Action Figure Overview: Super Powers - Green Lantern (Kenner, 1984)

Super Powers Collection - Green Lantern (Kenner, 1984)

Although Green Lantern first appeared in All-American Comics in 1940, it wasn't until he was re-designed as the costumed identity of test pilot Hal Jordan in 1959 that he began wearing the costume we usually saw in the 1980s.  This second version of Green Lantern didn't just fight criminals on earth, he also became involved with the Green Lantern Corps to protect the galaxy from evil.  Green Lantern's power comes from his ring, which can temporarily create anything that the wearer can imagine.  Only those with the strongest will are chosen to be members of the Green Lantern Corps.  The rings are re-charged by lanterns which are given to the bearer along with the ring.  In March of 1960, the first appearance of the Justice League of America included Green Lantern as one of the seven original members (along with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and The Flash) in issue #28 of The Brave and the Bold.

1984 Wave 1 of Kenner's Super Powers Collection included the most famous members of the Justice League!

Throughout the 70s and early 80s, the company Mego manufactured a very successful line of 8" Super Hero action figures as well as a 12" line and two different 3 3/4" lines.  However, despite being a popular character in comic books who had been around for quite a while, Green Lantern was never included in any of Mego's action figure lines.  It wasn't until 1984 that Green Lantern was finally given his first articulated action figure in the first wave of Kenner's Super Power's Collection!

1984 Kenner Super Powers Green Lantern

Mego went out of business in the early 1980s leaving the licence for making toys of DC's Super Heroes up for grabs.  Kenner had spent the last several years dominating the toy market with their Star Wars figures, but the trilogy of movies was finishing up and Kenner needed a new line of action figures to put on the shelves.  The timing was right, so DC and Kenner teamed up with the Super Powers Collection.  They promoted this series heavily by making awesome commercials for TV and ads in comic books (plus, DC created a specific mini-series of comics for each wave of figures).  Although not technically commercials, TWO cartoons were created that were essentially 30-minute ads for the toys: Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show & The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians.  If that wasn't enough, they also created all kinds of tie-in merchandise so the Super Powers logo was everywhere!  You could find the logo and characters' images on party supplies, lunch boxes, stickers, wrist watches, pajamas, sleeping bags, bed sheets, sunglasses, jigsaw puzzles, etc. The list goes on and on.

Green Lantern and Lex Luthor (left), Wave 1 Card Back for the 1984 Super Powers Green Lantern (right)

Promotion like that can sell just about any toy, but what made the Super Powers Collection a favorite was the fact that the figures were totally awesome!  Each Super Powers action figure featured a "Power Action" gimmick.  For example, if you squeeze Aquaman's arms together, his legs kick.  This feature was called his "Power Action Deep Sea Kick." The Joker figure can hold a giant green mallet in his right hand.  When you squeeze his legs together, his right arm comes down making the mallet smash anything in its path!  This feature was called the Joker's "Power Action Madcap Mallet."  Green Lantern's feature was his "Power Action Ring Thrust" which basically meant that when you squeeze his legs together, his right arm came up.  It's actually pretty cool!

Squeeze Green Lantern's legs to activate his "Power Action Ring Thrust!"

Each figure in waves 1 and 2 came with a mini comic book.  Green Lantern was no exception.  His comic book was number 11.  On the back of each action figure card, Kenner printed a clip-and-save bio card for each character.  The comic book and the bio card gave kids an idea of who these super heroes were just in case they were unfamiliar with the characters.  Although most kids knew the characters from wave 1, someone like Green Lantern wasn't as famous as Batman and Robin or Wonder Woman who had TV shows in syndication or Superman who had several very successful movies.  Even Aquaman had been featured regularly along with Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman & Robin every Saturday morning on The Super Friends cartoon for years!  Hawkman, Green Lantern, and The Flash weren't quite as famous as the rest.

Super Powers The Flash & Green Lantern from Wave 1

There were several variations of packaging for the Green Lantern figure.  Most of the variations were simply different special offers available on very similar cards (one offer was for a Superman Cape, another offer was for the fan club, two different mail-away figures, etc.), but there was one package that was very different from the rest.  Often referred to as the "Narrow Card" package, eight of the Super Powers figures from waves 1 & 2 were released on smaller cards as part of a Canadian Gas Station promotion.  The eight figures were: Superman, Batman, Robin, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Firestorm, Red Tornado, and Martian Manhunter.  These figures did not come with a comic book or bio card, but Green Lantern DID come with his Lantern!  An example of the Green Lantern in this package can be seen below on the right.

1984 Wave 1 Green Lantern Kenner Super Powers Green Lantern

The Super Powers Collection gave us some of the best versions of DC's A-List Super Heroes and also introduces many kids to new characters with waves 2 & 3.  The line was tremendously popular in the 80s and has continued to be a popular collectible over time.  Today, many of the loose figures can be found for a decent price, but some of the more difficult to find figures have become quite expensive loose.  Carded versions of ANY Super Powers figures have gone up in value a good bit over the last 10 years.  I'm glad that I started collecting the line when the prices weren't so high.  I just wish I'd completed my collection back then!

Green Lantern Oath: "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might beware my power - Green Lantern's light!"

Did you have Kenner Super Powers figures as a kid?  Do you collect them now?  Did you ever have the Super Powers Green Lantern figure?  Which character is your favorite?

Also, if you collect toys, you should know about Toylanta, the best toy show in the Southeastern United States held annually in Georgia.  Visit Toylanta.com for more information.

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