Comic Action Heroes / Pocket Heroes
The Mego Corp. always desired to offer more for less. So in an attempt to create a lower priced superhero product line, Mego came up with the Comic Action Heroes in 1975. The figures were smaller and less expensive than their 8-inch counterparts and could be played with on their own or in conjunction with the vehicles and playsets designed for the larger figures. The diminutive line consisted of Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Shazam, Superman, Batman, Robin, Joker, Penguin, Spiderman, Hulk, Green Goblin and Captain America. Each figure was packaged on a blister card and measured 3 3/4 inches tall; a lower price point made it quite affordable to "collect `em all." The figures released in the U.S. market included a stand to display the figure while the characters sold overseas, both individually and in three-packs, were released without any display piece. In 1979, the Comic Action Hero line was renamed "Pocket Heroes." Although the smaller figures were by no means as popular as the original 8-inch figures, they have experienced a bit of a renaissance in recent years. The artwork on the blister cards, though generic in nature, has attracted the attention of many collectors on the secondary market. Values now range anywhere from $25.00 to $175.00 for carded specimens, depending upon condition and the desirability of the super hero or villian. Playsets and vehicles created specifically for the Comic Action Heroes have also gained in popularity decades after their initial release. The Mangler, depicted below, is by far the most elusive with mint in box specimens often realizing prices between $250.00 to $375.00. |
