Episode 137 - DC Super Powers with Rick Lee James

There's nothing more important to developing creativity than play, so let's look at the toys that featured the Man of Steel. In particular, back in thew 80s, DC put out a line that distilled the raw power of their characters into figures that punched and kicked without the need for buttons or levers! That's right, Case and Jmike are joined by guest Rick Lee James to discuss the venerable DC Super Powers line!

Overview

 In the latest episode of the podcast, hosts Case Aiken and JMike Folson welcome guest Rick Lee James for an engaging discussion about the impact of action figures on childhood perceptions of superheroes, particularly focusing on toys from the Super powers line of the late 70s and early 80s. The episode delves into the cultural influence of various superhero toy lines, including Power Rangers and Transformers, while examining the design and action features of iconic vehicles like the Batmobile and Supermobile. The hosts explore the evolution of toy designs, the crossover between toys and media tie-ins, and how characters like Cyborg emerged from the Super powers cartoon. Rick shares insights into his music career and current role as a hospital chaplain, along with social media details for fans. The meeting concludes with plans for future episodes and an action item to research additional Superpowers memorabilia.

Notes

Introduction and Toy Discussion(00:00 - 10:30)

●      Hosts Case Aiken and J. Mike Fson introduce the podcast and guest Rick Lee James

●      Discussion about the importance of action figures in shaping childhood perceptions of superheroes

●      Rick shares his experience with Super powers toys from the late 70s/early 80s

●      Toys as a source of creativity and early fan fiction for children

●      Mention of He-Man's origin from unused Conan the Barbarian toy molds

Superhero Toy Lines and Media Influence(10:30 - 19:32)

●      Discussion of Power Rangers, Transformers, and Superman merchandise

●      Death and Return of Superman toy line from early 90s mentioned

●      Batman animated series influence on toy production

●      Superpowers toy line features discussed, including action features for each character

●      Detailed list of Super powers characters and their action features

Toy Design and Cultural Impact(19:32 - 31:12)

●      Comparison between original Superpowers line and new McFarlane toys

●      Discussion of vehicles in both toy lines, including Supermobile and Batmobile

●      Mention of Jose Louis Garcia Lopez's influence on toy design

●      Impact of Super powers cartoon on future DC storylines, including Cyborg's inclusion in Justice League

●      Robot Chicken's use of Super powers toys in their sketches

McFarlane Toys and Vehicle Features(31:14 - 39:21)

●      Detailed discussion of McFarlane's new Super powers toy line

●      Focus on vehicle toys having action features while figures do not

●      Comparison of original and new Supermobile, Batmobile, and Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet

●      Discussion of comic accuracy in new toy designs

Superpowers Media Tie-ins(39:21 - 46:52)

●      VHS tapes featuring Superman, Aquaman, Batman, and Superboy mentioned

●      Discussion of Superboy's prevalence in media despite lack of dedicated toy

●      Mention of Justice League of America Skyscraper Caper board game

●      Ubiquity of Superpowers merchandise in the 1980s

Wrap-up and Guest Information(46:52 - 57:40)

●      Rick shares his Superman Twitter account and music career

●      Discussion of Rick's current work as a hospital chaplain

●      Hosts share their contact information and upcoming content

●      Mention of YouTube channel and Dungeons & Dragons videos

●      Closing remarks and podcast information