Colouring Book Theatre : Action Jackson
Today’s colouring book is a personal favourite of mine, Mego Action Jackson.
For those not in the know, Action Jackson was Mego’s attempt to muscle into the boy’s market dominated by G.I. Joe with a new character and plenty of TV advertising.
Action Jackson was a sportsman/adventurer/military man who kids just had to think of what they wanted to be and call on him.
AJ sold brightly but not for a long time, Mego went on the superheroes and the rest is history.
My Dad’s company bought a lot of Action Jackson overstock back in the mid seventies, so I was bringing AJ’s to birthday parties up until the late 70’s.
![](https://www.plaidstallions.com//images/aj2.jpg)
The story itself is all over the map, Saalfield tried hard to incorporate all of AJ’s outfits and accessories into this so AJ parachutes in, then goes surfing, takes a dangerous mission, crashes his plain in the jungle. Above he gets stuck in quicksand but is quickly rescued by the Action Jackson helicopter.
After being rescued, AJ goes on a sporting tear, playing football, hockey, baseball (his favourite sport!) and then Karate. When does he sleep? AJ then hops in another plane, which crashes again and he’s rescued by a boat. Which brings me to my favourite page……
What if I told you it was a double page spread! Judging by the extra cups of coffee, I get how AJ gets things done. I guess Saalfield had to stretch a bit. The remainder of the book, AJ has anunderwater adventure, gets stranded in the jungle again, finds mayan treasure, gets trapped and then he straps on his helicopter backpack (something I still want to be able to own for myself) and sails off into the sunset.
Hopefully he goes for a nap.Got a colouring book you’d like to guest review? Drop me a line!
In the first picture, it kind of looks like Action is rescuing a haggard looking GI Joe who has forgotten his army training, and gotten into a pickle of a situation!
He goes barefooted on his one-person copter??? What if he lands on a sharp rock?
Also, love the coffee-and-donut page… lol
At least the art isn’t bad for a coloring book. I’ve seen a lot worse… 😛
I love the exhausted look on his face on the coffee-and-doughnuts page– it speaks volumes.