Home About The Toy Chest APA Toy News Toy Chest Community Top Ten APA Toys Ten APA Dream Toys Articles and Essays My Wishlist The APA Toy Lines APA Toy Links Contact Me The APA Toy Categories Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fashion Dolls Character Toys Superheroes Military Sports Toddler Toys Animated Films Action Adventure Video Games Anime Baby Dolls Search the APA Toy Chest Match ANYMatch ALL

For the early part of superhero comic history, Asians tended to be the bad guys in comics, taking roles of either Super WWII Japanese Spy or some kind of Fu Manchu emperor. But, thanks in part to Marvel Comics' popular X-Men and the influence of anime on American comics, we are seeing more and more APA super heroes exploding onto the scene. Toy lines relating to this category are: CAPTAIN PLANET AND THE PLANETEERS The brainchild of media mogul Ted Turner, Captain Planet and the Planeteers began as a cartoon to educate children about the environment. The stories revolved around a group of multi-cultural teenagers guided by the Earth Spirit Gaia. Each equipped with a ring, they can combine their powers and summon the enigmatic Captain Planet. Gi, who had the power over water, represented Asian in the series and in the toys... DC COMICS DC Comics does not have the greatest track record for superheroes of color, let alone APA heroes. But, they have had a few. Check out this page to see who's who... LEGEND OF SHARKMAN One of the few representations of Pacific Islanders in toys (outside of Hula dancer dolls), this little known toy line is a marketing piece for popular surfing equipment company Maui and Sons. The toys are a cross between Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Masters of the Universe. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Masters of the Universe is a popular 80s action figure line that takes place on another world -- Eterna. The planet's Prince Adam is endowed with the mystical power of Greyskull that allows him to become the hero known as He-Man. Together with his power gifted friends, He-Man battles the evil forces of Skeletor and his lackeys. It's amazing that even on Eterna amidst a battle between good and evil, Asian influence exists. Check it out... MARVEL COMICS As I mentioned before, Marvel Comics' X-Men played a part in the growth of superheroes of color in general when it reformed the team from the all-white original team to a more multi-cultural group. Within that group was the hot tempered Japanese hero Sunfire. Come check out the history of Marvel's APA heroes and villains -- good and bad... POWERPUFF GIRLS Okay, you're probably asking me why I put Powerpuff Girls under superheroes. Well, it's because that's what they are. And, I decided just because they're cute and adorable doesn't make them any less effective than somebody like Superman. Anyway, check this page out for one of my favorite villains, who happens to be a take off of the stereotypical Fu Manchu emperors of yore. POWER RANGERS Power Rangers was once a tongue and cheek programming that combined footage of American teenagers with action sequences of a Japanese superhero program. However, it grew into a very successful franchise, with a new series coming out almost every year. The great thing about Power Rangers is that it never forgot that the show originated in Asia, and therefore has been very inclusive of APA characters. Toylines in this category that appear on my Wishlist are: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Splinter (1988) Donatello (1988) Raphael (1988) Michaelangelo (1988) Leonardo (1988) Shredder (1988) Usagi Yojimbo (1989) Panda Khan (1990) Leo the Sewer Samurai (1990) Space Usagi (1992) Cartwheelin' Karate Don (Ninja Action - 1993) Jump Attack Jujitsu Raph (Ninja Action - 1993) Somersault Samurai Leo (Ninja Action - 1993) Battle Ready Boxer Mike (Ninja Action - 1993) Toon Shredder with Toon Texture (1993) Princess Mitsu (Movie III - 1993) Kenshin (Movie III - 1993) Mutatin' Shredder (1993) Shogun Shredder (Shogun Turtles - 1994) Shogun Shoate (Shogun Turtles - 1994) Shogun Triceraton (Shogun Turtles - 1994) Shogun Splinter (Shogun Turtles - 1994) Shogun Raph (Shogun Turtles - 1994) Shogun Leo (Shogun Turtles - 1994) Shogun April (Shogun Turtles - 1994) Shogun Don (Shogun Turtles - 1994) Shogun Mike (Shogun Turtles - 1994) Kung Fu Don (Kung Fu Turtles - 1994) Kung Fu Rocksteady (Kung Fu Turtles - 1994) Kung Fu Mike (Kung Fu Turtles - 1994) Kung Fu Raph (Kung Fu Turtles - 1994) Cyber Samurai Don (Cyber-Samurais - 1994) Cyber Samurai Leo (Cyber-Samurais - 1994) Cyber Samurai Mike (Cyber-Samurais - 1994) Cyber Samurai Raph (Cyber-Samurais - 1994) Cyber Samurai Shredder (Cyber-Samurais - 1994) Cyber Samurai Bebop (Cyber-Samurais - 1994) Venus de Milo (Next Mutation - 1997) Dragon Skull (Next Mutation - 1997) Turtleflauge Vam Mi (Next Mutation - 1998) Ninja Turtles Dragon Lord (Next Mutation - 1998) Ninja Turtles Shredder (Next Mutation - 1998) Ninja Turtles Splinter (Next Mutation - 1998)