Review – Six Million Dollar Man Bionic Bigfoot Retro Action Figure
The Funko ReAction Figures series (Amazon.com search*) isn’t our only modern choice for vintage, Kenner-style action figures. Zica Toys’ Six Million Dollar Man 3.75-inch scale retro action figures (at Entertainment Earth*) are another option when you need your vintage toys today, and now it’s time we see how the Bionic Bigfoot stands up when it comes time to rip him from his packaging.
Packaging
Very nicely done. The Zica Toys Six Million Dollar Man action figures come on vintage-styled cards that have more in common with the Kenner Six Million Dollar Man toys of the seventies than they do the old Star Wars packages. That is just fine with me, since it gives the toys a look of their own while still feeling like retro pieces. And that original card artwork is perfect, since it both updates the series while keeping that seventies feel.
Kenner Style!
As you can see, the Bionic Bigfoot sculpt works perfectly in its attempt to emulate the Kenner action figures of the late seventies and early eighties. Even as a kid I always compared this character to Chewbacca, and seeing the Zica version at this size just reinforces the belief that the two characters should star in their own comic book or animated adventure. Just look at the toy and tell me I’m wrong. I dare you!
Articulation
If there’s one place that the Zica Toys’ Six Million Dollar Man 3.75-inch scale retro action figures (at Entertainment Earth*) kinda fall down in their Kennerness it’s the addition of knee joints. Other than those, the Bionic Bigfoot’s articulation perfectly matches the vintage Chewbacca action figure, with swivel hips and shoulders . . . and no neck articulation! Hey, back in my day our Chewbacca action figures had to turn their entire bodies to look both ways before crossing the street.
It is unfair of me to even consider downchecking the toy a notch or two only because it has knee joints, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to being a little disappointed when I noticed the toy can actually bend its knees and sit down. I know expecting a slavish dedication to the Star Wars action figures of the seventies and eighties is stupid on my part, but I believe the Bionic Bigfoot is just a little less charming than it would have been without the joints.
Paint
As you can tell by the pics — you did click on each pic for a larger view, right? — paint apps aren’t exactly the most detailed. Which is as Kenner intended it! The toy’s brown plastic handles most of the color, with minor paint apps on the face. The level of paint detail isn’t what anyone is expecting from their action figures these days, but for a retro-styled line I think the paint on these Zica Toys Six Million Dollar Man 3.75-inch scale retro action figures (at Entertainment Earth*) are just fine.
Closing Thoughts
You’re either loving the recent vintage approach to action figures or hating it, and it’s your own preferences that should guide your purchases. Personally, I’m a fan of both the Funko ReAction Figures series (Amazon.com search*) and Zica Toys Six Million Dollar Man 3.75-inch scale retro action figures (at Entertainment Earth*), but that probably has more to do with memories of childhood than it does any objective reasoning on my part.
The Six Million Dollar Man Bionic Bigfoot retro action figure is almost perfect in my eyes — damn you, knee joints! — and I’m looking forward to seeing just how far this entire Kenner-like approach to action figures will take us over the next year or so. I am expecting a huge wave of excitement, followed by a crash, but for now I’ll sit back happy knowing that toy makers are revisiting the past and bringing all of us some fun, unexpected toys.
These Six Million Dollar Man figures and cards do look amazing, but I’ve been on the fence with these figures for only one reason — the $20 price tag per figure. The ReAnimation figures are priced at $10, which makes them much more acceptable as an impulse buy. Did that extra knee joint bump the price that much? I’m with you, and would rather those joints weren’t there at all.
@Brian (Cool and Collected) – I suspect the knee joints added a little, but the bigger reason for the price difference is probably size of the two companies involved. Funko’s bigger than I think a lot of people realize.
But the Indiana Jones line had knee joints! Even Fisher Price Racing Team had to one part knee joints – – but yeah, well, these are 80ies toys, whereas 6MM is pure 70ies… buuut you’re right, the knee joints are totally misplaced since they belong to the O-ring 3 3/4 inchers.
But still i got an itch for the Big Foot and wanting to put him on some silly yellow Kaneda style bike like the old toy (the arms should bend! haha)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/10incher/bigfoot_cycle.jpg
@Ralph – Bah! Facts! Bah!!! Kenner five points or nothing! 🙂
This site actually stops me from buying action figures. I’ll never need to buy a Bionic Bigfoot (or a Dewback for that matter), because I now have the image of them paired together in my mind.
@ShenaniTims – But think of all of the combinations I didn’t share. Bionic Bigfoot hanging with Hammerhead. Bionic Bigfoot in a Mini-Rig. Bionic Bigfoot fighting the Rancor.