Toy-Ventures: The Incredible Dr. Steel (Big Jim)

[@greentubes1]

Dr. Steel was a must-have figure, no doubt. That hand! That tattoo! The scowl!! Perfection. Didn't he also come with a steel band to wrap around his bicep, in addition to the steel pipe (and was there a wood block to chop, too?). My friend had the Big Jim Camper Van, and he let my Dr. Steel come along for a few adventures, often involving rhinos, alligators, and apes. Gotta love that entire line. Kudos to another fantastic episode!

[@BrickMantooth]

Thank you so much, this was a fun one to make!

[@jimmypm]

Can't tell you how much I enjoy these videos. Keep up the good work. Happy New Year!

[@BrickMantooth]

Thank you! Happy New Year!

[@clutchcastro]

Growing up in Spain, I had the Luis Congost ambiguous version of Dr. Steel along with Captain Flint (Sandokan) and his pirate boat. They were truly awesome figures. I wish Mattel would release these guys again. Especially the P.A.C.K. since I missed out on those while I was living over there. Big Jim was really a wonderful line of toys that deserves far wider exposure.

[@travishiltz4750]

"He was non-violent, unless you were a fish or a gorilla." People say that about me too. I have a strange fascination for the Big Jim PACK characters. I blame those Kirby ads. They were so eye-catching and seemed to imply there was a comic or show out there, as the PACK seemed to have more backstory than most action figures.

[@danielvann8957]

My mom never denied me any figure that we could afford, but man she was terrible about allowing me to buy troops. This kid only had one stormtrooper and I remember trying to convince her that the cobra soldier and cobra officer were different characters. Great memories.

[@playbig796]

Cool video! ✌ Thanks a lot! I remember those figures quite well! I 've got a small Big Jim collection, too😁!

[@shavanzar]

Cool video Had this figure as a kid.... Then about 4 yrs ago,came across him in a toy store that had just opened where I live, so I had to get him back. He's now part of my Big Jim collection (all mine are loose)

[@papajon7007]

What a wonderful video! What a nostalgic trip!

[@carlosescobar6973]

wow awesome !! thank you very much for share your collections great lovely memories,

[@nosferatu-369]

He was a member of Big Jim's Wolf Pack. I love these figures. The Whip, Warpath, Dr. Steel and Big Jim in a badass outfit. I don't remember Torpedo Fist being a member though.

[@chrisdellier2993]

He was.

[@captnjaygreybeard6394]

I got a Big Jim for xmas when I was about 5 or 6. It was unboxed and my mom made some clothes for it. She must have found it second hand or something. I always thought he was a million dollar man figure, but eventualy found out he was a whole different series. I loved the chop hand action and bicep pump. I collect a bunch of 12" figures now (ThreeA), I am sure it influenced later in life to get the new figures.

[@svensvensson2724]

I remember holding a Dr Steel package in my hands in a toy shop in Stockholm. Mom bought me an accessory pack that was great. The spy series skis with white body suit and G3 rifle. I really wanted the Dr Steel, but she wouldn't buy it. She was very poor as a child, and she still acted like it. It was a Dr Steel package that must have been 10 years old at the time. I don't think it had a window. It definitely did not have the side flap. The backside had a cool comic book story showing Dr Steel smashing things and being threatening. I already knew about him since a decade, and had always wanted one. No dice! I finally got one in good shape a year ago, although he is a newer one with the grip hand...

[@billy1673]

My little brother and I had all these guys! If only we had taken care of them and kept them.

[@BrickMantooth]

we all wish we had.

[@josephselnekovic9673]

I had all the P.A.C.K. figures except the Whip when they first came out, Dr. Steel and Warpath were by far my favorites. As a late teen, I went into my basement to look for my G.I.Joe and Big Jim stuff and couldn't find any of it. I found out later on that my younger brother and his friends used it all for target practice with their pellet guns.

[@BrickMantooth]

Oof! I did that with my sister's John Travolta record.

[@hiddenhistoryny129]

This brought back some great memories of my Big Jim and Dr Steel cruising around in the laser Corvette and with the big camper truck on many adventures in the city of Baltimore

[@garyshaller8294]

Thanks for another great video! I work in a hospital with trauma survivors, and your videos and podcasts are part of my self-care. Thanks for helping me help my patients; I don’t take it for granted. Stallions 2020!

[@BrickMantooth]

I really appreciate knowing this, thank you so much.

