What is the story behind AJ's artwork being PotA Astronaut?

[Neutron X]

I thought AJ was designed to look like Joe Namath.

[Action Martin]

Ah! I misread your post and thought that you bought it that way. Makes sense now.
I'm guessing that the art, which was made years before the POTA line, was just a generic handsome 70s guy.

[josephcardone]

I think it is just there for comparison - it actually is pretty interesting!! I hope someone on here knows!

[Action Martin]

While this figure is what Action Jackson should have looked liked as pictured on the box, I believe you got a POTA Astronaut in an Action Jackson box.
Can you post a picture of the box?
Does your AJ have the dog tag and sticker sheets?

[mpramuk]

I got a boxed Action Jackson the mail this weekend and while appreciating it I was struck by how much the artwork of the "Mod Styled Hair" AJ on the box looked suspiciously like the Astronaut figure from Planet of the Apes. So I dug out my astronaut and compared them:



Same face, same hair, same outfit - even same belt. Clearly there is a story behind this, but I couldn't find one on the Museum.

So what's the deal here? Was this figure planned as an extension for AJ but when AJ's sales tanked and at the same time licensing for the Heston likeness fell through they reused the figure in the Apes line instead? Could be. But that still doesn't explain why the box art looked like the Astronaut figure from the start. This one has me curious!

Anyone have the story on this??? Inquiring minds want to know!