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BASA El Hombre Nuclear . . .The Peruvian Six Million Dollar Man
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In the wild and wonderful world of vintage toy collecting, a steadfast and vigilant collector could (with enough years of active hunting) end up finding even the hard-to-find figures a few times over. But nothing else in this hobby can replace the thrill of a new discovery. Certainly, each new “find” is unique in its own right, but this one really stands out.
In 2007, WorldMEGO collectors discovered that BASA, a Peruvian toy company, released an 8-inch line of DC Comics Super Heroes as contemporaries to MEGO. The BASA figures had articulated bodies, vinyl heads and cloth outfits. Their likeness to MEGO World’s Greatest Super Heroes was uncanny. With MEGO’s initial release occurring around 1973, finding their South American counterparts 34 years later was like the geek equivalent of finding the Lost Ark. Each collector waited with intense anticipation as each BASA Super Hero showed up. First there was Superman. Then, Batman showed up on the scene. Many months later, Robin decided to finally show. It was a great trio for collectors and many were anxiously waiting for more and wondering if we would ever see some original BASA packaging.
2008 came and went with no new BASA characters emerging from the cracks of the earth. 2009 and still nothing. We assumed by this time that the complete offering was already out there. It was an exciting time and we were more than satisfied to see three great WorldMEGO DC Super Heroes. Some were still hunting to complete their trio. Others even managed to find some doubles, believe it or not. There was a great sense of contentment and satisfaction.
Then something happened that none of us expected. The WorldMEGO skies parted and this picture shone down:
Wow and WOW!!!! There was a collective gasp among Mego collectors around the world. Are you freakin’ kidding me? An eight-inch MEGO-esque Six Million Dollar Man and Lex Luthor?? 30+ years of MEGO collector prayers had instantaneously been answered from somewhere up and beyond the vinyl factories. It was an inspirational moment. This WorldMEGO blog probably began that day. All that is exciting about MEGO, BASA, Lili Ledy and all sorts of WorldMEGO collecting had come together with that one BASA lineup photo (sans Batman). And then, of course, once again, and with some SERIOUSLY renewed enthusiasm, the hunt was ON!!!
In early 2009, this exact specimen of BASA's El Hombre Nuclear (The Nuclear Man) was found. Bryan recalls working on some international trades when the seller mentioned another toy he would sell. And that is what you see here. Just "another toy" -- AAAAHHHH!!!! And just look at his left eye, it sure looks bionic.
It's hard to mistake that this is a Lee Majors Six Million Dollar Man figure. The head sculpt is very unique with the signature Lee Majors eyebrow lift. Still, some have likened the sculpt to Marlon Brando. However, the HUGE picture on Nuclear Man's shirt proves otherwise. Here's a puzzle: Could the head sculpt first belong to the mysterious (and unlocated) Lex Luthor figure, but really as Jor-El? Marlon Brando plays Jor-El in Christopher Reeves' "Superman." We think BASA released these figures near the time of that film's release. Leave a comment with your own theories.
Like the fashions of the seventies, the bodysuit is mostly polyester. BASA Steve Austin likely developed a massive case of static cling when traveling at nuclear bionic high speed.
Make sure you have authentic BASA boots on your Hombre when you find him. Look here at our Work-In-Progress WorldMEGO Accessory Check to see a closeup of his boot. It is (so far) most often found with three ridges, though a couple with two ridges have also been spotted: http://worldmego.com/WMAC/Pages/82.html
Even if you aren’t a vintage packaging collector, you will likely still get a thrill out of these original boxed shots of BASA El Hombre Nuclear. The action graphics really kick and the choice of color is a striking contrast against Steve’s red attire. At this time, there are only four known examples of this toy in his original box.
The following two video clips provide alternate views of the typical USA kid’s experience when he turned on his favorite show. There is some fantastic editing on these. Man, “El Hombre Nuclear” is so cool!
Dig those seventies melodies, Dusty Springfield really nailed the Glen Larson theme song.
It’s baffling how this eight-inch MEGO from Peru has been hidden for so long. This item appeals to so many different groups of collectors. Peru is obviously a great place to hide things. Please let us know if you have any more information. And if you ever find BASA Lex Luthor/Jor-El, then we will hand deliver a basket of freshly baked homemade blueberry muffins to your door.
Below, we hope you will enjoy reading the complete first issue of “El Hombre Nuclear,” a comic book originally produced in Colombia and sold also in Ecuador & Venezuela.
Click to enlarge the first photo of the cover and then you can navigate through from there. Go, Nuclear Man, Go!
Awesome!!!…..what a find! Now i just need to find superman,batman,and robin…i currently own No basas…
I believe firmly that BASA scaled down a Marlon Brando as JorEl head sculpt and decided it could pass for Lee Majors with the “right” paint job. Why they didn’t paint his hair is anybody’s guess.
Thanks for stopping by! You have a cool website. Just been over there pokin’ around.
About the Brando BASA Jor-EL Lee Majors discussion, do you know of any other head sculpts that get close to Marlon Brando/Jor-El and could have been used as a model? The eyebrow seems to suggest the USA Kenner Lee Majors, but perhaps there are more influences. The choice about the hair is interesting indeed. It is slightly yellow tinged, but not a full paint job, no.
You know, when I wrote that, I hadn’t gone back to look at the 12″ Jor-El I assumed the sculpt was scaled-down from. I’d compare it to Kenner’s Six Million $ Man sculpt, but I sold all of mine last year. Weird. Maybe it’s just the painted lips and lack of a tan that makes it look like Brando to me…
Maybe it looks more like Bill Murray playing Brando playing Jor-El?
Dang it! I could be Lee Majors scaled down! Now that I look at the left eye, it seems to be lacking in sculpting, like someone filled in the hole for the see-thru lens.
Perfect for that custom Mego Heath Barkley!
I’ve changed my mind. Sorry, I’m no help at all
Thanks for visiting my blog, though!
Oh! I found a good photo on the net of the Steve Austin head sculpt! I did a side-by side and BASA totally used Kenner’s head. got a little distorted in the scale-down and also lost some detail, crow’s feet, chin dimple, etc- at least as far as I can tell from your photo of the BASA figure. E-mail me and I’ll send you the side-by side comparison.
Aaron
HI to all,
I’m from Peru and I played with these toys, is incredible, in that time I noticed the lack of quality of these MEgo copies, because my cousins has the Original Megos, I remember very well a Batman, Robin, Superman and the Nuclear man, but I never seen before a Lex luthor/Jor-El.
I think this collection was launched on 1976-1977,now are ultra rare items for collectors, and I played with them.
By the way Great site, I love the Mego toys, huge fan!
Thx
JKC
JKC! Thanks for dropping by! Wow, this is wonderful! You are the first to respond as somebody who actually played with BASA MEGOs back in the original release era. The Lex/Jor-El is possibly a custom, as the only one ever seen was by one Peruvian toy dealer and never by anyone else. 1976-1977 are good years to help us locate more information about BASA. Do you happen to recall if all four characters were released at the same time? The box on El Hombre Nuclear is so different from the three Superheroes that it made us wonder about the release date. Additionally, the lettering on the Hombre box is very similar to some South American El Hombre Nuclear comic magazines that were released closer to 1980, and so we are still speculating and piecing things together.
Thank you for any more you can add to this wonderful mystery!
Do you happen to have any early photographs of you and your toys? We would love to add them to the article and share them with the world!
Come by any time.
Cheers!
Bryan and the Crew