Review: The Ultarama Display System

The Ultarama is a complete action figure display system that is both flexible and customizable. With the use of the Ultarama's molded plastic platforms that contain 80 pre-molded peg holes and its proprietary pegging system, collectors can display their collections in three totally unique ways: stacked two levels high in the shape of a semicircle, clipped back-to-back in the shape of a circle, or configured as two separate and complete one level displays. With the purchase of additional Ultaramas, collectors can build their display many stories high!

Super Powers Jokermobile Custom Kitbash

This is a kitbashed custom Jokermobile for the Super Powers Collection. Its really easy to make and the parts for it aren't very hard to find. Keep reading for the recipe...

Super Powers Batcave

Batcave mock-up box art by Javier Garcia

Despite any speculation on what it may have looked like, we really don't know what an official Kenner Super Powers Batcave playset would have looked like. While conceptual drawings have been seen, it is unknown if they are actual official plans. However, given the time frame, a Super Powers Batcave playset would have only had influences from the comics and perhaps the 1966 Batman live action television show. The designs from the Batman movie with Michael Keaton would have had absolutely no influence due to the fact it wouldn't be made until 1989, three years after the last released wave of the Super Powers Collection. With this all in mind, a Super Powers Batcave diorama scene was assembled.

Super Powers Papercraft TroubAlert

Also known as the Trouble Alert, the TroubAlert is an advanced globally networked emergency monitoring system relaying information from the Justice League Satellite to the Hall of Justice alerting the Super friends to all sorts of dangers and natural disasters.

The TroubAlert is also connected to the Secret Department of Investigation (SDI). The SDI is an agency withing the United States government which alerts the SuperFriends when they are needed in case of danger and other emergencies. Colonel Wilcox routinely contacts the SuperFriends on behalf of the SDI using the TroubAlert.

Super Powers Bio-Cards

Hasbro started it all by printing file cards on the backs of G.I. Joe action figure blister cards. Kids were expected to cut them out and save them along with the figures. The figure collector cases even featured compartments to keep the file cards in.

This allowed kids to have a better idea about who was who in the collection, who the good guys were , who were the bad guys, and what their powers were. Kenner definitely paid attention to this when they designed the packaging for the Super Powers collection.

Super Powers: Papercraft Phone Booth

Clark Kent ducks into a nearby telephone booth for a quick change into Superman!

Kenner Super Powers Collection

In 1984, facing the real possibility that Return of the Jedi would be the last ever Star Wars movie and with Mattel's Masters of the Universe and Hasbro's G.I. Joe figure lines breathing down their necks, Kenner was looking at a future without a franchise.

Deciding to go for the DC Comics brand of Super-Heroes, Kenner won the license away from Mego to begin production of the Super Powers Collection, one of the, if not the, best lines of 4.5 inch Super-hero action figures ever made! Along with the figures, there were also vehicles and playsets, such as the Batmobile and the Hall of Justice, produced. Unfortunately, the line would last for only 3 waves and was cancelled in 1986.