# Black Market Toys Superhero Knockoffs are Better Than the Originals By Robyn Currie | Published 2010-05-16 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/superhero-knockoffs References: [ohgizmo](http://www.ohgizmo.com/2010/05/15/knockoff-toys-are-endlessly-entertaining-and-make-me-wish-for-a-robert-cop-3-movie/) & [geekstir](http://www.geekstir.com/chinese-superhero-knockoffs) Superhero knockoffs are a budget way to scam your kids for their next birthday. Getting them a Robert Cop 3 instead of a Robo-Cop is a great way to save money (and invoke laughter). What better toy could a child ask for than a Star Knight which appears to be a [Darth Vader action figure](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-toys-2) on a police scooter? My favorite member of the [superhero knockoffs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultraman-figure) club is the '[Change Robot](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/transformers-reversible-plushies)' -- a poor man's version of a Transformer. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.7/10 - Popularity: 78% | Activity: 26% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Internet](https://www.trendhunter.com/internet) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Superhero Knockoff Toys:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating affordable and unique superhero knockoff toys. - **Budget Toy Scams:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in developing budget-friendly toy scams for birthdays and special occasions. - **Unique Action Figures:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in designing and producing unique action figures inspired by popular characters. ### Who This Affects Most - **Toy Manufacturing:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the toy manufacturing industry to create affordable and creative knockoff toy options. - **Gift and Party Supplies:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the gift and party supplies industry to offer budget-friendly toy scam options for birthdays and special occasions. - **Collectibles and Memorabilia:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the collectibles and memorabilia industry to produce unique and highly sought-after action figures inspired by popular characters. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Collectible Pop Culture-Referencing Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/san-diego-comiccon.md) - [90s-Inspired Plush Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kidrobot-1.md) - [Superhero-Themed Retail Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcfarlane-toys-1.md) - [Angry Customer Action Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/namespace.md) - [Selfie-Based Action Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/formlabs.md) - [Cartoon Superhero Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crimson-hawk-ranger.md) - [Designer Pop Culture Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kkplus.md) - [Comic-Inspired Toy Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ghost-rider.md) - [Comic Book Antihero NFTs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcfarlane-toys.md)