Hero Squad — Playskool Heroes figures on the playroom floor

What the Heroes line actually is

Playskool Heroes is the toddler end of the costumed-figure business, and this mat holds all of it. The figures are built from one thick piece with a short, heavy torso and no removable accessories, so the line survives the stage where everything gets posted under the sofa.

Marvel heroes in two builds

Marvel does most of the work here. The Marvel heroes on this mat — the web-slinger, the green one, the armoured one, the shield one — come in two builds: the small four-inch figures that fit a pocket, and the ten-inch Mega Mighties that stand up on a shelf. Marvel figures in both builds use the same stubby proportions, so a small hand gets a whole leg in its grip rather than an ankle.

Why there is no metal in a Power Rangers zord

Power Rangers share the mat because they share the build. The zords on this side of the line are hollow mouldings with chunky joints rather than die-cast metal, which is the whole point: a figure with no metal edges and no spring-loaded parts can be bitten, flung and stood on without consequence.

Which build to buy second

Marvel fans who already own the small figures usually want a Mega Mighties next, and the other way round for a child who started with the big ones. Both builds swoop. Neither needs a stand.

Chunky costumed figures are the Playskool answer to collectors' shelves: moulded in one piece, painted nowhere a thumb lands, scaled so a Playskool hero fits a fist rather than a display case. The Playskool versions of these characters are the ones that survive being flown into a radiator.

The best sign of a good box is that play starts on the way back from the shelf. Explorers do not wait for a flat surface, and the fun does not depend on one.