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• Position: What's new? Holiday gifts galore - Action figures and playsets

Children's action figures used to be roughly broken up among superheroes (Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men, etc.), sci-fi characters (mostly from the "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" stables), and fiercely battle-hardened military types (G.I. Joe, etc.). Post-Sept. 11, though, a new breed of heroes has captured the imaginations of today's youngsters.

The Rescue Heroes collection from Fisher-Price, Inc., East Aurora, N.Y., salutes the firefighters, police officers, and other rescue personnel who perform so valiantly and selflessly. The Body Force figures ($7.99 each) include firefighter Billy Blazes, in full bunker gear, who twists at the waist when the button on his back is pushed, enabling him to aim his water cannon at raging fires; police officer Jake Justice, who can swing a battering ram to break through blocked doors or other barriers; diver Gil Gripper, in full scuba regalia, who can kick his flipper-clad feet and use a gripping claw to get at people trapped in sunken vessels; construction expert Jack Hammer, who uses his sledgehammer and chainsaw to build platoon bridges for rescuing flood victims or digging escape tunnels to free trapped subway passengers; and mountaineer Rocky Canyon, who, with his pickax and searchlight, scales sheer rock faces to rescue stranded mountain explorers. Of course, there are appropriate vehicles to help them rescue people, such as the 2-in-1 Ultra Light ($9.99) helicopter/glider/skimobile that can get them into just about any sort of terrain and the Earth Moving Vehicle ($9.99) with a powerful claw to dig through debris to reach buried victims and a basket to bring them to safety. The big item is the Voice Tech Police Cruiser ($24.99), which can carry two Rescue Heroes in the front and one on the back; has flashing lights, a siren, and makes engine sounds; and, using the Voice Tech versions of the figures, lets driver and passengers communicate with each other.

As long as your heart is pumping through one adrenaline rush after another, you might as well keep the excitement at a fever pitch with Fisher-Price's Imaginext Rescue Center Playset ($34.99). Its interchangeable parts can be reconfigured endlessly, allowing kids to create a different set-up and new adventure every time they...