25 Vintage Superhero Merch from the 70s and 80s That Weren't That Super

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John Summers • Contributor
Oct 14, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Back before the MCU took over every movie theater and Funko Pop shelf, superhero merch was... a little weirder. And by weirder, we mean glorious. We're talking about lunchboxes with off-brand art, pajamas that probably violated five licensing agreements, and action figures that melted if you left them in the sun for too long.

This was the golden era of Saturday morning cartoons and corner-store comic books - and whether you were a Marvel kid or a DC loyalist, there was a strange and wonderful piece of merchandise just waiting to end up in your toy chest, your backpack, or your breakfast cereal.

So let's take a time-traveling shopping spree and revisit 25 incredible, cringey, and collectible pieces of superhero merch from the '70s and '80s.

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  • 01
    RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN OVER 3 FANTAST CIRCUS WORLD TOY STORES $3.96 THING OFFICIAL- WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER- HEROES! 1975 MARVEL COMICS GROUP ALL RIGHTS RESERVED m 8 INCH ACTION FIGURE EGO CO
    via vintage toy archive
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10563940352
    via vintage toy archive
  • 03
    REMCO TM RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN FOUR YEARS AND OLDER THE INCREDIBLE HULK UTILITY BELT HULK HULK RADIATION DETECTOR UTILITY BELT GAMMA RADIATION DETECTOR HULK WRIST GAUNTLETS HULK VOICE MODULATOR
    via vintage toy archive

    Why would the Hulk need a utility belt?!

