The Significance Of The Marvel Comics Thanksgiving Float

To me, the crucial turning-point in the licensing of superheroes, post-Mego action figures in the 1970s, was the first Marvel Comics float at the Macy's Thanksgiving parade, circa 1987. Watching this short segment on my TV as a comic collecting teenager was a rare and unexpected thrill.

First, a little background. The licensing of superhero characters took a sharp nose-dive after the demise of Mego Toys in the early Eighties. Sure, in the early-to-mid 1980s we had the Secret Wars and Super Powers toy lines. But they were relatively slim pickings, with not a tremendous amount of ancillary products or TV adaptations.


Furthermore -- as an X-Men fan, things were even more slim pickings for me. The Wolverine and Magneto action figures from the Secret Wars line. That was it, the only acknowledgment outside of two "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" cartoons that the X-Men existed outside of the comic books I was dutifully collecting on a weekly basis.

But enter the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Marvel float. For the first time, I saw an X-Men character "in real life" -- an actor dressed up like Wolverine. This was *huge* for me.

Plus: Emma Frost(!), Luke Cage (!!), and even Robocop (!!!)!

Was Marvel's deal with New World Studios the impetus for this float? Was this, and the float in 1989, the publisher's attempt to stick its big toe into the wider world of media and gauge the popularity of these characters?

Whatever the reasons, by 1990 a whole new golden age of licensing and TV and movies dawned for both Marvel and DC superheroes. Toy Biz in a way became a more successful version of Mego, producing tons and tons of toys, dolls, playsets, and other products starring Marvel characters both popular and obscure.

Fancy a Wolverine figure? (from Radapaw's Wolverine Figure Gallery)

Some might point to the success of the first Batman movie as the beginning of this new "age of superheroes" -- but I think it started with that very first Marvel Thanksgiving float.

Wow, I'm a nerd.

1987 Float


1989 Float

Fake Superhero Toys Exposed!

I've long been fascinated by bootleg toys. They're usually crappy, but I like the crappy. I like when they get the color on Robin's outfit wrong. I like when some company overseas mixes disparate characters together in one package, offering us juxtapositions we might otherwise never see. I want to see Snoopy hanging out with Spongebob Squarepants, the two of them using iPods. I want to see that.

One of my first bootleg toys was a Mickey Mouse figural pencil sharpener. He looked like the Japanese icon of the "salary man," with sunglasses, a business suit, and briefcase. He was pretty obese. They had a geisha Minnie Mouse as well. Most certainly not licensed by Disney.

Then there was fake Voltron, which to this day I refer to as "Foltron."

Recently my interest in these fabulous fakes was reawakened upon the discovery of action figure multi-packs that feature some really strange bedfellows:


As you can see, in this set we have Superman, a Ninja Turtle, Buzz Lightyear, Batman, and Spider-Man. All for around 6-8 dollars. What a deal! And the colorful and unique packaging promise even more wonders: The Incredibles. The Fantastic Four. Maybe even Venom!

It's heart-warming how all the companies
got together to bring this unique toy set to light.

Of particular interest is the Superman figure, which boasts a large "Superman Returns" head on a much smaller, "Justice League Unlimited" body. And his chest lights up. And they have some part fused into his hand from when they stole the mold from Mattel.

"Collections Them All!"

In this next set, called "Superman Returns," we get an army of Supermen plus Metallo. Though cartoony, the Supermen look not so much like they were stolen from the "animated series" as they resemble the Ed McGuinness version. Were they stolen from the DC Direct figures and shrunk down? Is this an original sculpt? Who knows. The only thing I know for sure is that you get not only Superman but apparently Captain Atom and Shazam as well.

Superman, Shazam, and Captain Atom - - with light-up chest action!

And the chests all light up. Because you want that in your toys.

The capes in the "Superman Returns" collection are all frayed pieces of cloth glued sloppily on the back, and Metallo is widely out of proportion with the other figures. The packaging tells us to "Collections Them All!" And, also, "Let' s Fence Against The Earth!"

Finally, we have here a picture of two Iron Man figures. Can you guess which one is the fake?

