Beware of the shark!

Ministry of Toys advice for parents and young children: 1, Do not put hands into mouth of shark. 2, Do not encourage shark into bathing area. 3, Do not take selfie with shark. 4, Do not pet shark. 5, Do not throw peanuts, fish, live monkeys or hamburgers at shark. Above all, treat with respect and remember you are the visitor in the world of shark.

Jaws/Les Dents De Le Mer game. 1981. France

Alternate Version. 1981. France.

Sky Shark. 1990. US.

In other vintage news…

I have the power!

Masters of the Universe. 1986. Italy.

I have an awesome bed!

Barbie. 1986. Italy.

I have a cold hand…

Big Jim. Dr Steel. 1970s. France.

…But a warm heart!

Baby Face. 1990. US.

Just in!! Bionics, Joes, Jims, RPGs, cars, art, BMX

And lastly…

Remember – beware of the shark!

Petra / Lotte dolls. 1978. Denmark.

Cover for Télé Parade Mensuel N°6. 1978 featuring Jabberjaw and Scooby-Doo.


Thank you for observing sharks with us 🙂

G.I. Joe 1986 Catalogue

Hasbro’s awesome line of G.I. Joe 3.75 inch action figures, vehicles and playsets as seen in this 1986 mini catalogue. Click images to enlarge.

G.I. JOE 1980s

A REAL AMERICAN HERO

G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by Hasbro. The original 1964 line featured 12 inch figures. In 1982 the brand was relaunched in a 3¾-inch scale along with vehicles, playsets and accessories. G.I. Joe also appeared in comic books, video games and an animated TV series.

US. Groo. 1988.

US. Groo. 1988.

US. Dazzler. 1982.

US. The Defenders. 1983.

US. The New Mutants. 1985.

US. Nth Man. 1989.

US. Nth Man. 1989.

France. Cora Christmas catalogue. 1988.

G.I. Joe. Speelboom Club Journal. 1987.

1986. US.


 

Action Man 12″ Action Figures

1980 British poster catalogue featuring Action Man figures, clothing, accessories and vehicles from the Palitoy company.

action-man-cat-poster-post


action-man-cat-post


action-man-catalogue-a


action-man-catalogue-b


action-man-catalogue-c


action-man-catalogue-d


1979 advert showing vehicles

UK. Star Wars Weekly. 1979.

1979 ‘Thrill, Spills & Chills Palitoy advert featuring Space Rangers and Gargan

UK. Marvel Superheroes. 1979.


1967 Danish ad showing Action Man Astronaut with early Palitoy logo

Denmark. 1967.


Two Action Man competition adverts

UK. Eagle. 1982.

UK. Eagle. 1982.


UK. Eagle. 1983.

UK. Eagle. 1983.


French adverts from Pif Gadget

France. Pif Gadget. 1982.

France. Pif Gadget. 1982.


France. Pif Gadget. 1982.

France. Pif Gadget. 1982.


France. Pif Gadget. 1982.

France. Pif Gadget. 1982.


France. Pif Gadget. 1982.

France. Pif Gadget. 1982.


Hamleys catalogue page

UK. Hamleys Christmas Book. 1983.


1990s Action Man by Hasbro

Action Man Power Arm Ninja. 1996. US.

Action Man, Hasbro. Ets De Neuter. Catalogue page. 1995. France.

ADVENTURE MAN / DYNAMAN / ACTION TEAM and other 12″ Action Figures

France. Jouets et Jeux catalogue page. 1978.

France. Jouets et Jeux catalogue page. 1978. Scan courtesy of Raymond Strain.


 

France. Pif Gadget. 1978.

France. PIf Gadget. 1978.


Action Team

1977 German ad showing various figures.

Germany. 1977.


Commander Power

Hasbro’s 8.5 inch Super Joe line as rebranded by the Palitoy company. Thanks to Stan Fernando for the information.

sw-weekly-1978-palitoy

UK. Star Wars Weekly. 1978.


Superhelten (superhero) advert from Denmark

Information on this Danish advert is welcome.

Anders 40 1979 Superhelten post new

Denmark. Anders And & Co. 1979.


Fairland Toy

Thanks to Raymond Strain for the following information and catalogue scans.

The two French catalogue pages below feature figures with moulds from Fairland Toy stamped into their backs (the figures in the jeeps, helicopter and the white dress suit). These were also sold as Johnny Strong / Bruce Action.

The remaining figures (bottom six and parachute figure) look like Zapf’s Action Star Hardy bodies but with different heads and with arm and leg parts made of cheaper plastic. These moulds came with no factory markings on their backs.

France. La Redoute mail order page. 1979 / 80.

France. La Redoute mail order page. 1979 / 80.


