Interesting lack of villains in pre-1977 action figures..

[acrovader]

I started playing with action figures around the late 70s, right when the ubiquitous 3.75" figures started hitting the shelves. I have an older brother who had some of the 12" G.I. Joes, Evel Knevil, and Six Million Dollar Man toys that I really didn't play with much. What I find interesting is that there wasn't much in the way of villains in the pre-1977 toy lines (disregarding MEGO's Super Heroes and Star Trek and Space 1999 and POTA). I mean, Big Jim had a couple (?) towards the end of the run and the 12" Joes had diminutive 'Intruders'. I know Evel Knevil was a real guy, but no nemesis was created to go along with the line. I wonder what it would've been like to play with some of these before the days of Darth Vader and Baron Karza, etc. entered the scene. And even the 1980s toy lines were villain heavy (as compared to the decade before). That said, I always thought the bad guys usually made for some of the best action figures.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I think the philosophy was kids would created their own play scenarios, so a "storyline" didn't have to be devised for them. Lines like G.I. Joe: RAH, MOTU, Transformers, etc. gave us nearly equal sides of good and evil and a fairly coherent backstory. The big bad was no doubt influenced by the success of Star Wars and the instantly iconic Darth Vader.

Chris

[Mikey]

Johnny West had a few but you'd have to count the Indians --- which today they wouldn't be bad guys.

As a matter of fact I think General Custer and Sheriff Garrett would be more likely to be bad.

[Werewolf]

As a matter of fact I think General Custer and Sheriff Garrett would be more likely to be bad.

Custer was the bad guy.

[4NDR01D]

Captain Action had Dr. Evil
Major Matt Mason had Calisto

[drquest]

12" GiJoe had Germans and Japs, and even Russians

[PNGwynne]

I'm all about the villains. I see your point somewhat, but as noted GI Joe and Capt. Action had foes. And Mego!

[drquest]

SMDM had Maskatron, Bigfoot and the Venus Space Probe later.

[PNGwynne]

Oooh, Maskatron was so darn cool, and I nearly had a nervous breakdown wanting Bigfoot.

[PNGwynne]

They should have made a villain for the Steve Scout line. Like that bullying Webelo kid at camp who somehow guessed my orientation before I did.

[warlock664]

They should have made a villain for the Steve Scout line. Like that bullying Webelo kid at camp who somehow guessed my orientation before I did.

[HardyGirl]

SMDM had Maskatron, Bigfoot and the Venus Space Probe later.

Sears also made the exclusive Dr. Kromedome for Steve Austin, right?

And something it's important to understand. The early 70s had a very anti-war sensiblity. Many parents didn't want their kid fighting w/ toys. So that's why GI Joe had the Adventure Team and there were stricter regulations over violence in cartoons. Reagan came along and changed all that, and that's why you got cartoons like GI RAH w/ 82 acts of violence per 1/2 hour episode. (quote from book "Turmoil in the Toybox"). But Mego had some villians. Lizard, Green Goblin, Gorn, Klingons,Talosians, The Keeper. Later on 12" GIJoe had the Intruders. Big Jim had Dr. Steel and later on PACK. But I think it was more fun to invent storylines than one that was planned out for you by a cartoon or comic.

[Jason73]

The Adventure Team had The Intruders to deal with.

[Werewolf]

that's why you got cartoons like GI RAH w/ 82 acts of violence per 1/2 hour episode. (quote from book "Turmoil in the Toybox").

I don't recall the show being that action packed and um yeah, Turmoil in the Toybox. The author of that had some bizarre ideas about cartoons. Like He-Man was demonic, Yoda was satanic and Smurfs were undead homosexuals.

[Werewolf]

The author of Turmoil in the Toybox discussing 80s cartoons and toys. Just wow.