One of these figures is a big liar

Unlike the superhero sets, the bootleg Iron Man figures seem to have been created with much more care -- the fake Prada of fake action figures. The intent to fool people into thinking they are the real Hasbro product is quite evident in the packaging, which are direct copies of the originals. The only way you could really tell a fake package and a real one apart, in fact, is in the luster of the paper used. Hasbro's packaging is crisper, with a bit of a gloss, while the fakes are matte and faded.

As for the figures themselves, the originals have more joints, with crisper color. However, the fake apparently has War Machine's accessories -- and, of course, the friggin' light-up chest. Because you need that.

el fake-o

This post is not an endorsement of unlicensed superhero toys. Though many have theoretical suggested age ranges on the packaging, I would never give these toys to a child; most have sloppy production values and sometimes include sharp edges, tiny/loose pieces that could get swallowed, and even weird-smelling paint. And, in the case of the Iron Man figures, the intent was clearly to fool consumers into thinking they were buying the real thing, getting out of the realm of "camp" counterfeits completely and diving head-first into complete fraud.

However, even that cool Batman collectibles book by Chip Kidd several years ago offered us lovingly photographed images of bootleg toys. Their crappiness have seized our imagination.

Dora The Explorer To Get "Feminine" Makeover

Apparently Nickelodeon is working on a revamp of Dora the Explorer to make her appeal to preteen girls:

"Amid competition from older and racier rivals such as the Disney phenomenon Hannah Montana, Dora's TV bosses are reportedly in talks about re-designing some themed toys and merchandise to make the character more feminine."

If this is true, and they make her into another Hannah Montana/Barbie/Bratz clone, I will vomit my guts out.

If they want to make her older -- fine. But just make her "normal." Please please please don't glam her up.

You know what Dora does? She freakin' explores! With comfortable shoes!

Iranian Official: Barbie, Harry Potter, Spiderman "Destructive Influence"

An Iranian official laments the "destructive influence" smuggled Western toys such as Barbie, Superman, and Harry Potter are having on his country:

"The displays of personalities such as Barbie, Batman, Spiderman and Harry Potter ... as well as the irregular importation of unsanctioned computer games and movies are all warning bells to the officials in the cultural arena..."

There was an officially-sanctioned line of dolls in Iran made to compete with Barbie, Sara and Dara:











They have apparently not been as successful as the forbidden Barbies.*

This related set of photos on the Flickr user sara va dara's photostream has more interesting commentary on the subject, including pictures of another Middle Eastern "answer" to Barbie, Fulla.

Getting a real kick out of this post:


* While I have read this assessment in one of the articles on the subject, I have read no more than anecdotal evidence. I do not believe in repressively controlling the media one's children consumes, but I don't think a doll like Fulla, in traditional clothes, is the worst idea in the world for kids who are part of that culture already. Blond & thin Barbie, draped in pepto bismol pink, didn't do much for me or my self-esteem either. I am more interested in obtaining a Fulla doll on eBay.

NYCC '08 Action Figure Preview Part 8: Horror Toys

This Exorcist figure is my favorite from NECA's
latest Cult Classics horror line. This goes on the work desk.

This is the last part of my action figure coverage from New York Comic Con, this time focusing on horror toys. After a major convention I used to always hunt down online pics of new figures and prototypes; this year, I figured I'd do it myself. :-)

A large Beetlejuice action figure from NECA.
There is also a version of him in his tuxedo.

Another version of The Crow from NECA -- shirtless

Michael Myers from that famous scene in 'Halloween,"
also from NECA's Cult Classics

There is nothing gentle about these "30 Days of Night"
action figures from Gentle Giant

Mezco Toys immortalizes the infamous bathtub scene
in "Nightmare On Elm Street"

NYCC '08 Action Figure Preview Part 7: Captain Action

There is a new Captain Action line coming out this year from Cast-A-Way Toys. Unlike the original 1960s version and the 1990s Playing Mantis reissues, these will be done similar in size and articulation to Megos. Captain Action & Dr. Evil are already available online, and the rest, including The Phantom, are in the works.

