DC Retro Action = Big Jim

[starsky]

just as long as they dont use the old space 1999 bodies i'm happy!

[Mikey]

Not sure if having the head pop off easy (like Megos) would even past the new child safety regulations nowadays.

[pmwasson]

I've never collected Big Jim. Can anyone elaborate on how the Big Jim head attaches to the body? Any pictures? Thanks!

[Werewolf]

Argggh! I thought this was actually going to be about a new Big Jim line. Got excited for nothing.

But yeah, it does look similar to a shrunk down Big Jim body. That's why I thought this was an announcement thread. With Mattel being the masters of parts re-use I would actually be surprised if they didn't use this body for other figure lines.

[SeattleEd]

Well there goes that plan to switch out the bodies.
Any likelihood of parts being sold separately? Like the outfit, quiver and bow?
I like the gauntlets on the new one compared to the old one.

The torsos are well glued so you will not be able to pop out the heads to go
on vintage bodies - but there won't be any issue with arms being pulled into
the torso.

[hedrap]

Wow. I am seriously deflated on this now. I have a few Big Jim from a lot...shudder.

I remember reading DM saying they were modifying the internals, which I was fine with. But, at this point...thank god they're not called Mego or WGSH. Nothing personal to those involved, but if I can't swap parts they ain't Megoesque in any way.

Comparisons to the Target Silver Age line? DC Famous Covers?

[LonnieFisher]

I think the waist looks like it goes together like the Playing Mantis Action Jackson. Which was the biggest problem with that body. When Playing Mantis made Action Jackson, why didn't they use the Mego style body. I hated them, except for the heads which were used on a lot of my Famous Covers customs. I'm really not impressed with the Big Jim body rework. I hate the legs and waist. The shoulders look funny, too. The neck and head are a real letdown for customizing. They should have gone with the Cast-A-Way body... No hip issue and swivel above bicep!

[Werewolf]

Comparisons to the Target Silver Age line? DC Famous Covers?

Not a really a fair comparison, in my opinion. Those were not in the same scale and had a completely different look and style to them. The Mattel Retro Action heroes are in Mego scale and do look like vintage toys.

[kryptosmaster]

I knew it! I knew there was some reason nobody would show how these were put together.
As far as I'm concerned the only Mego-like feature of these will be their height and removable clothing (the clothing is removable, isn't it? Nobody has confirmed that either!).
Every time something else is revealed about this line, the less and less I want to participate in it.
At least emce is making a Mego sans the Mego name...not some Mego wanna-be.
I'm EXTREMELY interested in the reactions and dissections that will be posted once these reach our doorsteps.
Considering the direction this appears headed I will most likely be spending my money on the new emce stuff rather than these.
Rich

[Werewolf]

As far as I'm concerned the only Mego-like feature of these will be their height and removable clothing (the clothing is removable, isn't it? Nobody has confirmed that either!).

You don't think the head sculpt looks Mego!?

The action figure insider link, that has been posted several times, shows the body and the removable clothes.

AFI DC Retro-Heroes Green Arrow

[kryptosmaster]

You don't think the head sculpt looks Mego!?

The action figure insider link, that has been posted several times, shows the body and the removable clothes.

AFI DC Retro-Heroes Green Arrow

Been a little while since I've checked the progress on these. Wasn't following every tidbit. This must be a recent reveal?
Sure the heads "look" right but they aren't removable (isn't that what someone posted earlier?)
Rich

[Brown Bear]

The worst thing about waiting another week for Matty Collector is hearing everyone who begged for this day to come to post complaint after complaint.

Mattel will never please everyone and in my opinion, us beggers can't be choosers. We're lucky to get any megoesque figures and if we don't like them, then we don't buy them and they stop selling them.

[kryptosmaster]

The worst thing about waiting another week for Matty Collector is hearing everyone who begged for this day to come to post complaint after complaint.

Mattel will never please everyone and in my opinion, us beggers can't be choosers. We're lucky to get any megoesque figures and if we don't like them, then we don't buy them and they stop selling them.

That's a defeatist attitude.
"We should be grateful we even got these and spend our money profusely."
I disagree.
We should voice our complaints and tell them they missed the boat and they should take a long, hard look at emce's line if they want to know what we REALLY expect.
I think the success of the Trek line shows that if done right, the money is there. Even CTVT were more true to Mego than this Mattel thing. If they had a better quality control they would probably still be putting out new lines today. They burned their reputation with their early stuff.
The only thing that's missing from emce's line is the Mego name and being available in department stores everywhere.
Rich

[Werewolf]

That's a defeatist attitude.

And I think the nitpicking of every minute detail is defeatist. I can understand people not liking this or that change, no problemo. The sky is falling atitude is a bit overdone though, in my opinion.

In my opinion, a couple of things we have to keep in mind is:

Realistically, we all know, the Mego collector is a very tiny niche market. This is a mass market toy line first and a collector one second.

Child toy safety laws are different than when we were kids and I can see why Mattel would want to play it very safe. Changes to the design, construction and accessories were more than likely unavoidable for this to be an uber safe mass market toy line.

Mattel has the DC license. Either they are involved or there are no new Mego style DC heroes.

[ThatBatmanGuy]

Being a Big Jim collector, repro decal producer, resin part caster and body repairer... That body is a shrunk down version of the Big Jim body with a few changes. The feet are different and look more like PM Action Jackson feet. The neck area is different than Big Jim's, but it looks to be a slight change. The elbows move in a different way and the hands are NOT Big Jim. They really should've just used Doc Mego's bodies.

A shame Mattel doesn't retro release Big Jim. Not the crap that is Max Steel. I mean the real Big Jim stuff. They would clean up just like Hasbro has with GI Joe/ActionMan retro sets.

Bob