Let's start with the sheets:
Original photos courtesy of Roman Krause
Photo courtesy of Nick Symes
Above is a variant printing of LP143/3. It's interesting that two printings were required; perhaps the promotion was a big success, & Nabisco re-ordered just at the moment that Letraset SP handed over their business to Action Transfer Products. Letraset SP was wound-up on 19th October 1982, along with most other Letraset-related companies, after the take-over by Esselte at the end of 1981. So this promotion accidentally captures a bit of business history…
Artwork by kind permission of Triplica Galleries
An even more exciting revelation is that it seems fairly likely that I (or someone I knew) was eating Shreddies in 1980/81, because the above signed & dated artwork uses — as you can see — the transfers from sheet LP143/3. And I know I have that figure of Lois Lane on another piece somewhere, although I can't seem to locate it for now; sold, perhaps. Some lucky art collector has it now.
On the packet background front, we don't have much to show for 'Scene 1':
Photo courtesy of Martin Lacy
"Scene 2: Take over of the White House". Scan courtesy of Craig Spivey
"Scene 3: Test of Strength over Metropolis". Photo courtesy of Nick Symes
Uncharacteristically, I actually bought this used packet back panel myself, just the other day — I think probably on account of a nostalgic pang on seeing the figures from LP143/3 (see above) rubbed down on it.
"Scene 4: Metropolis as a battleground". Original photos courtesy of kingtoys
Picture Credit: The SPLAT Scan Archives — Roman Krause — Nick Symes — Martin Lacy — kingtoys — Craig Spivey — Triplica Galleries
© Tom Vinelott 2023