Big Jim Italy 1979

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Big Jim was an international sensation in 1979, he just wasn't available in the country of his birth. By 1979, Big Jim was still enjoying popularity in Europe where he had gone through several changes and permutations to become a strong compeititor to the Hasbro lines based on GI Joe which was also no longer available in the United States.

This 1979 Italian catalog shows just how versatile the Big Jim brand was, he was not just the action sportsman adventurer but a James Bond like super spy, a cowboy, a soldier of fortune and a world explorer.



He was even a pirate! I think these figures are crazy cool.






Check out the 1979 Big Jim Italy Catalog here.
Warning: It may be harmful to your wallet.


More Big Jim than you can handle!

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[Earth 2 Chris]

The Big Jim with the masks looks like Charles Bronson from Death Wish...they even have a face with a pencil-thin mustache!!!

I still can't figure out how I grew up without ever owning a Big Jim. It was like Mattel just snubbed Cynthiana, KY or something!

Chris

[MIB41]

I think the most amazing aspect about Big Jim is he was all but phased out in America by 1979. And it wasn't until the early 90's that I found out he had actually enjoyed an extended life overseas. If anything, the US was probably a smaller market if you look at the life of this line. And it's burned into my brain when and how our larger scaled figures died off - Star Wars. When that movie hit and Kenner put out the 3 3/4 inch figures, everyone else lined up to follow suit. Basically anything that had come before that was deemed a dinosaur. While there were a few exceptions, the 3 3/4 became the new standard.

[ScottA]

One of the few action figure lines I didn't own at least 1 figure of. Weird seeing how cool he is.

[ctc]

>I still can't figure out how I grew up without ever owning a Big Jim.

I didn't have too many, because around here they were pretty expensive. (Always wanted that LazerVette....)

Don C.

[palitoy]

I only had maybe four Big Jim items growing up, the camper, a basic Jim, Pack Jim and Torpedo Fist. I drooled at the other stuff mind you.

I think the problem was the competition for my (well my mom's) money that year, '76 had Bulletman, Atomic Man, Six Million Dollar Man, Fisher Price Adventure People, The WGSH and Star Trek. It was nuts!

[EMCE Hammer]

I only had two accessory sets that I cobbled on to my Mego figures as best I could. One was a white ski outfit, the other a tan overcoat w/maroon pants. I don't even recall seeing figures in stores, just the accessory packs.

[knight errant00]

> (Always wanted that LazerVette....)Don C.

You and me both, dude. I still remember the picture of that car blasting away with the Whip at the wheel and wanting in on that action!

[HardyGirl]

The only one I ever owned as a child was Big Jack (black figure). No accessories, no clothes, (but those orange gym shorts), and since I never had a Ken, he was a dad to a family I made up to his scale out of smaller dolls.

[kingdom warrior]

I think the problem was the competition for my (well my mom's) money that year, '76 had Bulletman, Atomic Man, Six Million Dollar Man, Fisher Price Adventure People, The WGSH and Star Trek. It was nuts!

What a great time that was for action figures, My Mom was so Good to me she bought me most of those figures...she figured she bought me those I stayed out of her hair and played quietly in my room and left her alone......lol