Ever wonder how superheroes keep their pants up?

I thought so.

I tell you as I look back over the near 200 postings here at ToyNerd.com I am constantly amazed at the sheer volume of essential information that gets dispensed on an almost daily basis. Seriously, what would you guys do without me?

Well today’s post promises to deliver once again.

First off, the answer to my question about how superheroes keep their pants up? Obviously the answer is… with a belt duh! What else would it be, silly.

So for your viewing pleasure I have a bunch of the utility belt playsets that seemed to be all the rage back in the late 70s and early 80s. There have been many manufacturers through the years, but the ones I am showing today were made by Remco. This is the company that also produced a bunch of the coolest Universal monster figures ever (check out some old posts of mine to see what I mean, click here and here).

Let’s start off with Batman.

 

 

As you can see, this set comes with: communicator, decoder glasses, watch, handcuffs, Gotham City decoder map, Batman secret identity card and a secret message. I am wondering why anyone would want an ID with your secret identity on it, that seems to defeat the purpose a bit. Maybe there is a top secret executive bathroom somewhere and it requires a VIP pass to enter, who knows.

Some of the accessories can only be seen if you look at the back of the package.

 

 

There is that oh-so-useful ID card as well as the map. The secret message is hidden in that pink rectangle on the bottom right and it is revealed only when viewed using the decoder glasses. Additional secrets also magically appear the same way when you look at the map… nifty.

For the record I just want to point out how much I love the drawing of the kids playing with this toy, so cool.

Next up is Superman.

 

 

As you can see, this set comes with: detector glasses, Kryptonite detector, watch, handcuffs, Superman ring, decoder map, Clark Kent press card and secret message. Hey that seems awfully similar to the Batman set. Maybe they all buy their stuff at the same superhero supply store?

Just to see if that is true let’s take a look at some of the offerings for the Marvel fans out there, starting with Captain America.

 

 

Hmmm, it is just a slight retooling of the Batman set you saw above. This is a common cost cutting measure in the manufacture of toys. Basically the company makes the same thing out of different colored plastic and puts different sickers on on them. Then bingo… a whole new toy… R-I-G-H-T.

Usually shenanigans like that relegates a toy line to the pretty lame files for me but in this case Remco managed to keep their heads above water. I do love that the decoder glasses have been made to look like Cap’s mask where the Batman one looks just like the trademark bat symbol… these little touches make all the difference.

 

 

Spider-man’s set stays pretty close to the others. But things change up a bit when we get to the Hulk set.

 

 

It has a belt and a gamma radiation detector (aka a Star Trek communicator) which is similar to the one in the Superman set. However this set has some wrist gauntlets and a Hulk voice modulator… cool. Apparently Hulk no need to know time… grrrrrr!

 

 

These sets were all featured in the 1981 Remco toy catalogue.

 

 

Those eagle-eyed readers out there will see that the Hulk set in the picture is different than the one I showed you above. As far as I can tell the one from the catalogue was not produced. What often happens is that promotional materials are made using prototype pieces that then get altered when production starts for real.

You can see I also missed a couple of the sets… I will fix that now.

Here is the international version of the Wonder Woman set released under the AHI banner.

 

 

This one is very similar to the Hulk set having the bracelets/gauntlets in common. I do like the little bundle of twine to be used as Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth.

 

 

The Buck Rogers set is a tie in for the TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century that ran for a couple of seasons starting in 1979. This set is has a ray gun that has not appeared in any of the other sets.

What am I talking about, what is this then?

 

 

Silly me! Oh and look there is that gamma radiation detector… I mean Kryptonite detector… oh no, just like I said, Star Trek communicator.

Here is the domestic version of the Star Trek set.

 

 

The last two I am going to show you are a little more interesting… to me anyway.

 

 

Most people forget that Remco held the license for Space 1999 but they did. I particularly like the disc shooting stun gun.

Last of all is an item that just does not seem to fit at all, but fit it must.

 

 

Mickey Mouse? Yep. I never thought of Disney’s most famous mouse ever needing a utility belt… shows what I know.

It is quite a rare piece indeed. You can clearly see the Remco logo on the bottom off to the right.

The accessories are quite different from the other sets and they include a flashlight, shovel and a canteen. How bizarre.

Other companies made utility belt sets before Remco, and a number were made after, but for me these are my favorites.

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