Two of the most popular toy items for little boys are action figures and toy trucks or cars. If they were to see one of those items under a Christmas tree, they would most likely freak out with excitement and start playing with them immediately. It is true; action figures and toy trucks are a hit with young boys. But which one is more popular than the other?

An action figure is a plastic figurine of a character, often from a movie, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures usually are marketed towards little boys. One category of action figures that is always in high demand is the superhero action figure. Some superheroes such as Superman, Batman and Spiderman are perennial favorites, while the popularity of others goes dormant until the next major motion picture remake. With the latest installment of the mega-popular Spiderman movies, Spiderman and his mixture of villains appear to be in power over the superhero action figure market for the moment.

With a popular animated series and movie, Batman is also a favorite action figure. The oldest superhero of the bunch, Superman, has been slowly but surely making a comeback. With a popular Superman-themed television series and a major motion picture on the way, it is safe to say that Superman action figures will never stray far from the top of the list.

Males seem to have a natural attraction to vehicles. With that in mind, young boys love playing with toy cars. They obviously can't drive a real car, but they can definitely pretend they can if they had a toy truck they could ride on. On the other hand, if the boy is a speedy one, he'll thoroughly enjoy playing with a radio-controlled car. With that, they can go as fast as they want! Though sometimes derided by users of more expensive and sophisticated hobby-grade equipment, toy R/C is an excellent way to teach a youngster basic vehicle control and to hopefully spark his interest in the hobby.

Next time you are out shopping for a present for a boy who is age 8 or younger; do not hesitate to get him an action figure. Action figures are a slightly better hit than toy vehicles. However, no matter the popularity level, either or both of these toy items are highly recommended for young boys. Now you know what to get them for their next birthday or for Christmas.