TFW2005HisstankTokuNationToyark
The Toyark - News - Welcome to The Toyark!
Tokyo ZeroStar
  • Home
  • News
    • Marvel Toy News
    • DC Toy News
    • Star Wars Toy News
    • Video Game Toy News
    • Dragonball Z Toy News
    • MOTU Toy News
    • San Diego Comic Con
    • Toy Fair
    • All News Categories…
  • JUMP OFF!
    • S.H.F Dragonball Z
    • Toy Fair Round Up
    • NYCC Round Up
    • SDCC Round Up
  • Photo Shoots
  • Forum
    • New Posts
    • News and Rumors
    • Action Figure GD
    • Marvel Forum
    • Customs
    • Fan Art
    • Collection Showcase
    • Buy Sell Trade
  • Companies
    • Tamashii Nations
    • McFarlane
    • Hasbro
    • NECA
    • Mezco
    • Super7
    • Mattel
    • Diamond Select Toys
    • Storm Collectibles
    • Hot Toys
    • Sideshow
  • Characters
    • Spider-Man
    • Iron Man
    • Batman
    • Superman
    • Wolverine
    • Hulk
    • Green Lantern
    • Captain America
    • Boba Fett
  • Scale
    • 3.75 Inch
    • 6 Inch
    • 7 Inch
    • 1/6
  • Sub-Lines
    • SH Figuarts
    • DC Multiverse
    • Marvel Legends
    • Black Series
    • Super7 Ultimates
    • One:12 Collective
    • Vintage Collection
    • Masterverse
    • MOTU Origins
Premium Bandai Dragon Ball
The Toyark › Convention News › Masters of the Universe Origins – Photos and Details for the new Sun-Man by Mattel

Masters of the Universe Origins – Photos and Details for the new Sun-Man by Mattel

Posted on September 11, 2021 at 1:30 pm by Joe Moore under Convention News, Masters Of The Universe Toy News

MOTU Origins Sun Man 012

Mattel has sent over official photos and full details for their upcoming Sun-Man. Originally created by a Yla Eason, a mother looking to have a superhero that her son could relate to, Sun-Man was a 5.5″ tall figure released back in 1986. The figure became part of the Rulers of the Sun toy line from Yla Eason’s Olmec Toys, which included Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American superhero action figures in a completely new story.

The figure is coming to Mattel Creations starting Monday, September 13th. Sun-Man will be priced at $35. The figure includes two interchangeable portraits, swap out hands, removable wings, a shield, and a sword with a flame effect. The packaging for the figure will feature a comic retelling the hero’s origin story. You can see all of the photos, and official details on the creation of the original Sun-Man figure, after the jump.

The Creation of Sun-Man

Sun-Man was created by Yla Eason, a mother driven to provide a positive image for her son.
“I was taken aback when my son came to me and said he couldn’t be a superhero because he wasn’t White. My heart broke and I was enraged at the same time.”, said Eason (1).

So, in 1985, she created Sun Man, a Black American Superhero character for her son and other children like him. Eason saw the need for more relevant Black toys for the underserved Black children at play market.

Soon after, she launched Olmec Toys. (2)

As the first mass market Black superhero toy, Eason made sure that Sun-Man’s super-heroism was grounded in sound character, Black representation, real inclusion, and physical and emotional strength that not only fulfilled a deficit of Black toys for play, but also a toy that reflects the possibilities of greatness for Black children.

In short, Eason’s story is an essential part of the emotional narrative and nostalgic appeal to consumers. Moreover, Sun-Man is not just a Black version of a White toy. It was sculpted to reflect hair with an Afro style, skin tone, facial features, design, accessories, and comic book storyline representing a character of Royal African ancestry (before the Black Panther movie). It has a legacy of empowerment and makes a statement of historical significance, especially to the Black community and to society in general. (The Olmec Toy company that created Sun-Man continued its diversity initiative by also creating positive Hispanic, Asian, and Native American superhero action figures as a part of the Sun-Man, Rulers of the Sun, toy line. The company grew to $5 million in sales). (3)

While researching the influence toys have on children’s perception of themselves and the meaning of toys in early childhood development, Eason had the honor of securing a meeting with Dr. Kenneth Clark, who with his wife, Mamie, was famous for conducting the Black doll study that led to the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision to desegregate public schools. In that study, dolls were used to reveal that segregation caused African American children to have “a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community.4” Dr. Clark helped the visiting mother understand the psychological importance of positive representation in toys and their ability to convey significance in societal roles. He supported her belief that Black boys needed Black superhero toys to see themselves as powerful. He added that his doll study showed that a feeling of inferiority “affects the motivation of a child to learn.”

After this meeting, Eason understood the inherent indoctrination toys can have especially when they diminish Black children’s social status, significance, and worth. Eason analyzed the growing demographic trend represented by African American children, examined the spending power this target audience represented, and decided a viable market existed.