[@michaelcasalta7679]

That was Awesome!!! One of your best episodes yet!!!

[@BrickMantooth]

Thank you very much, it was a lot of fun to make.

[@Scottyx0x]

We need that book translated. Great installment Brian...

[@AchimSawall]

Great video, I'm a journalist, sometimes writing about Big Jim at Golem.de and I'm customizing. You talked about toy expos, can you advise which once are great for Big Jim?

[@leoleo2707]

Got this awesome big Jim figure with beautiful repro box ☺

[@georgegolston5417]

I had a couple of the Jim’s. I had Jim,Josh and Jack. My favorite was the Wolf Pack Jim in a black nylon turtle neck with Wolf Pack patch tan pants and brown boots with paw print on the bottom. I also had the Comics.

[@johnbockelie3899]

All he needs is a white T shirt , pants, deck shoes and an ear ring. He'd be Mr. Clean.

[@vincentfranklin17]

I had a Big Jeff action figure, and I had the Tiger Hunt playset.

[@Slipperylilsuckers]

Really enjoyed this.Brain. He was one of my very favourites as a kid. So much so I made a custom Mego of him with a real steel hand on a fist fighter body. Maybe you remember. I had never seen the Dr Steel ads and that book looks great.

[@BrickMantooth]

Nice to hear from you Cat, I remember your custom very well. Hope things are good for you on the other side of the planet!

[@suedenim]

I love how Mattel originally left it up to the kids as to whether Steel was a good guy or a bad guy. Are there any similar examples of this? (Other than toy lines that said nothing at all about the characters, which is a different thing.)

[@jamesmorenz]

I always wanted a Stretch Armstrong, but my mom being a single parent and didn't make a ton of money back then, always seemed to forget about him. I got other cool things, but always missed out on Stretch.

[@YAMISOOLD2009]

Life is so strange. I loved playing with action figures and I wanted everyone I saw on Saturday morning TV or in the Montgomery Wards or Sears wishbook. My parent's weren't rich so I didn't get most of them but watching these videos you make reminds me of the ones I did have and how much fun and thrills I got out of playing with them. I am going to work my way backwards through your videos. Thank you very much for doing these!

[@BrickMantooth]

I'm really glad you told me that, thank you.

[@KAM1138a]

Love the Big Jim Reviews

[@Awinst01]

My Mom gave me a Dr. Steel action figure for my birthday when he first came out - pre-P.A.C.K. so he didn’t have the wolf tattoo on his hand. Even as a kid (about nine years old) I could recognize that this was a very different direction for Big Jim who, up to that point, had been primarily about sports and adventure. In my mind I was certain Dr. Steel could kick Jim’s butt in a fight.

[@masterfarr8265]

the inspiration for Jitsu from He Man

[@BrickMantooth]

most definitely.

[@BlakeGildaphish76]

My mother didn't have too many issues about my action figures, but i remember her having a problem with my 6 inch Batman: The Animated Series Catwoman figure that my father bought for me at a comic book convention. She didn't like that my Catwoman had a whip. She didn't think it was appropriate.

[@WildSide_Est2024]

I'd be amazed if Dr Steel's face wasn't at least partially inspired by Torin Thatcher in The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad.

[@BrickMantooth]

Yeah, that is pretty uncanny.

[@williamdixon2478]

I still have my Dr. Steel action figure, and always thought the same thing!

[@123bonus6]

日本ではビッグジムのみ販売されていたと思います､こんなにたくさんの種類があったとは驚きです､いろいろ紹介していただきありがとうございます。

[@Philippedamato]

Bonjour! merci pour cette super vidéo qui me fait retourner dans mon enfance, en 76. En France, au début des années 70, Big Jim avait été rebaptisé "MarK Strong" par Mattel. Les publicités dans les journaux pour enfants (Pif Gadget) racontaient que mark Strong était un champion pilote de courses de voitures... OK ! sauf que Mattel ne disait absolument pas que c'était un jouet (action-figure) et j'ai dû attendre 76 pour acheter mon premier Bg Jim. Dans la publicité de l'époque, Doctor Steel était présenté comme l'ennemi de Big Jim (il faisait tomber des rochers sur lui à l'aide de son tube en métal)... By th way: il est possible que le pirate "captain Drake" soit à l'origine de "Squeletor" des Maîtres de L' univers... Qu'en pensez-vous? Je ne connaissais pas le Packaging avec le dessin de Jack Kirby... Wow !

