During the 1980s, Kenner produced a revolutionary line of DC Comics action figures known as Super Powers.. While the series was a massive success, several planned characters—including Man-Bat and Blue Devil—never reached retail shelves, leaving a void for collectors.
The Man-Bat mold and the missing Batman villains
The depth of Kenner's lost ambitions is most evident in the case of Man-Bat. According to the report, this visually striking character had progressed as far as the mold stage before the Super Powers line was ultimately canceled. The inclusion of Man-Bat would have expanded the Batman-centric portion of the lineup, which already featured the Joker, Penguin, and Mister Freeze .
However, the prioritization of Man-Bat over other staples of the DC Universe remains a point of curiosity.. The source notes that more iconic adversaries, such as the Riddler and Catwoman, were conspicuously absent from Kenner's production plans. This omission likely reflects the industry's outdated assumptions during the 1980s regarding the marketability of female action figures to children.
Blue Devil's promotional push and the Shockwave anomaly
Beyond the Batman rogues, Kenner had significant plans for Blue Devil,a character who was a rising star in DC Comics at the time. Evidence suggests that Blue Devil was far along in the production process , as the character even appeared in promotional materials intended to build anticipation for the toy's release.
Interestingly, Kenner also planned a figure for Shockwave, the nemesis of Blue Devil. This was a departure from the company's general strategy, as Kenner typically showed a disinterest in pairing heroes with their specific iconic rivals within the Super Powers line. The fact that Shockwave was slated for production suggests a specific creative push for the Blue Devil storyline that never came to fruition.
Jack Kirby's Fourth World and the vac-metallized Black Racer
The influence of legendary artist Jack Kirby was deeply embedded in the Super Powers line,particularly through the inclusion of characters from his "Fourth World" saga. One of the most enigmatic unproduced figures was the Black Racer, a death-themed character who would have utilized a vac-metallized finish. This high-shine coating was a premium feature already seen on the highly collectible Brainiac and Cyborg figures.
This aesthetic trend extended to the Atomic Knight, another abandoned project. Originally from a post-apocalyptic series before being integrated into the broader DC Universe, the Atomic Knight would have featured a redesigned suit of armor with the same vac-metallized finish as the Black Racer. these figures represent a missed opportunity to bring Kirby's bold, cosmic visions into the physical toy aisle.
Supergirl's exclusion and the 1980s gender bias
Among the most disappointing "what ifs" for fans is the case of Supergirl. As reported, she was one of the earliest female characters conceived for the Kenner Super Powers line, yet she was ultimately left out of the final production runs. This exclusion mirrors the absence of Catwoman and highlights a systemic hesitation within 1980s toy marketing to gamble on female protagonists.
The legacy of these unproduced figures persists today through online discussions and the discovery of rare prototypes. For modern collectors, the gap between the figures that were sold and those that remained in the mold stage serves as a map of the creative and commercial constraints of the 1980s toy industry.
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