple points of
articulation with beautiful cloth costumes that has that
great feel in your hands and fingers.
Each figure comes on a card back in a clear plastic
bubble very similar to the Mego figures.
Accessories pertinent to a character are included such as
Aquaman's trident spear or Green Lantern's lantern.
The
figures stand between 7-3/4 to 8 inches tall exactly like
the Mego figures.
The costumes are very nice and have that certain charm with
a
nostalgic feel.
These figures are pretty comparable to the Retro
figures that co-founder of Mego Marty Abrams have brought back to life
in the 2000s with his reintroduction of Star Trek, Planet of the Apes and
Horror Retro figures.
The line initially offered Superman, Green
Lantern, Lex Luthor with Sinestro followed up with Batman, Aquaman, Two Face and
Black Manta.
The next wave consisted of Wonder Woman, Cheetah, Flash, Captain
Cold and then Captain Marvel, Darkseid, Black Adam and Martian Manhunter.
There have been some wonderful exclusives that Mattel offered only through its online store at Mattycollector with Green
Arrow being the first offering and Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Kyle
Rayner-Green Lantern and Sinestro in yellow costume making up the
last exclusives.
Unfortunately the line ended in 2011 due to various
circumstances as Mattel did not find the support it looked
for via their web site and did not find it cost effective to
produce them for sale at regular retail shops and comic
book shops.
Although
the line has ended, the figures have found a great place in
the collector world.
The figures fit in with Toy Biz'
Marvel Famous Cover
line which came out in 1997 focusing exclusively on Marvel Comics
characters like Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hulk,
Spider-Man despite the fact that they are somewhat smaller in bulk and height than
their Marvel counterparts in the Famous Cover line.
These two lines offer collectors the opportunity to
bring both DC and Marvel characters
together for their collections in this figure
format.
Many other lines of 8 inch to 9 inch cloth outfitted figures
are continually produced. Companies like Bif Bang Pow!
and Classic TV Toys have brought forth many previous
and sometimes untapped characters in this scale. The Six
Million Dollar Man, Battlestar Galactica and retro Mego
figures have made its way to the
marketplace.
Batman,
Robin, Riddler and the Joker in true Mego style has been
made by Classic TV Toys and they are planning on
re-creating the Teen Titans (Aqualad, Kid Flash, Speedy and
Wonder Girl), Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Penguin, Catwoman
and Batman with removable cowl, Robin with removable cowl,
Batgirl and Alfred and even Conan the Barbarian.
All of
these in the almost the same exact likeness of the Mego
figures of the 1970s with the exception of Alfred which has
never seen a figure in this scale and style before.
Classic
TV Toys has reproduced their own version of the classic
Ideal figure of daredevil Evil Knievel as well as other
newer incarnations of classic hits like Dukes of Hazard,
Dallas, Gilligan's Island which will fit in just right with
the DC Super Heroes Retro figures.
The
company is most famously known for producing the 8 inch and
12 inch scale Kiss figures based on the legendary rock band.
These
lines add to any existing and newly built collections of 8
inch figures and can only enhance a person's own treasures.
There are
several options to search and find the DC figures for your
collections and of course these other themed figures.
Originally you could find some of the figures at Toys R Us
and comic book stores however they sold out almost
immediately. Some comic stores may still carry them,
but you may want to try a comic book show for more seller
options.
I have found some good sources online since I tend to find
better pricing than the local market as well as better
availability since online sources cater to a larger net of
buyers and collectors than a local store and tend to order
enough to satisfy that demand.
Amazon.com is one of those sources as they have a diverse amount of sellers
who have their own E-Stores there and the DC figures are items that they offer for sale.
Big Bad Toy Store is a good source
where I have found some great
lots, sets and assortments which can save you some money
buying them as such as opposed to acquiring them
individually.
Per figure price typically comes out better for you when you
purchase them in quantities and you also save on shipping
costs as well. You also save time hunting and searching and
then purchasing from multiple buyers.
Another option
to try is
Ebay.
There’s a lot of collectors/sellers/dealers always looking
to move in and out of product and DC Super Heroes Retro
Action
figures is a product line that they know will sell for them
since so many collectors want them.
Be careful to check out the auctions and or Buy it Now
listings carefully. Some sellers’ terms are not right for
everyone and sometimes the items are not what you expect.
If condition of the package is important to you, then be
sure to ask a lot of questions. If you don’t get the right
kinds of answers you’re looking for, then move on and try
another listing.
Always check out the seller’s profile to see how their past
selling has been. If they’re new to selling and have only
been buying, ask questions.
You always want to be comfortable with the person you’re
potentially going to be buying from and you really need to
know what it is you’re getting.
Happy Collecting!!!
Johnson's Collectibles
