#1039 BRAVESTARR – MARSHALL BRAVESTARR (1987)

There is not much I can say about Bravestarr which has not been told already one hundred times. We all know more or less what this toyline (and the corresponding cartoons) is/are about, and which the characters that were made into a figure are.

I do not collect this specific figures, but as I usually get many figures in lots, exchanges, flea markets and so on, I have come through them many times. I have a couple of figures and many accessories, and I decided to keep this one, as 1) is complete, 2) is the main character of the story, also the one that gives name to the series, 3) I have very few figures in this size. As it usually happens, once you have a figure, you want more, and I’d really like to complete Tex Malone/Tex Hex or get more characters for my collection.

And maybe the size is its most interesting feature, as these were completely out of fashion at the time. Mattel was about to discontinue Masters of the Universe and needed something new. G.I. Joe was among the most popular lines of the day, and the Ninja Turtles were about to appear. That is why these figures were so amazing when you saw them in 1987, they were different from everything else. Of course, Action Man came before (and also after), or many other action figures had this size (or even bigger) before, but most children were not aware of this. 

Unfortunately, the toyline didn’t make it very well, and there were not many references made. Probably it was the price, and also the concurrence from the actions figures mentioned above. It was a hard time for new figures, especially being not compatible with the other toylines. However, Mattel did a good work and gave this toys great action features, nice packaging, cool accessories, vehicles and playsets, not to forget that paperwork that imitates a newspaper.

The figures, may look a bit bulky and not so well articulated today, but they are still very cool. They are also very sought after collectables, especially since 5-7 years. Before that, it was common to see them boxed for sale on eBay or similar websites.

In this entry, I am presenting the main character Marshall Bravestarr, a Native American with superpowers when he calls upon the power of spirit animals: the strength of a bear, the eyes of the hawk, the speed of a puma and the ears of a wolf. The figure came in a box with a window and included the following accessories: vest, cowboy hut, rifle, gun (called neutra-laser pistol, that can be attached to his right leg) and two pieces of kerium, the mineral that was extracted in the planet New Texas. The kerium is an energy source and it is one source of conflict between the evil characters and those representing or standing with the law. All characters came with one or two pieces of this transparent red material.

The figure has a button on the back that is used to lift its arm, as if it was a gunfight duel in the Wild West, and is articulated with swivel arm, although there is no hips articulation and the legs’ one could be improved. I took some pictures outside, and I think they are great.

And last but not least, a VHS tape with adventures from was the very first tape I rented on a videoclub, maybe around 1991 or 1992.

FACTS and FIGURES:

• Name: MARSHALL BRAVESTARR
• Toy Line: Bravestarr (Wave 1)
• Year: 1987
• Company: Mattel (U.S.A.)
• Size of the figures: 25 cm approx.