  • 04
    Lakeside's INCREDIBLE HULK with other MARVEL SUPERHEROES and SUPER VILLAINS and the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN CAUTION ELECTRIC TOY NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE AS WITH ALL ELECTRIC PRODUCTS PRECAUTION SHOULD BE OBSERVED BURING HANDLING AND USE TO PREVENT ELECTRIO SHOCK 110 VOLT/80 Hz AG-10 WATTS LISTED UL सल 6553 LIGHT-UP DRAWING DESK L COMIC CHARACTERS YOU CAN TRACE, DESIGN AND COLOR ON A LIGHT UP DESK. Lakeside thelodee Draw Desk wish Lamp, 12 Design Sheets, Screw. 20 Streets Dwi
    via vintage toy archive
  • 05
    Batgirl Underwear BATGIRL Batgirl Underwear GIRLS MEDIUM (7-10) FASHION UNDEROOS Underwear that's Fun to Wear! รายเอ BATGIRL IS THE TM OF AND © DC COMICS INC. 1975 Girls' Fashion Underwear Set ONE TOP & ONE PANTY 100% STRETCH POLYESTER WITH COTTON LINED CROTCH Јеәлмәрип бе Batgirl Underwear GIRLS
    via vintage toy archive
  • 06
    MARX TOYS: J-6801 CAUTION: Not recommended for children under 3 years of age 10 12 GLOWS IN THE DARK! MARX 1012 R یه Actually keeps time Wind it up •See it run •Hear it tick Hold watch under light. then see it glow! SUPERMAN TOY WRIST WATCH COPYRIGHT NATIONAL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS, INC., 197 MADE IN JAPAN, DISTRIBUTED BY LOUIS RX & CO., INC. NEW YORK, NY 10010 A SUBSIDIARY OF THE QUAKER OATS COMPANY PAT PEND
    via vintage toy archive
  • 07
    WHITMAN COLORING BOOK 1000 39c) SUPER FRIENDS M National Periodical Publications, Inc.
    via vintage toy archive
  • 08
    THE Whitman 1190 29 GREEN HORNET COLORING BOOK Authorized Edition T.M.
    via vintage toy archive
  • 09
    24400/2 RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN OVER 3 YEARS OLD MASH GORDON MING THE MERCILESS
    via vintage toy archive
  • 10
    Recommended for children over 3 years old WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER- HEROES! 1979 DC Comics Inc BATMAN SHAZAM* SUPERM ? SUPERG ? ? ? 3 RAGO COMP ROB 8 INCH ACTION FIGURES COLLECT THEM A MANUFACTURED FOR MEGO CORP NEW YORK, NY 10010 IN HONG KONG INDICATES TRADEMARKS OF DC COMICS INC 2
    via vintage toy archive
  • 11
    PENGUIN GNATIONAL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS 1974 MANUFACTURED EXCLUSIVELY FORME DORP NEW YORK, NY. Y 64
    via vintage toy archive
  • 12
    Joker mobile www HA wwwww JOKERMOBILE HE INCLUDES Joker Squirt Flower -Exciting Rear End Boxing-Glove Trap Revolving Platform For Outside Spying A complete Jokermobile scaled to fit 8 Action Figures Figures not included ww HA HEE HA HA FACTURED EXCLUSIVELY FOR MEGO CORP NEW YORK, NY 10010 IN THE BRITISH COLONY OF HONG KONG Recommended for children over 3 years old. HA HA MEGO 1975 National Periodical Publications, inc
    via vintage toy archive
  • 13
    BATMAN'S Arch Ety my BATMAN'S Arch Ety my JOKEK RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN OVER 3 YEARS OLD OFFICIAL WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER- 8 Inch Action HEROES! Figure HEGO REG US PAT OFF ONATIONAL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. 1973 JOKEK RECOMME OF WORL SI CHILDREN OVER OLD 8 Inch Action HE Figure RIODICAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. 15
    via vintage toy archive
  • 14
    FREE COMIC BOOK INCLUDED NO.99610 AGES 4 AND UP SUPER POWERS COLLECTION SUPERMAN POWER ACTION PUNCH Kener 1 CONTENTS: Une toy ngure, one mini conic book FAN CLUB OFFER Details inside mini-comic book Kenner
    via vintage toy archive
  • 15
    NO. 99730 *LEX-SOAR 7 SUPER POWERSLEX LUTHOR... ASSAULT COLLECTION SHIP! VEHICLE TM LASER CANNONS! ACTION FIGURES NOT INCLUDED CONTENTS VEHICLE NO BATTERIES NEEDED AGES 4 AND UP REMOVABLE KRYPTONITE CRYSTAL! ACTION FIGURE "GRIPPER CLAWS"! Kenner Meets or exceeds all safety requirements of Product Standard 72-76
    via vintage toy archive
  • 16
    ADVENTURE TEAM. GIFOE Mike Power ATOMICMAN ATOMIC Flashing EYE ATOMIC ARM spins Helicopter Hase Ages: 4-12 Complete with Jeckel Shorts. Hand Helicopter 8025 GIFOE
    via vintage toy archive
  • 17
    WERIZE No batteries needed! REMCO 5 years and over LOG-THROWING FREE INSIDE! HULKON PATCH HULK Comes with: 1 Log he can really throw! 2 Glow-in-the-dark teeth and eyes! 3 Target crates you can cut out and fold up!
    via vintage toy archive
  • 18
    TM Indicates Trademark of DC Comics, Inc. 1981. All Rights Reserved. View-Master CARTOON FAV 21 3D pictures NEW! S BAI MAN W TM the JOKER'S WILD! TM
    via vintage toy archive
  • 19
    NO 51304 Recommended for chidren over 5 years old OFFICIAL WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER- HEROES! 1975 Marvel Comics Group All Rights Reserved CAPTAIN AMERICA A A SPIDERMAN CAPTAIN THOR MIGHTY INVISIBLE THE MR FANTASTICS 8 INCH ACTION FIGURES COLLECT THEM A MANUFACTURED FOR MEGO CORS NEW YORK NY 10010 IN HONG KONG
    via vintage toy archive
  • 20
    Cheezburger Image 10563942400
    via vintage toy archive
  • 21
    SUPERMAN SUPERMAN SLIDING 55 SQUARES M PUZZLE Roalex SUPERN FOR ALL AGES/ COMPARE YOUR SOLUTION TIME WITH SUPERMAN ..TIME YOURSELF CAREFULLY! 1/2 HOUR FASTER THAN SUPERMAN 1 HOUR SUPERMAN'S TIME SCRAMBLE the sliding squares, then reassemble to form the SUPERMAN picture A GAME OF SKILL and PERSEVERANCE! PERFECT FOR SHUT-INS 3 HOURS ONLY HUMAN THERAPEUTIC IDEAL FOR GRAB BAGS, GIFTS, FAVORS AND PRIZES No. 252 made in USA. by THE ROALEX COMPANY, INC. FOREST HILLS, NY 11374
    via vintage toy archive
  • 22
    RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN OVER 3. RECOMMANDE POUR LES ENFANTS AU-DESSUS DE 3 ANS. 73500/1 Wonder Woman Fully styleable hair. Wash and blow dry on cool setting Cheveux qui se coiffent. Laver et sécher au séchoir à froid. Over 12" fully posable Wonder Woman doll. She's dressed in a permanent Wonder Woman costume. Complete with boots, magic lasso, glasses, special removable headband, bracelets and stand. Poupée Wonder Woman de plus de 12"qui tient toute seule. Elle porte un costume inchangeable de W
    via vintage toy archive
  • 23
    BASIRL RESIPI RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN OVER 3 YEARS OLD OFFICIAL WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER- GALS! 8 Inch Action Figure Hico RES E PAY OFF SNA ONAL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS INC MCMX RECOM WOR NA A CHILDREN B Ind Acio Figur DICAL PATLA RS OLD AT OFF
    via vintage toy archive
  • 24
    No. 3991 I'm BATMAN 1969 PUSH BUTTON PUPPET PUSH BUTTON UNDERNEATH BASE ONATE PERIODICAL PUB in Hong Kong for Kohner Bros. Inc., E. Paterson
    via vintage toy archive
  • 25
    Recommended for children over 3 years old OFFICIAL WORLD'S GREATEST SUPER- HEROES! 1978 Marvel Comics Group All Rights Reserved INCREDIBLE HULK A SPIDERMAN CAPTAIN MIGHTY INVISIBLE THOR THE MAGO LONE MR. FANTAST 8 INCH ACTION FIGUR COLLECT THEM! MANUFACTURED FOR MEGO CORP NEW YORK, NY 10010 IN HONG KONG NO 51300/6
    via vintage toy archive

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1990s marvel marvel comics 90s memes retro nostalgia funny memes 80s music marvel cinematic universe captain marvel Memes Nostalgia Overload 80s iron man 90s kids 90s captain america memory lane Spider-Man mcu nostalgia memes hulk funny marvel memes millennial-nostalgia 1980s
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