… courtesy of The Superhero Book of Goodies catalogue, issue 2, 1977, with cover drawn by Joe Kubert.
The Superhero Book of Goodies was the colourful product catalogue for Ivan Snyder’s New Jersey-based mail order and retail store company Superhero Enterprises, later known as Heroes World. The company was a leading US comic book and merchandise distributor from 1975 until its demise in 1997 following its buy-out by Marvel comics.
We don’t need another hero
The catalogues featured the company’s very own superhero mascot – ‘Our Superhero’, sometimes referred to as ‘Snyderman’, and were produced in conjunction with Joe Kubert’s School of Cartoon and Graphic Art.
Some famous comic book names below that were former students. But can you spot the future famous TV zombie holocaust survivor?
Name the Superhero contest … did this happen?
So was he called Our Hero or Snyderman? If not then what name? Who won the competition? Did issue 3 tell us? Do you have issue 3? Can you enlighten us? Argh, so many questions!
As well as handling Marvel and DC products, the company advertised a small range of goods for film and TV franchises such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Space 1999, Planet of the Apes, The Bionic Woman, The Six-Million Dollar Man and others. As seen by just the handful of scans we’ve taken from issue 2 so far, the catalogues – and not forgetting the numerous full page adverts found across hundreds of comic titles, feature a range of items from toys to household goods to stamps, stationery, badges, patches, clothing, posters, books and comics and much more. Let’s take a look at some, as TVTA enters the delightful and colourful world of The Superhero Book of Goodies…
Spidey Utility Belt, Superman Postcards, Marvel and DC Superbaby Rag Dolls
Mego Super-Heroes
Have yourself a Rock Party!
Marvel and DC stamps, Star Trek goodies
Super-Friends Hall of Justice play set, Wonder Woman toys
Superhero Shooters and Shields
More shields and Ricochet Racers Spider-Man set
Enter the World of Marvel
Superhero Mirrors
Batman toys
Batman Grappling Hook, Batman Bat Plane with Launcher, Batman Corgi toys
Board Games, Painting and View Master
Marvel Dart Board, Spidey Squirt Gun, Spidey Plane
Patches
And lastly, badges
Part 2 to come soon, featuring more Superhero goodies. Thanks for looking 🙂
Sources: The Kubert School. Wikipedia. Gone and Forgotten. Consulted 12/05/18, and The Superhero Book of Goodies Issue 2, 1977 scanned by TVTA.
The Vintage Toy Advertiser 
Absolutely love this!
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I thought you might. That’s a lot of Superman merch I bet you’d like to get your hands on 🙂
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No kidding! I remember seeing ads for some of these and did have a few like the Mego Superman figure that I still have but is in terrible shape.
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These are great… I like how they had their own superhero, too. Did Marvel keep Heroes World as some sort of Marvel Heroes World or just buy them out to shut it all down?
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From what I can make out Marvel purchased Heroes World in 1994 to act as sole distributor of their comics, putting a lot of other distributors out of business or harming their sales. By ’97, unable to cope with handling Marvel’s massive demand, and combined with other comic industry issues, HW was failing and went bust. Marvel had to then turn to the remaining big distributor of the day Diamond to handle its sales. Mad story if I understand it right. It’s in one of the links I gave and shows the ripple effect caused by Marvel’s purchase and the damage it caused. Shame, as HR began life humbly as a basement mail order business before working it’s way up to be one of the three biggest distributors in the US. Then along came Marvel…
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Ah, sorry, I overlooked that link. That’s quite the impact, eh? Inadvertently shutting down distributors and retailers? Jings.
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I even saw some Star Trek patches!
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Hi Nancy. Those patches are nice. Trek seems to have featured a lot when I look back at some of the other ads.
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What a great collection of adverts, especially the mego toy superhero figures, those were such fun! I remember my sister bought me The Thing action figure when I was ill in hospital once as a kid, I’ve still got it somewhere. I remember having that Batman Utility belt as well, brilliant fun! LOL I was such a geeky kid!
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Thanks Paul. Cool you had the Batman Utility Belt! They had an incredible amount of products in the range. My next post will show off some more of the badges, posters and some great tee shirts.
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Yeah, that utility belt was so much fun! I didn’t realise there was a Sider-man version as well like in your post! So many awesome toys, I’ll look forward to seeing more of these posters and t-shirts – sounds great and always brings back lots of happy memories 🙂
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Awesome!! I seem to remember owning the Batman ‘Super Bat Stunt Cycle’ when I was a nipper, thanks, as always, for the memories my friend. 🙂
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Thanks Arcane.
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Another MARVEL-lous collection! I can see my Corgi Bat Speedboat! I can’t believe the shipping prices for some of these toys 39 cents! I just priced up how much an empty lightsaber handle would cost to be sent to me and it was $60/£45! Yikes.
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I’m glad they included some Corgi Batman. Yes, a world of difference in shipping – and the item prices too… those Corgi vehicle sets just $2.29 !!
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Hi again. yes it is sort of depressing how prices have risen so much. And for me in the outer rim of the UK it is probably going to get worse with leaving Europe. That’s why I hope to get my saber parts sooner rather than later!
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Ugh, sadly you’re right. I don’t even want to think about the future hassles and cost of postage/travel/forms to be filled in between the UK and here following the absolute shambles of Brexit.
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Well one positive is that our chats through these blogs shouldn’t be affected, even after Brexit. (I’m keeping my fingers crossed!)
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Yep, long live the blogs and may WP continue to thrive and support us.
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