Toy-Ventures: The Mighty Crusaders

[@ShadeofJeremy]

I remember the figures being at K-Mart as a kid. But I had no idea who these guys were, so I passed on them. I wouldn't learn that they were Archie super-heroes until the 90's. The first comics I read featuring them were DC's attempt to revive them as Impact Comics. Knowing now that they are from Archie I do actively look for them. I have a couple of the figures, I think they are okay, if not great. I've never seen any of the rack toys in person however. As for my favorite Crusader, I gotta say it's The Shield. I've always been a fan of patriotic super-heroes. Not just American ones either.

[@driver8sk]

Thanks for clearing up my foggy memory. I misremembered these figures as being part of the "Defenders of the Earth" line. I bought The Comet when Kaybee was closing them out for 50 cents a figure and still felt buyers remorse.

[@jamesbrewster7660]

I remember these figures well. I had 4 of them when they came out. I lost my whole toy collection in a fire at my parents 21 years ago. I just recently started toy collecting again with in the last couple years. I bought the entire Mighty crusaders figure line all 100% complete for $95.00 total spent. I loved the figures. I also have the entire kenner superpowers toy line.

[@BrickMantooth]

Glad you were able to track them down.

[@garyshaller8294]

Fun video as usual!

[@jameshewitt684]

I'm a huge Mighty Crusaders fan and I enjoyed the video. Glad to know that there are still some fans out there. I recently started hunting down the comics in the local shops and have gotten really lucky. Keep spreading the word and keeping the fandom alive. As far as my favorite character it would have to be the Comet with the Jaguar as a very close 2nd. LOL. So hard to choose.

[@BrickMantooth]

We're a small group but a good one, there are some active groups on FB.

[@MyBigFatPullListPodcast]

These are fantastic books!! We here at MY BIG FAT PULL LIST PODCAST we are all such huge fans of the Mighty Crusaders that we are even currently in production on the first ever Mighty Crusaders FanFilm. And we have done many episodes on our show about the history of these characters. Love seeing other folks doing videos on these great characters.

[@BrickMantooth]

I gotta see this fan film!

[@scottmartin7645]

I collected the comics back in 1983 through the bitter end in 1985. Started off hot and quickly fizzled. I also went back and purchased all of the "campy" ones from the 60s. When I saw the action figures in the stores, I passed on them because I was 19 and my time with toys was long over.

[@justanotherghost62]

I loved how the figures all came with guns.Remco added that to all of them including the shields.

[@BrickMantooth]

Yeah the guns make no sense, the only character that used guns was the Black Hood and they didn't make him.

[@Desslar]

@@BrickMantooth Maybe Remco had a surplus of guns left over from Sgt. Rock

[@jamespero6803]

Wow i just discovered these about 2 weeks ago while messing around with remco searches on ebay .. I just find out about them and out of nowhere u post a video about them.... Awesome!!!!

[@danielstjohn3018]

Favorite MLJ hero.... Is probably ... The Wizard.!! ...and then, The Shield.!! Their team-ups ...Classic. A pox on the house of Archie for not bringing back these Great MLJ heroes...!! Black Hood, Steel Sterling, ... and a bunch of others... could brighten up the racks of today.!!

[@jboypacman]

Use to read the comics back in the 80s and even have owned the Remco action figures a few times but have never seen these rack toys before

[@micshork]

I love the Mighty Crusaders. I collect some of these comics. I really wish they could be as popular as Marvel or DC.

[@kipreaves1939]

One of my favorite lines... I wish they had an HQ building or playset of somekind

[@BrickMantooth]

that would rule.

[@camilocienfuegos2866]

After reading these comments, I am realizing that I must have been the only kid in North America who had any appreciation for those figures. I had the Web and the Comet as a kid and I remember really being captivated by their quirky features (spring loaded right arms, the Comet's flip-up visor, the grainy paint job on the bodies). Then again, I also prefer the Monkees to the Beatles so there is no real accounting for my sense of taste.

[@BrickMantooth]

Hey, if you liked them as a kid, you're not wrong, that's kind of awesome.

[@micshork]

I wish that the MLJ/Archie heroes would make a comeback with Cartoons, toys and video games. The Crusaders are cool characters and I would love to see them crossover with the Avengers or Justice League.

[@e4b611]

Great video! Brings back good memories.I believe I had some of those Mighty Crusaders 70's comic books by Rich Buckler. I met Rich Buckler back in the 90's, he was a great comic book artist, had that Jack Kirby feel to his artistry, he was a really nice guy. I believe he's past away for a couple years now, but that was a nice mention you did on him. Do you consider ever doing more comic book/toy related videos? This one was really well done and different from your other videos and other youtube videos. Keep 'em coming!

[@BrickMantooth]

Thank you, I'm not really all that up on comics except for weird ones but I do plan to do more stuff like this.

[@wee67]

"I'm way too young to remember.." How nice is it to be able to say that about something :)

[@BrickMantooth]

I don't get to say it often, so i relish it a little.

[@achtungjamie]

These were in discount bins up until the late 80s at my local kiddie city

[@rameybutler6555]

loved mantech, and crusaders!

[@betaraybob]

I had the Fox figure from this line as a kid.