[@oleimann]

As a teenager in the 80's (mid to late 70's ?) I had Big Jeff, Dr. Steel (nice to see that partable "steel" bar again) and the Swamp Hovercraft with Alligator. That, and the brown Camper (my sister had the Barbie Camper in Yellow/Orange). I also remember a yellow chopper with a grip in the back and a lever you could pump to make the blades turn. Not sure that was the same brand, though. Anyway, I loved the dragon tattoo on Dr Steel - but looking back on it, the dragon looked a bit too cartoony (normal for kids, of course :)

[@mathieu4204]

That commercial music, man, it screams adventure and mystery. The Pack line looks fantastic and would make such a great 3 3/4" line. yeah, I'm a Real American hero brat :)

[@BrickMantooth]

I am of the age where I started with Big Jim and ended with RAH. So I get that.

[@MrNckissfan]

I purchased the Dr Drago figure earlier this year for an art exhibition I’m putting together. Unfortunately, the arms of the Mexican figures are made of a standard rubber material that doesn’t include the bend/flex feature.

[@lopezitos69]

MrNckissfan maybe it has to do with the year of production, I’m just guessing because I had like 5 or 6 different “kid Acero” action heroes, and all of them and the arms had the muscle flex and worked just fine, even had a “steel band” to wrap around the bicep to show the “strength.

[@JJoneschannel]

I never actually *heard* his origin story before. :P Cool!

[@billpagan3070]

Thanks again for another great review!😁👍 I always learn so much from your channel. Bill

[@newcastle1963]

my first BIG JIM was a Olympic Big Jim, my Mother did not like it he had no clothes and to much muscle! lol I loved it !

[@BrickMantooth]

Love it!!

[@JAbell1966]

Pulsar was the one I remember my mom denying me the most but the Shogun Warriors were a close second.

[@bonecos_do_maninho1971]

Parabéns pelo vídeo.

[@kaioken654]

That was kool!

[@robertonline6543]

Funny you mention deny... It happens I had calibos from clash of the Titans ... She threw it out for obvious reasons.

[@lasertoothtiger]

I had the opposite, I wanted a hamtaro toy, but it was in the girls isle so I was kinda ashamed to buy it. But my dad said "it doesn't matter, if you like it you like it." and pretty much made me buy it. I still have it.🐹

[@eltenda]

Classic

[@JayStein777]

I always thought that Big Jim was part of the Johnny Quest universe

[@richardwatts4660]

A fascinating figure; I've really got to try and get one of these figures on the second-hand market. Again, I came here from watching your recent Kung-Fu video, and learnt so much more yet again, thanks very much!

[@Floyds_Toys]

I have a MOTU Jitsu gold hand in my parts box and I've always intended to use it to make a Dr. Steel inspired character for my Cotswold Adventure Team Joes. It's a rainy day project I've been meaning to get to for years but have never started. There weren't any action figures I was forbidden to get but I was kind of shamed out of getting the Remco McDonald's figures by my mom. I'm not sure if it was because they were more doll like or because the exploitative nature of toys based on a fast food chain but I do have them now.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Wish there was a modern 1/18 figure of this guy.

[@GarysActionManChannel1970]

Muton from Denys Fisher - my Mom hated it. That was until my Aunt took me shopping and bought it for me!

[@BrickMantooth]

Smart man!

[@C0nd0rJ03]

Why are Dr. Steel's arms a different color from his body?

[@BrickMantooth]

different materials that age differently, the arms are coated in rubber.

[@ArturoFlores-lm5sh]

This figure dr steel was dr drago in México and big jim was kid acero

[@BrickMantooth]

Yes I mention the Cipsa line in the episode.

[@benjaminmartiniii5375]

I was denied Rom The Space Knight and Energized Spiderman for some reason.

[@zakhoiraq]

Very hard to find a used one with the dragon tattoo in great shape. Most have faded away or rubbed off

[@anniesapp906]

Enjoyed the commercial to.

[@KoolKatDave]

Brick, can you ask your friend Pascal if there is an English translation transcript available for his book? I just got my copy, but my French is really rusty...

[@christophervaldez8746]

What med school did Dr Steel go to?

[@BrickMantooth]

It's a PHD in math.

[@RMAILLER]

I don't know why this Big Jim line was renamed and was part of the James Bond line which I have from my childhood.

[@BrickMantooth]

I've had a couple of those, they're neat.

[@anniesapp906]

Wonder if Max Steel is connected with The Big Jim line?

