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

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