Action Figure Overview: Steel Monsters - Metal Face (Tonka, 1986)
Steel Monsters: Metal Face (Tonka, 1986) With the release of Kenner's Star Wars figures in the late 1970s, the 3 3/4" action figures format became the industry standard for several years. By 1986, it seemed like that was changing more and more. Masters of the Universe had already had a hugely successful run with their larger scale figures and Kenner was wrapping up their awesome Super Powers line of slightly larger than 3 3/4" figures of our favorite DC characters that started in 1984. Kenner was also on their second wave of the M.A.S.K. line of 2" figures. Even though GI Joe was still one of the top toy lines in 1986 with their highly articulated 3 3/4" line of Real American Heroes, we were seeing a lot of other lines that featured taller figures such as Rambo, Inhumanoids, Chuck Noris Karate Kommandos, The Karate Kid, Sectaurs, and Marshall Bravestarr. So it seemed a little behind-the-times when Tonka released the 3 3/4" Steel Monsters figures with 5