[@MrRedboylft]

I had these as a kid OH MAN! I didnt have Dr Steel I had the whip I renamed them all too. The Whip Jean Cluade Le Grand. Chief Tanaka / John Tall Timber Dr Syteel Dr Jai Wai/Long I wasnt a fan of torpedo hand!. I had the originals up untill 1990. I moved and my grandmother gave them away...and a few other things tings that I told her I cant to you right now. She well I didnt know you wanted to keep them ! Grandma if someone has a toy pass the age of tweenty then you should ask ! My mother had Black Raggedy Andy made for me, one of a kind! And my teddy bear. Shess like I didnt know you wanted to keep it. Imtold her that bear has livved in every house Ive EVER lived in till I moved to OR. I told her that I had had that bear longer than my cousin had had her kids@ I told her I had had that bear longer than my aunt and uncle have had my cousin !! I had to hank up,,,and of course what comes on TV...Toy Story!!😭😭😭

[@MOUNTAINOUS]

i had dr steel as a kid

[@Diabolik771]

Only had one, Zorak. I remember him smelling bad like the plastic they made him from.

[@BrickMantooth]

I love that smell!

[@robertonline6543]

Hey! I had that blonde guy ! I made him David banner and put color clay on his face to make him look like the episode metaphorsis, kinda like a half hulk

[@raywideman7157]

Thought they had like a band you put around their bicep and when you bent the arm it flexed and popped the band off?

[@GreyHulk2156]

I would say Jitsu is more than "vaguely" Asian! :)

[@juliusschannelindeeditis7754]

I looked up dr steel (the musician) and I saw this

[@eltenda]

I had one in italy

[@BrickMantooth]

Big Jim was huge in Italy!

[@gabrielsantoscoleccionista]

hi from mexico ¡¡ i had any kid acero o big jim

[@cheayunju]

Pascal can easily have the book translated these days.

[@zarakenpacHidan1736]

5:33 of video; y'all see how HEAVY them muhfugguhz were? In the '70s we got in shape, by playing with toys; LOOOOOONG before the Z-warriors, and might guy, started doing it!

[@Scotty-Z70]

I couldn't afford him, so we got the dollar store version: Dr. Aluminum.

[@Scotty-Z70]

i JUST bought a Real Men soccer player at a flea market for $1. wow. i thought it was some happy meal toy

[@ChapMeifan]

The one figure my mom denied me was a Muhammed Ali boxer figure from Mego. She took one look at it and decided it promoted violence and I couldn't have it. So she bought me a G.I.Joe Eagle Eye with a rifle instead.

[@colinmathura-jeffree9829]

My toy was MEGO 13" wonder woman. I saw it on the adverts when the TV show played. I didnt want a DOLL ...I wanted a favourite Super Hero. Mum and Dad never denied me- I was too shy to ask since it was a Doll. Stupid. I have them all now.

[@alienintoxication09]

my parents only denied me a toy if they didn't have the money at the time....they were pretty cool ...I had a couple friends who's parents wouldn't let them have kiss figures...because of the whole knights or kids in satan's service....but I had some..✌👽

[@BrickMantooth]

I was one of those kids denied KISS.

[@alienintoxication09]

@@BrickMantooth but you have them now...don't you?

[@BrickMantooth]

@@alienintoxication09 Most definitely.

[@Scotty-Z70]

What figure was i denied as a kid? KISS 12" dolls...because she said KISS were Satan-Worshippers. Thankfully, Target sold 8" Mego versions, 2 per time...and slowly i assembled a BETTER version of the KISS figures, 8". I prefer 8" to 12"

[@IlluminovaNibiru]

I leveraged Mom to buy me all the Action Figures I wanted.

[@SkotNealey]

denied? Bullet man costed too much and KISS were too evil looking. Those i wanted as a kid and didn't get.

[@BrickMantooth]

Yeah I got denied KISS too.

[@hauntinghouse]

What’s his doctorate in? Does no shirt, no shoes, no service apply to Dr. Steel? Asking for a friend.

[@BrickMantooth]

He's a chiropractor.

[@hauntinghouse]

Brick Mantooth Well played, sir.

[@robertgriffiths1724]

YMCA🤔

[@ericw8478]

Lucky my mom didn't deny me too much when it came to X-mas present action figures. I had most of the Big Jim series as well as Johnny West, Major Matt Mason, and even Evel Knieval and his stunt bike.