Superman's First Action Figure Had a Wild Identity Mix-Up in 1966

Superman merch was everywhere by the mid-60s—dolls, wind-ups, even shampoo bottles—but actual action figures were still missing. Ideal Toys finally filled that gap in 1966 with Superman's first real action figure, except there was a bizarre identity crisis involved in its creation. The story behind that figure turns out to be genuinely weird and surprisingly entertaining. It's a reminder that even vintage Superman collectibles have chaotic backstories worth digging into.