1 https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1986-10-28-0270020169-story.html
2 https://blackdollcollecting.blogspot.com/2010/02/moments-in-black-doll-history-easons.html#:~:text=Olmec%20Toys%20was%20founded%20in,the%20underserved%20African%20American%20demographics.&text=As%20an%20inclusive%20toy%20manufacturer,from%201985%20through%20approximately%20199
3 https://store.hbr.org/product/yla-eason-a/996054?sku=996054-PDF-ENG / The company’s product line expanded to include Black and Latino fashion dolls – Imani, Black, Latino, and Asian baby dolls and toddler dolls including the Hip Hop Kids, pre-school dolls, and pre-school activity toys- Kids of Color – introduced through Hasbro’s Playskool line, a Black military ‘GI Joe-like’ action figure line – the Bronze Bombers, licensed historic toys –Our Powerful Past including the Martin Luther King and Malcolm X collectible figures, and games – Black By Design. 4 U.S. Reports: Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)”. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2020-04-29

Discuss on the Toyark Forums› Views: 6935

› Companies: Mattel › Characters: Sun-Man › Scale: 5 Inch › Sub-Line: MOTU Origins

Masters of the Universe Origins – Photos and Details for the new Sun-Man by Mattel - Additional Images

MOTU Origins Sun Man 001
MOTU Origins Sun Man 001
MOTU Origins Sun Man 002
MOTU Origins Sun Man 002
MOTU Origins Sun Man 003
MOTU Origins Sun Man 003
MOTU Origins Sun Man 004
MOTU Origins Sun Man 004
MOTU Origins Sun Man 005
MOTU Origins Sun Man 005
MOTU Origins Sun Man 006
MOTU Origins Sun Man 006
MOTU Origins Sun Man 007
MOTU Origins Sun Man 007
MOTU Origins Sun Man 008
MOTU Origins Sun Man 008
MOTU Origins Sun Man 009
MOTU Origins Sun Man 009
MOTU Origins Sun Man 010
MOTU Origins Sun Man 010
MOTU Origins Sun Man 011
MOTU Origins Sun Man 011
MOTU Origins Sun Man 012
MOTU Origins Sun Man 012
MOTU Origins Sun Man 013
MOTU Origins Sun Man 013
MOTU Origins Sun Man 014
MOTU Origins Sun Man 014
MOTU Origins Sun Man 015
MOTU Origins Sun Man 015
MOTU Origins Sun Man 016
MOTU Origins Sun Man 016
MOTU Origins Sun Man 017
MOTU Origins Sun Man 017
MOTU Origins Sun Man 018
MOTU Origins Sun Man 018
MOTU Origins Sun Man 019
MOTU Origins Sun Man 019
MOTU Origins Sun Man 020
MOTU Origins Sun Man 020
MOTU Origins Sun Man 021
MOTU Origins Sun Man 021
MOTU Origins Sun Man 022
MOTU Origins Sun Man 022
MOTU Origins Sun Man 023
MOTU Origins Sun Man 023

Discussion / Comments (Jump to this Thread on the Forum)

  1. Tony_Bacala's Avatar Tony_Bacala says

    09-11-2021, 10:42 AM

    News story

  2. RamenRider's Avatar RamenRider says

    09-11-2021, 11:13 AM

    Wait, Mattel Creations? Aren’t their retail listings for this guy already, by which he was leaked? Is this an early bird fancy packaging kinda deal?

    EDIT: Nevermind!

  3. 80sforged's Avatar 80sforged says

    09-11-2021, 11:25 AM

    Hope this sells well, as I would like to see a Masterverse or dare I dream a Classics version.

  4. ludovicotek's Avatar ludovicotek says

    09-11-2021, 11:41 AM

    Very cool. I sincerely hope a significant portion of the profits go to the creator or their family.

  5. deecee4's Avatar deecee4 says

    09-11-2021, 11:46 AM

    That's cool. I remember seeing ads for him in the comic books and even finding the figure at toysrus once, when I was a kid.

  6. Mumble-bee has no avatar! Mumble-bee says

    09-11-2021, 11:53 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by RamenRider View Post
    Wait, Mattel Creations? Aren’t their retail listings for this guy already, by which he was leaked? Is this an early bird fancy packaging kinda deal?

    EDIT: Nevermind!

    oh good. I'll wait for the regular release then.

  7. themadbubbler has no avatar! themadbubbler says

    09-11-2021, 12:38 PM

    I wonder if the retail release will have the flattop-style hair, like the later releases of the vintage figure- that would be pretty great. Hopefully Mattel Creations will have plenty of this figure available.

  8. Jester's Avatar Jester says

    09-11-2021, 03:10 PM

    Cool to see Mattel bringing some of the classic He-Man knockoffs from back in the day into Origins. I wonder what the chances are of an Origins "Lost World of the Warlord" expansion?

  9. Harbinger's Avatar Harbinger says

    09-11-2021, 03:30 PM

    I hope that we get sun man in the masterverse line along with wundar

  10. WallySparks has no avatar! WallySparks says

    09-11-2021, 04:36 PM

    Sun-Man figure looks weird to be something for Masters of the Universe.

