Duane Beckett
Almost every action figure list with surprising values is packed with Star Wars toys. This one isn’t. No characters from “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” Instead, I’ve picked six valuable action figures from the 60s and 70s that still stand out in any collection. I own one of the toys below, not because of its value, but because it looks sensational on display.
Some of these toys are military icons. Some are superheroes. One is a giant robot, and yes, it was seriously big for a toy from the 70s.
G.I. Joe Original 12-Inch Action Soldier, Hasbro (1964)
G.I. Joe changed toy aisles in 1964 because Hasbro didn’t sell it as a doll. It was an action figure, and that wording made a huge difference.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the original figure had a suggested retail price of $4, with around 2 million sold in its first year.
Today, standard boxed Action Soldiers can still bring hundreds, while rare early pieces go much higher. The Toy Collector’s Guide lists boxed Action Soldiers at roughly $250 to $400, and CBS News reported that a handmade early G.I. Joe prototype sold for $200,000.
Collectors on the hunt for this action figure want dog tags, uniforms, boots, paperwork, sharp paint, and early straight-limbed bodies.
Mego Batman 8-Inch Figure, Mego Corporation (1973)
Out of all the figures on this list, the Mego Batman 8-inch figure is the one I covet most. It came out in the early 70s as part of Mego’s World’s Greatest Super Heroes line. It had articulation, a classic comic-book look, and, in the earliest version, a removable cowl.
Those early versions came in a solid box and cost around $1.97 in stores. Today, a boxed near-mint version can be worth more than $5,000.
Collectors usually look for the early boxed version first. For loose figures, the removable cowl, clean costume, utility belt, cape, and full accessories are a must. I wouldn’t recommend spending big money on an incomplete version unless you’re buying it purely for the fun of owning one.
Mego Green Goblin, Mego Corporation (1975)
When it comes to big values, the Mego Green Goblin is the big-ticket item on this action figure list. Ironically, it’s a Marvel villain rather than a hero, but it holds the Mego auction record. According to Antiques and The Arts Weekly, an AFA-graded 80+ Green Goblin sold for $76,700 at Hake’s in 2022.
Mego villains are much harder to find than the big-name heroes. Carded examples are incredibly scarce, which helps explain the huge sale price for that graded Green Goblin.
Collectors ideally want an original card with an unbroken bubble, but that usually means spending five figures. Most collectors will be happy with a complete loose figure. In Green Goblin’s case, the hat and pumpkin bombs are must-have pieces.
Kenner Six Million Dollar Man, Kenner (1975)
Steve Austin hit toy shelves in 1975 with one of the coolest gimmicks of the decade. The figure had a telescoping “bionic eye,” a bionic arm panel, and a rubber skin sleeve that rolled back to show the machinery underneath.
The Toy Collector’s Guide states the original Steve Austin figure came with a jogging suit, shoes, and engine block, while later Bionic Grip and Biosonic Arm versions brought different features and higher values.
Original retail was roughly in the $7 to $10 range, which was huge in the 70s. Today, basic loose figures can be picked up for under $100, but boxed examples and later variants can climb to more than $1,000.
Shogun Warriors 24-Inch Jumbo Figure, Mattel (1977)
Mattel’s Shogun Warriors were enormous, strange, and impossible to ignore. That’s why they still rule a display shelf. The Toy Collector’s Guide states that Mattel released the 24-inch Shogun Warriors line from 1977 to 1980, bringing Japanese robot characters into the North American toy market.
These large Shogun Warriors sold for around $15 back in 1977. Current values depend heavily on character and condition. It can cost roughly $900 to $1,100 boxed, and collectors want the missiles, fists, and rockets. This is the one toy on this list I have, and it’s a huge item in the collection, among Transformers and other funky-looking robots.
Mego Wonder Woman, Mego Corporation (1977)
Wonder Woman had a double release. The Mego Museum states that the 8-inch Wonder Woman arrived with the 1974 Supergals assortment, while a later 1977 carded version became a major collector target.
LoveToKnow found that a carded near-mint Wonder Woman from 1977 sold for $2,500 online. Collectors check the card, bubble, outfit variation, red boots, lasso, paint, and whether parts are original or reproductions.
That last part matters because valuable action figures are often reproduced, and some are even counterfeited. Spending big money on a figure only to find out it’s fake is a tough pill to swallow.
We recommend buying only from trusted vendors with a reputation to protect. I say that from personal experience, as I’ve accidentally picked up more than one counterfeit over the years.