Action Figure Overview: Secret Wars - Captain America (Mattel, 1984)
Marvel Comics and Mattel Toys team up for The Secret Wars! By 1984 Mattel had a hit with their Masters of the Universe toy line, but they were looking for the next big thing. Mego, who had been making action figures of DC and Marvel characters throughout the 70s and early 80s, had gone out of business. That meant the licenses for DC and Marvel were open to new toy possibilities. Kenner ended up working with DC for their Super Powers action figure line and corresponding comic book series. This left Marvel open to work with Mattel. According to toy legend, a focus group determined that kids like the words "Secret" and "War," so the toy line and corresponding comic book series were called "Secret Wars." Mattel's 1984 Secret Wars Captain America Leads the Team! The Secret Wars comic book was a 12-issue mini-series written by Jim Shooter. The basic premise is that a cosmic being takes a group of heroes and a group of villains, puts th...