DC SUPER POWERS
DC Super Powers is a celebrated 4.5-inch retro superhero action figure line originally debuted by Kenner Products in 1984 and revived by McFarlane Toys in 2022. Designed as a direct homage to the classic 1980s aesthetic, the line features iconic DC heroes and villains with vintage card-back packaging, 7-point articulation, and stylized vehicles through its final wave in 2026.
Cronologia
Overview
DC Super Powers is a 4.5-inch scale action figure line celebrating DC Comics superheroes and supervillains.
Originally created by Kenner Products in 1984 under The Super Powers Collection name, the line was officially resurrected by McFarlane Toys in 2022.
Positioned as a direct retro homage to the classic vintage 1980s aesthetic, the modern McFarlane line pairs nostalgia with expansive character rosters. Figures are produced in a compact 4.5-inch format featuring vintage-style card-back packaging, retro sculpts, fabric capes, and specialized vehicle releases, appealing to both vintage toy enthusiasts and modern DC collectors.
History
The line originated in 1984 when Kenner Products launched The Super Powers Collection, accompanied by broadcast tie-in animated shows Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984) and The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985), along with comic book miniseries written or illustrated by Joey Cavalieri and Jack Kirby between 1984 and 1986.
The line's aesthetic left a lasting impact: ToyBiz re-used original Kenner molds for its 1989 DC line, Mattel offered homage colorways in its DC Universe Classics series (2008–2014), and DC published tribute comics in 2017 and mini-comic collections in 2021. In 2022, McFarlane Toys officially brought back the DC Super Powers figure line in its original 4.5-inch retro format.
Over four years, McFarlane expanded the line across 16 figure waves and multiple vehicle releases. In February 2025, DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation announced a new DC Super Powers animated television series set at the Alliance School for Heroes. On September 3, 2026, McFarlane Toys and Entertainment Earth officially unveiled Wave 16, marking the final wave of the 4.5-inch retro figure line.
I PEZZI DI DC SUPER POWERS
Collecting
Collecting the DC Super Powers line offers a unique link between classic 1980s toy nostalgia and modern collectible figures. Originally created by Kenner in 1984, the line established such strong character designs that ToyBiz directly reused original Kenner figure molds for its 1989 DC Super Heroes line, while Mattel later produced homage colorways in its DC Universe Classics line.
McFarlane Toys' 2022 revival reinvigorated collector market interest by maintaining the signature 4.5-inch retro aesthetic, vintage card-back packaging, and 7-point articulation while significantly expanding the character roster to include deep-cut heroes, crowd-funded vehicles, and unique variants. With McFarlane concluding the line at Wave 16 in September 2026, the complete series stands as a definitive and highly desirable modern retro collection.
The 2025 DC Super Powers animated series premise centers on student heroes training under Principal Martian Manhunter at the 'Alliance School for Heroes'.
