| Superhero action figures first stormed the | | | | childhoods. They taught us to share, to value |
| doors of department stores and toy stores | | | | friendships and that good will triumph over |
| nearly 35 years ago. Constructed of various | | | | evil. Perhaps, most importantly, they |
| kinds of plastic and clothed in uniforms, | | | | stretched our imaginations and made us |
| costumes and capes G.I. Joe, Superman, | | | | believe that anything was possible. These |
| Spiderman, the Lone Ranger and others | | | | mighty action figures were invincible to |
| marched, flew and rode off store shelves and | | | | everything but time. Time finally did them |
| into our lives. After short stops under the | | | | in. Or did it?For more and more people, these |
| Christmas tree or at birthday parties, these | | | | action figures are returning to superhero |
| action figures found their way into toy boxes | | | | status. The Star Trek crew along with Power |
| and playrooms around the world.These action | | | | Rangers, the Star Wars characters and |
| figures did their superhero work of | | | | transformers are popping up in offices, dens |
| incredible feats, saving scores of lives and | | | | and family rooms everywhere. These action |
| neutralizing villains. They accomplished | | | | figures have become collectibles.The most |
| these heroic deeds on lazy summer afternoons | | | | popular of these action figures include G.I. |
| and rainy Saturday mornings in front of the | | | | Joe, Captain Action, the Six Million Dollar |
| TV set. Too often, they also needed our help | | | | Man, the Lone Ranger and the Mego line of |
| after school when we were supposed to be | | | | action figures. These include characters from |
| doing homework.These superheroes were always | | | | Super Heroes, Planet of the Apes, Star Trek, |
| our friends and they helped us through our | | | | Happy Days, CHIPs, Monsters and others. |