The Six Million Dollar Man was a US television show about a cyborg (bionic man) 'Office of Scientific Intelligence' (OSI).
The show was based on the Martin Caidin's novel Cyborg, and aired on the ABC network as a regular series from 1974 to 1978, following three television movies in 1973. Lee Major played the title role of Steve Austin and subsequently became a pop culture icon of the 1970s.
The first figure was made by Kenner Toys in 1975 and is so stamped on the back of the figure. It came in a box with a flap with drawings of the character in action. The box had a window to show the action figure. He was dressed in his NASA style Red Sweat Suit with red rubber shoes and white socks. Included with the action figure came an engine block which the figure could lift by turning the figures head to the right and depressing the button on his back, which made a cranking noise to represent the bionic action of the arm. Turning the head back to the left released the right arm from action. On this first issue, the figure's left arm is not removable, it doesn't detach from the shoulder as the second and third versions do, so if by any chance you do have one and the left arm can be removed then (unfortunately) you don't have a first issue.
In addition to the title hero, the line featured an impressive rogues gallery: Maskatron, a Westworld-ish looking cyborg who came with a number of familiar faces used to infiltrate OSI; Fembot, a girly version of Maskatron; and Sasquatch (spoiler: he turned out to be as full of circuitry as Steve Austin). For nerdy little completists, there was also an Oscar Goldman, so kids could recreate OSI's bullshit administrative meetings or something, and for their sisters there was a Bionic Woman doll, whose super-hearing was represented by a clicking sound in her neck. The Bionic Woman came with a purse and a hairbrush.
A spin-off of the show was produced called The Bionic Woman.
Basic Figures | Year | |
Bionic Bigfoot | 1975 | |
Command Counsel | 1975 | |
Maskatron | 1975 | |
Oscar Goldman | 1975 | |
Porta Communicator | 1975 | |
Steve Austin (1975 issue) | 1975 | |
Steve Austin (1976 issue) | 1976 | |
Steve Austin (1977 issue - Biosonic) | 1977 | |
Accessories | ||
Back Pack Radio | 1975 | |
Bionic Cycle | 1975 | |
Bionic Mission Vehicle | 1975 | |
Bionic Transport & Repair Station | 1975 | |
Bionic Video Center | 1975 | |
Critical Assignment (Arms) | 1975 | |
Critical Assignment (Legs) | 1975 | |
Dual Luanch Drag Set | 1975 | |
Mission Control Center | 1975 | |
OSI Headquarters | 1975 | |
Tower & Cycle Set | 1975 | |
Venus Space Probe | 1975 | |
Bionic Adventures Set | ||
Mission to Mars | 1975 | |
O.S.I. Undercover Assignment | 1975 | |
Test Flight at 75,000 Feet | 1975 | |
Exclusives | ||
Dr. Kromedome (Montgomery Ward) | 1975 |