Comic Based Toys (Concept)

Comic Based Toys last edited by mshirley27 on 10/11/20 02:15PM View full history

What I would like to see here is as detailed a description of the toy as possible, including year of manufacture. Color variations of the same item would not count as different unless the change was something that effected the character in comics. An example of this would be the second and third versions of the Wonder woman doll, which had, respectively, different costumes and a different box than the original.

The very first Wonder Woman doll, because girls never played with ‘action figures’ back then, was created in 1967 and was marketed by Ideal.

Notice the dark eagle instead of the usual golden one on her costume and the Captain America-esque shield. One thing that has yet to change since 1967: that foot wear. Those are lovely Greek style high heeled sandals but still very tiring to fight crime in.

Next came Mego’s first try at Wonder Woman. First appearing in 1975, this was a smaller figure than they would go on to produce. It’s now fairly rare but check out the awful details any way. Her costume is all one piece, including the flesh colored arms and torso. Why did they bother with the colored cuffs? The figure next to her is Wonder Girl from the Teen Titans (to be produced in 1976).

Now, marketing being the cash creator that it is, Mego’s next version of Wonder Woman was a smash as it coincided with the airing on the television series. She really looked like Lynda Carter too! 12” tall, she came with a painted on bodice that was easily scratched if you played with it. She had a rubber tiara and a golden lasso that was pretty much a coated rubber bad. She also came with a change of clothes so that she could revert to Yeoman Diana Prince. sigh How disappointing that she didn’t change clothes when you spun her around though.

It should be noted that a year later, in 1979, Mego re-released the doll with a cloth one piece outfit. She also came with modern era clothes rather than the military uniform so as to reflect the change in venue on TV. Interestingly enough, this one looked less like Lynda Carter and she didn’t appear on the box. Most likely this was because the show had begun to slip in ratings. There was a third version of the 12” doll but the main difference was in the box itself, which still used the same comic drawing but added a description of Paradise Island and, of course, the not so subtle hint that you could surround Wondy with friends and foes. Translation: buy more dolls.

In 1984, Kenner produced the Super Powers line. Wonder Woman was the only female doll of the line. Can you say ugly?

In 1990, Toy Biz produced another version of WW but, alas, it was just as ugly as the Kenner one.

Mattel got into the game producing Barbie as Wonder Woman in 1999 and again in 2003. Though, considering the cost of these dolls, they were more likely collectibles than toys.