    Looks more like an action figure for the old Eric Warlord action figure line

  11. GMANIFESS has no avatar! GMANIFESS says

    09-12-2021, 04:57 AM

    Very cool. The aftermarket prices for the original SUN MAN is insane. This should sell very well.

  12. WallySparks has no avatar! WallySparks says

    09-12-2021, 09:53 AM

    Sorry but the Sun-Man figures looks weird. Like I said, it looks more like something from the old Eric Warlord action figure series from backk then in the 1980s

  13. Stylebell8 has no avatar! Stylebell8 says

    09-19-2021, 10:28 AM

    If anyone is saying hey I’ll just get the retail version…it’s not gonna have the extra head and shiny metallic armor

  14. deecee4's Avatar deecee4 says

    09-19-2021, 11:47 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by WallySparks View Post
    Sorry but the Sun-Man figures looks weird. Like I said, it looks more like something from the old Eric Warlord action figure series from backk then in the 1980s
    Sun man originally came out in the 80s so it's from the same general time period as the Remco Warlord figures...which I'm gonna assume you meant since there was no such thing as eric warlord figure line.

  15. Leave your reply on the Toyark Forums.

    Full Thread: Masters of the Universe Origins Sun-Man

    Not a member yet? Join Toyark Now!

Join the Conversation! › Masters of the Universe Origins – Photos and Details for the new Sun-Man by Mattel Discussion

Premium Bandai

Search

Hot on Amazon

Marvel Legends Series War Machine 6-inch Action Figure Iron Man Toy, 6 Accessories Marvel Legends Series War Machine 6-inch Action... $24.99
McFarlane Toys - DC Direct 7IN Figure with Comic - Black ADAM WV1 - Black ADAM McFarlane Toys - DC Direct 7IN Figure with Comic -... $24.99
McFarlane Toys - DC Direct 7IN Figure with Comic - Black ADAM WV1 - John Constantine McFarlane Toys - DC Direct 7IN Figure with Comic -... $24.99
G.I. Joe Classified Series Zarana Action Figure 48 Collectible Premium Toys with Multiple Accessories 6-Inch-Scale with Custom Package Art G.I. Joe Classified Series Zarana Action Figure 48... $24.99
G.I. Joe Classified Series Dusty Action Figure 49 Collectible Premium Toys with Multiple Accessories 6-Inch-Scale with Custom Package Art G.I. Joe Classified Series Dusty Action Figure 49... $24.99
McFarlane Toys - DC Build-A 7IN Figures WV8 - Blackest Night - Kyle Rayner McFarlane Toys - DC Build-A 7IN Figures WV8 -... $24.99
McFarlane Toys - DC Build-A 7IN Figures WV8 - Blackest Night - Batman McFarlane Toys - DC Build-A 7IN Figures WV8 -... $24.99
McFarlane Toys - DC Build-A 7IN Figures WV8 - Blackest Night - DEATHSTORM McFarlane Toys - DC Build-A 7IN Figures WV8 -... $24.99
McFarlane Toys - DC Build-A 7IN Figures WV8 - Blackest Night - Superman McFarlane Toys - DC Build-A 7IN Figures WV8 -... $24.99
Marvel Legends Series Black Panther Legacy Collection Black Panther 6-inch Action Figure Collectible Toy, 3 Accessories Marvel Legends Series Black Panther Legacy... $24.99
Marvel Legends Series Black Panther Legacy Collection Killmonger 6-inch Action Figure Collectible Toy, 5 Accessories Marvel Legends Series Black Panther Legacy... $24.99
McFarlane Toys - Mortal Kombat 7IN Figures - Commando Spawn McFarlane Toys - Mortal Kombat 7IN Figures -... $19.99
McFarlane Toys Spawn Action Figures Deluxe Box Set McFarlane Toys Spawn Action Figures Deluxe Box Set $39.96
DC Multiverse Batman (Rebirth) 7' Action Figure with Accessories DC Multiverse Batman (Rebirth) 7" Action Figure... $19.87
Tamashii Nations - The Batman - Batman (The Batman), Bandai Spirits S.H.Figuarts Action Figure Tamashii Nations - The Batman - Batman (The... $90.00
Tamashi Nations - Star Wars: The Mandalorian - Ronin Mandalorian & Grougu (Beskar Armor), Bandai Spirits MEISHO Movie Realization Tamashi Nations - Star Wars: The Mandalorian -... $157.96
SH Figuarts Dragon Ball Reference Guide
Extreme Sets Dioramas
San Diego Comic Con
New York Toy Fair
Beasts of the Mesozoic

Cool Stuff Around Toyark

NECA Galleries
Black Series Galleries
SHF Dragon Ball Galleries
One:12 Galleries
Realization Galleries
MOTU Galleries
DC Galleries
Marvel Galleries
Marvel Legends
Marvel One:12 Collective
Marvel S.H. Figuarts
Marvel Hot Toys
Star Wars Black Series
Star Wars 3.75
Star Wars Hot Toys
S.H. Figuarts
One:12 Collective
DC Comics Multiverse
Vitruvian H.A.C.K.S.
Mythic Legions
Robo Force
Hobby Link Japan

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 8:05 AM.