France. La Redoute mail order page. 1978 / 79.

France. Catalogue page from La Redoute. 1979 / 1980.

 


BIG JIM: Action Figures From Mattel, 1971 to 1986

BigJim logo

Big Jim was produced by Mattel between 1971 and 1986 and was inspired by the popular G.I. Joe/Action Man 12 inch toys. The figures were shorter in height than their G.I. Joe counterparts and some characters had a push-button action feature that controlled an arm or leg movement.

The line featured an impressive range of figures, vehicles, outfits and accessories for play themes ranging from jungle and safari exploration, espionage, space, sci-fi, sports, wild west, and more. TVTA is pleased to present a number of adverts from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the US and the UK, including examples for the related lines Karl May and Mark Strong.


Big Jim, Spain.

Congost catalogue. 1977. Spain.


Big Jim, Italy.

Italy. Topolino. 1978.

Italy. Topolino. 1979.


Big Jim, France.

Big Jim. Dr Steel. 1970s. France.




Big Jim, US.
US. Superman 296. 1976.

US. Superman 296. 1976.


KARL MAY

Big Jim also released a series of action figures based on the German writer Karl May’s wild west stories, including famous characters like Winnetou and Old Shatterhand.

France. Pif Gadget. 1978.

France. Pif Gadget. 1978.


Germany. 1978.


Mark Strong

For a while, due to licensing issues, Big Jim was known as Mark Strong in certain markets outside of the US.

Mark Strong action figure Victor 635 1973

UK. Victor. 1973.


Thanks for looking 🙂 Post updated December 2018 with new images.

GROUP ACTION JOE

Group Action Joe – often referred to as Action Joe is the French-licensed version of G.I. Joe (Hasbro – US) and Action Man (Palitoy – UK). Group Action Joe was distributed by the Ceji Arbois company in France and featured some exclusive characters such as French comic strip star Rahan, Albator, Captain Cosmos and the famous Zorro. Also featured were female characters Jane, Daina and Sandy.

TVTA is pleased to present a number of print adverts and catalogue pages spanning the Action Joe line from the 1970s and 1980s.


Pif Gadget 395 1976 Group Action Joe line up POST

Action Joe Jungle Mission. France. Pif Gadget. 1976.


Telejunior. 4. 1977. GroupAction Joe POST

Action Joe. France. Telejunior. 1977.


Group Action Joe PG 455 1977 Post

Action Joe communication radio centre. France. Pif Gadget. 1977.


Group Action Joe PG 453 1977 POST

Action Joe Delta Plane. France. PIf Gadget. 1977.


action-joe-wild-west-pif-gadget-448-1977

Above image: France. Pif Gadget. 1977. This superb artistic impression of an action scene featuring some of the Wild West range appeared as a double-page ad in some issues of Pif Gadget.

action-joe-pompiers-pif-gadget-424-1977

Above image: France. Pif Gadget. 1977. Another double-page artistic impression – this time it’s fire-fighting and rescue action!


Rahan Action Joe PG 471 1978 POST

Action Joe: Rahan! 1978.

Above and below image: Pif Gadget comic character Rahan even gets his own action figure courtesy of Group Action Joe – the French version of Action Man. France. PIf Gadget. 1978.

PIF 482_ Action Joe_1978 POST

Another Action Joe 1978 ad showing Rahan. Also shown is Jane and new items and features such as ‘Eagle Eyes’.

Below: Figures, uniforms, vehicles and accessories as shown in the C1978 Arbois catalogue, France.

Action Joe parachute. Arbois toy catalogue. France C1978


PIF552_1979_Action Joe_fullsize POST

Action Joe vehicles. Pif Gadget. 1979.


Pif Gadget 626 Sept 1980_GroupActionJoe Operation Niagra POST

Action Joe Operation Niagara. France. Pif Gadget. 1980.


Group Action Joe double page ad 1. Jungle Jeep. 4×4  France. Pif Gadget. 1980.

Group Action Joe double page ad 2. Jungle jeep 4×4. France. Pif Gadget. 1980.


Pif 660. 1981. Group Action Joe Plongee POST

Action Joe divers and frogmen. France. Pif Gadget. 1981.


PIF 658_Group Action Joe_ 1981 POST

Action Joe jungle jeep 4×4. France. Pif Gadget. 1981.


Pif Gadget 653 1981 Group Action Joe line up POST

Action Joe figures. France. Pif Gadget. 1981. This ad features ‘Mark’ dressed in the ‘Captain Cosmos’ costume and the exclusive ‘Zorro’ licensed for the Action Joe range.


Action Joe jeep and trailer, motorcycle and sidecar. Pif Gadget 529. 1979. France.


Post updated Dec 2022 with new images.