The Superhero Book of Goodies | The Vintage Toy Advertiser

Vintage Superhero Toys and Merchandise Galore. Part 2. Courtesy of The Superhero Book of Goodies, issue 2, 1977.

TVTA’s previous post, part one, is here

In part two we look at clothing and household goods. From T-shirts to toothbrushes, flashlights to wrist radios, beach towels to bean bags, belts, bedding, school supplies, puzzles and much more!

Your Favourite Stars and Heroes On T-Shirts

Poster Parade

Beach Towels

Bean Bags and Bedding

Belts and Rings

Marvel Mood Rings and Batman Talking Alarm Clock

Sensational Socks and Star-Studded Sweat-Shirts

Super School Supplies

Comic Book Savers, Enforcer Sets, Ghost Rider Stunt Cycle and Marvel Banks

Superhero Puzzles

Look out for the third and final part of this series coming soon, in which we take a look at a few goodies from the Mego corporation. As always, thanks for looking 🙂

Sources: The Superhero Book of Goodies Issue 2, 1977, scanned by TVTA.

… 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