Iron Man Movie Toys

Manufacturer: Hasbro
Ages: 4 and up
Suggested Retail Price: $9.99 - $29.99
Available: Spring 2008 at toy and retail
stores nationwide as well as online
e-commerce sites.

Date of Review: May 2008

What It Is

Just in time for Marvel’s Iron Man to start kicking metal butt in the theaters, Hasbro releases a full line of movie related toys that allow kids and collectors to bring the movie’s excitement home.

This line will include the ubiquitous line of 6-inch action figures as well as two highly detailed, collectible 12-inch figures with lights, sounds, and accessories worthy of the action tin-man himself. Additional products will include a roleplay set, blaster, and flying figure.

Why It's Fun

Each product in Hasbro’s Iron Man line is fun in it’s own right. Action figure fans will have fun recreating their favorite scenes from the movie with the 6-inch figures, while older kids and collectors will love how the 12-inch figures look on display.

One of the most fun items has got to be the N.R.F. 425 Blaster. Imagine if Stark Industries was asked to design a Nerf blaster and that’s exactly what you can expect from the N.R.F. 425. We can just imagine the fun this rapid-fire, soft-dart blaster is going to be at summer barbecues.

Who's Going To Love It

Hasbro’s line features items for kids who are just discovering Iron Man for the
first time as well as older kids and adult fans and collectors. Kids will love the
Iron Man Mask & Repulsor Gauntlet roleplay set, which recreates Iron Man’s mask and ultra hi-tech glove weaponry system. Kids and collectors alike will enjoy the assortment of 6-inch action figures and no fan’s collection will be complete without the Repulsor-Power Iron Man. This impressive 12-inch figure is styled after Iron Man’s Mark III suit and features a variety of electronic lights and sounds.  

What To Be Aware Of

Please be aware of the different age suggestions for each Iron Man product, which can be found on the packaging.

Iron Man, the movie opened in theaters May 2, 2008. Based on the Marvel Comics character, the film tells the story of Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr., a billionaire weapons inventor who has a change of heart after a life-threatening experience. Stark builds and dons a high-tech suit to aid in his quest to make the world a safer place.

The challenge, as always with these kinds of movies and the toy lines based on them, is that since younger kids generally play with the toys, the PG-13 rating means that many of the kids who will want the toys may not see the movie. Nothing new here: Kids will have awareness of the movie from the ubiquitous advertising on all kinds of media.

Still, it’s a concern that movies of this nature have to knock other products out of the toy box to get sales that go beyond the movie window. It’s much more likely for kids to play with Power Rangers or Ben-10 both because they come into the home through TV and because the stories lend themselves to play. The first hour of Iron Man is exposition and not really play-inspiring. Nonetheless, Hasbro and Marvel have looked at these characters as a long-term franchise, and if the movie is successful ($108 opening weekend box office would imply success at least initially.) over the long term, there’s a potential to build a franchise here.