There is also a Captain Action statue coming out from Electric Tiki, designed & sculpted by Ruben Procopio -- also an artist for the new Captain Action comic book by Moonstone Books. This statue will be available later in the year and can be ordered from Sideshow Collectibles.

Ruben Procopio, sculptor/artist, with his
Captain Action statue and comic

NYCC '08 Action Figure Preview Part 6: DC Super Heroes from Mattel

DC Super Heroes Supergirl

I have to admit, when I first read about this new DC line from Mattel -- to my mind, an analogue to Hasbro's Marvel Legends -- I wasn't that impressed. It just seemed boring, with a bunch of starter heroes like Nightwing and Penguin that just made me go bleah.

But the DC Super Heroes display at New York Comic Con contained an intriguing assortment of characters, including the Cassandra Cain Batgirl and two different versions of Firestorm.

My only quibble? Blue Superman. Do we really need another figure of this version?

The DC Super Heroes display at New York Comic Con

DC Super Heroes Firestorm I

DC Super Heroes Firestorm II

DC Super Heroes Clark Kent/Superman

DC Super Heroes Batman/Bruce Wayne

DC Super Heroes Catwoman

DC Super Heroes Batgirl

DC Super Heroes Wonder Woman

NYCC '08 Action Figure Preview Part 5: Justice League Unlimited from Mattel

Mattel's Justice League Unlimited display at New York Comic Con was most impressive: a big, multi-level glass case filled to the gills with the little figures. I have no idea when they (or if they) are going to release this multitude, but it basically encompasses the great majority of DC's characters:

Justice League Unlimited Orion, Fire, and others

Is this Batman Justice League Unlimited figure
a reference to the upcoming Brave and the Bold series?

Justice League Unlimited classic Vigilante

Justice League Unlimited bad guys, including Lex Luthor and the Red Hood

Justice League Unlimited Star Sapphire (thanks!), Brainiac, and more

Justice League Unlimited Caption Atom,
John Stewart Green Lantern, Supergirl, more

Justice League Unlimited Stars, Bizarro, New Gods, more

NYCC '08 Action Figure Preview Part 4: DC Universe Infinite Heroes from Mattel

The 3.75 inch action figure was big in the early-to-mid 1980s: GI Joe, Star Wars, DC's Super Powers, etc. By the early 1990s, the format was largely considered dead, ousted by the larger, more squat Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-styled figures and the 5-inch+ Marvel Toy Biz line.

But, largely due to the success (I think) of Mattel's Justice League Unlimited line, a new 3.75 series has emerged: DC Universe Infinite Heroes. Infinite Heroes is similar in size to DC Unlimited, but non-cartoony and more articulated. I find them to be cool, but somewhat of an oddity due to their format. I believe Marvel came out with a similar line last year.

No panties, but I've giving Mattel slack because this is probably just a prototype

NYCC '08 Action Figure Preview Part 3: Marvel Legends

Marvel Legends Nova

This preview of upcoming Marvel Legends action figures is significant because most will find their way to my house this year. The BF is a huge fan of Hasbro's Marvel Legends line -- and he can't wait to get his hands on that Nova!

Marvel Legends Wendigo

Marvel Legends Union Jack

Marvel Legends Ultimate Nick Fury


Marvel Legends Spiral

Marvel Legends Spider-Man Assortment


Marvel Legends Skrull/Kree Two-Pack
(when you have a boyfriend who is into "army-building,"
such two-packs can be a dangerous thing.)


Marvel Legends Savage She-Hulk


Marvel Legends Red Hulk


Marvel Legends Tim Bradstreet Punisher

Marvel Legends Nick Fury

Marvel Legends Hand Soldier (another "army builder")

Marvel Legends Forge

Marvel Legends Build-A-Figure Fin Fang Foom (sweeeeet!!!)

Marvel Legends Elektra/Ronin Two-Pack

Marvel Legends Doc Samson

Marvel Legends Hulk (I believe from the upcoming video game)

Hulk The Movie Assortment
(including little Edward Norton & Tim Roth figures)

More from the Hulk movie assortment