As announced at Toy Fair 2014 the final figures in Mattel’s long running 6″, Four Horsemen sculpted, DC Universe Classics line will be a series of tributes to the 30th anniversary of Kenner’s beloved DC Comics ‘Super Powers’ action figures.

I think by now everyone that knows me knows that I am a HUGE fan of the original Super Powers line.  After all we house the Super Powers Archive here on AFi as well as have a dedicated Super Powers blog.  I have loved and encouraged and even helped Mattel out with some of the past DCUC Super Powers figures so I was greatly looking forward to these, and even with Mattel sending me samples I will be buying a second set to keep carded when they are released.

I think it’s important to note that these are merely a Super Powers tribute/homage and not a intended to be a replica in figure or card.   There are quite a few differences in details on all of the cards and figures from their original Kenner release.

This figure has been a long time coming for a lot of fans.   This repaint was originally designed to be part of a second wave of retailer 2-packs along with a repainted Bizarro.   A hand full of samples were run overseas and escaped the factory onto Ebay.   Now every that wants one finally has a shot at him!

THE PACKAGE

To Mattel’s credit they did use the original image out of the actual DC style guide for the card.   Kenner took the same image and modified it to better fit the card.   As you can see there are some differences in the card (apart from the obvious toy maker logo change) but it’s great to see these old red, blue and yellow cards again.

COLLECT AND CONNECT

The Collect and Connect Kalibak piece is in the mailer box.  It is polly-bagged and taped to an “L” shaped piece of cardboard in the box so that it’s not in the package with the figure, as that would not be accurate to it’s vintage counterpart.   Superman comes with Kalibak’s right leg.

When you collect all 6 figures in this Super Powers tribute you will be able to build a brown, more Super Powers accurately colored Kalibak figure.

THE FIGURE

 This is a repaint of the DCUC Superman that we got several times in the line in 2-packs (Superman vs. Parasite, Superman/He-Man) and single carded (DCUC All Stars).    You can see the comparison pictures below of the original release, the Super Powers figure and the new SP repaint.   Taking these pictures I realize that I am in desparate need of a new loose Super Powers Superman who’s torso hasn’t darkened over the years

The lighter blue paint job still doesn’t quite match the original Super Powers blue paint, but it is way closer than anything we have gotten up to this point and I think he looks great!   Mattel painted the belt buckle gold, which I actually like, but is not accurate to the figure. And there’s no “S” shield on the back of the cape despite it being on the original figure and on the original DCUC figure.  The “S” shied on the front of the figure has also been changed from the original DCUC release.

The first 3 figures:

The other 3 figures will be Mr. Mxyzptlk, Gold Superman, and The Riddler.  The figure will  be sold in waves of 3 and will be $30 a piece. These will be available to order this fall on MattyCollector.com.

This sample was provided by Mattel