[@SkotNealey]

i love Mighty Crusaders. I never had the action figures, but i remember wanting them when i was in K-Mart, but got Hercules instead

[@BrickMantooth]

I never saw them as a youth.

[@ChapMeifan]

Gotta agree with you about the cherubic and disappointing figures. I was so stoked to learn of these and had high hopes about bringing Silver Age heroes and villains into my superhero world which had Super Powers and Secret Wars size figures. When I finally got them I was heartbroken. Fat, lumpy and cheerful figures which were not the right size and most carried silver revolvers. I can't imagine who green-lit this production design. So much potential and so much disappointment. They still sit in a box somewhere and the fact I haven't done anything with them since getting them is a testament how shoddy and bad they really were.

[@BrickMantooth]

When I bought mine I excitedly called another collector, he made a deep sigh and said "Dude, have you seen those?" and then went on to brace me for disappointment.

[@arctrooper999]

I remember these being at a local five and dime and my friend was collecting them while I spent my allowance on green army men.

[@BrickMantooth]

you both made good choices.

[@adfnow6270]

I had the Web .. I really liked him but had no idea who he was ha ha. Now I wished I had gotten the Shield for a Captain America collection..

[@loganjorgensen]

There is actually some homage to them and the Avengers in The Venture Bros. with their group the Crusaders Action League, Stars and Garters as a kind of Captain America/The Shield fusion transvestite lol. Plus their rallying cry of "Crusaders, Convene!". ^_^

[@MrPalaofaFox]

I just heard about these dudes yesterday and out pops this video. Awesome at the same time scary lol.

[@BrickMantooth]

heh, they're listening.

[@jeffreycoogan09]

An Interesting side note. The Minutemen from Alan Moore's Watchmen were a pastiche of The Mighty Crusaders.

[@Bucky749]

I wasn’t born back then but have a whole book that’s black and white reprints of the web’s comics . I have read a good amount might crusaders comics the web the shield and fly are my favorites .

[@ronniemckinney6808]

I don't ever remember seeing these in the stores when I was a kid. If they were in my local stores, they were certainly fly-by-night clearance items. They look like they were cheap, generic toys. Unfortunately, I wouldn't have wanted them back then.

[@BrickMantooth]

Yeah, I would have possibly bought them because I liked the characters but who knows?

[@elrodimusflash9331]

I remember the figures and even as a kid they were oddities only ever saw them at my local Remco HQ McCrory's

[@Scotty-Z70]

i know he's everyone's favorite, but The Shield is my favorite: He's an amalgam of Superman and Captain America...which ironically came out under Amalgam as Super Soldier...but anyways, i just love his patriotic design, and if i'm remembering well, he actually debuted BEFORE Captain America....speaking of, is there anyone that makes Amalgam Comics? I'm desperately wishing for figures of Dark Claw, Spider-Boy, Super Soldier, and Magneto and his Magnetic Men. Those two years, 96-97, were the peak of fun comic book reading with Amalgam Comics...and I'd love to have Marvel's Infinity Warps of ArachKnight and Iron Hammer.

[@Jellyvibe]

For reasons I can't explain, The Fox action figure from this line fascinates me to this day. It's awful, but I love it. I don't have one anymore, but I found a replacement of sorts in the Marvel Legends Retro wave Black Panther. I must have a thing for blank faces and pointy ears. lol

[@BrickMantooth]

I can't believe i haven't made a Mego Fox.

[@leekronforst4589]

I'm currently attempting to collect the ManTech action figures. I forgot how much a loved playing with the ones my brothers had. I have the yellow and purple figure from this action figure line. Got it because I collect skull stuff and he looks skullish.

[@Ektalon]

That parachute Web is really creepy-looking.

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

I think I had a Man Tech coloring book.

[@johnalucard7860]

I had these.what a wierd body sculpt.

[@Plokman040]

Not positive on this so take it with a grain of salt, but I do think Archie was bringing them back once more before the whole "Ken Penders" fiasco happened with the Sonic Archiecomics comics. I know they were advertising heros of their creation but as the only thing that ever drew me to the Archie side were the Sonic and Mega Man licenses I never knew much beyond that. Yeah I know I am a 90s kid with a 80s heart but hey I loved the Blue Blur to me he is the fastest hero ever imagined. Speed Force is a joke to me, I call it just Deus ex Machina Sonic had to try and he can't manipulate physics to suit himself.

[@thedontcallmesweetheartsho4353]

Looks like they tried making them in the MOTU style, which would have worked with Remco's wrestling line, as well. Was it Remco who produced the Warlord/DC Comics figures?

[@jamesbrewster7660]

Yes

[@namelessjedi2242]

I had that blue squirt gun but I can’t be certain what sticker or card it was on. Was it released only for Mighty Crusaders, or other licensed things as well?

[@BrickMantooth]

it got around.

[@Scotty-Z70]

ah, so you did have MC on here.

[@nicholessamford6042]

I found a remco the shield figure on ebay I would leave a link but I am not sure how but just type remco in ebay and then filter it for buy it now and under 20 dollars

[@djaxisravenguard]

Just snagged a moc evil brain. Torn between opening him or not. He was dirt cheap, but is in stellar shape.

[@BrickMantooth]

I wouldn't be surprised if you bought him at the original retailer.