Toy Biz on left, Super Powers on right
As mentioned in my previous post, it can be confusing differentiating between the Kenner Super Powers line and that of the 1989 Toy Biz DC Super Heroes Line. Today we will continue our comparisons with one my least favorite of the DC Super Heroes line: Aquaman.
Toy Biz card front
Toy Biz card back
Super Powers Aquaman card front
Super Powers Aquaman card back
I can recall entering KB Toys and Hobbies at my local mall in the summer of 1991 and purchasing a Toy Biz Aquaman. I was excited for something new, as I already bought the entire first wave of DC Super Heroes, and with the exception of Lex Luthor punching himself in the face was more or less pleased with the line (aside from the cheap plastic that caused multiple figures to break at the knee). After opening the package I was almost instantly disappointed. At first glance…well, it just lacked a “wow” factor. Maybe it was the Sea Horse accessory that at the figure’s scale looked about the size of a teddy bear; I mean how was Aquaman suppose to ride it? Maybe it was the fact that he didn’t have his classic black underwear. Or maybe, like most of the second wave figures fro Toy Biz, it was his puffy and somewhat detail-lacking face and body. This is one of the figures that is very easy to distinguish from the Super Powers version. And yes, much like with all Toy Biz figures, there are many sellers on eBay who list the Toy Biz Aquaman as “Super Powers” but when looking at their pictures it is clear they are wrong. Hence why we want to continue to ensure collectors are aware of the differences and are not fooled by trickery or ignorance.
The real McCoy
Toy Biz Aquaman
- Both figures stand at nearly the exact same height
- Both figures stand with the same posture
- Both figures feature an orange scaled torso
- Both figures have green fins on the back of their boots
- Both figures come with a trident
- Both figures have black dots for eyes and black eyebrows
- Both figures have a swimming power action
- Both figures have identical joint movement: head, arms, legs, and knees
- Both figures have very similar paint colors (although the Toy Biz line is glossier)
Backside of Super Powers Aquaman
Backside of Toy Biz Aquaman
- Toy Biz Aquaman does not have black underwear, Kenner’s does
- Toy Biz Aquaman has bent arms whereas Kenner’s are straight
- Toy Biz Aquaman has a white plastic mechanism to trigger his swimming action, Kenner’s is performed by squeezing the arms
- Toy Biz Aquaman has metal screws on the sides of both knees
- Toy Biz Aquaman has two metal screws in his back as well
- Toy Biz Aquaman has a strange orange collar at the base of his neck
- Toy Biz Aquaman’s belt insignia is thinner than Kenner’s
- Toy Biz Aquaman has light green paint, Kenner’s is a darker green
- Toy Biz Aquaman’s trident is yellow where Kenner’s is gold
- Toy Biz Aquaman’s trident head has less detail than Kenner’s and is about one centimeter longer than Kenner’s
- Toy Biz Aquaman can slightly pivot his head from side to side, Kenner’s cannot
- Toy Biz Aquaman does not have holes in the heels of his boots
- Toy Biz Aquaman’s hair is slicked all the way back, Kenner’s has a part on the right side
- Toy Biz Aquaman has copyright stamp on back of his left thigh instead of the inner right thigh of the Super Powers figure
- Toy Biz Aquaman is over all bulkier than Kenner’s Aquaman
- Toy Biz Aquaman comes with a red Sea Horse
