The concept evolved from the earlier American Double Trouble mechanism, but Agent 004 introduced interchangeable disguise masks, carried in his secret-agent case. The first version offered three identities, with later versions expanding the system to six.

This may indicate that the promotional photograph was produced before the final Agent 004 version was available, or simply that Mattel reused an existing Double Trouble figure for the shoot. Either way, the juxtaposition provides a striking visual link between the American Double Trouble concept and its more elaborate European successor.

From Double Trouble
to Agent 004

An interesting detail appears right at the beginning of the 1979 catalogue. The dramatic promotional image uses what appears to be the earlier Double Trouble Big Jim face, while the catalogue page beside it presents the new Big Jim 004 and his interchangeable disguises.

At the same time, Mattel offered characters from completely different adventure worlds: Captain Drake, Captain Hook and Sandokan brought pirates and exotic adventure into the range. Big Jim was no longer tied to a single theme — children could move from classic adventure to secret agents or pirates while using figures from the same 9½-inch world.

Many Lives of Big Jim

The 1979 catalogue shows just how diverse the European Big Jim range had become. The original Big Jim and Big Jack were still available alongside the Talking Big Jim, while older characters such as Dr. Steel remained in the line.

The Western theme had particular importance in Europe. Mattel even developed characters and adventures inspired by the novels of Karl May in response to their enormous popularity in Germany — another example of how Big Jim was increasingly adapted to European tastes rather than following a single international range.

From Sports to the Wild West

The 1979 catalogue demonstrates the extraordinary breadth of the Big Jim range. Alongside numerous sports and adventure outfits, the Wild West remained strongly represented, with characters such as Dakota Joe, Geronimo, Buffalo Bill, Bisonte Nero and Fresca Rugiada.

The camper and tent complete this idea on a larger scale: rather than belonging to one specific storyline, they provided a neutral base from which almost any Big Jim adventure could begin. Curiously, the catalogue photograph does not highlight the zip line, even though it was included with the Big Jim Tent and was arguably the set’s most original action feature. Instead, Mattel chose to focus almost entirely on the more conventional camping equipment.

Equipped for Every Adventure

By 1979, Big Jim had accumulated an impressive arsenal of equipment. These accessory assortments supplied everything from diving and photography gear to weapons, tools, camping equipment and sporting accessories, allowing older figures to be continually reinvented for new adventures.

Even the smaller sets were designed around action rather than simple costume changes: the diving equipment provided an inflatable boat and underwater gear, while the parachute was designed to function for real, allowing Big Jim to descend after being thrown into the air.

These pages show how far Big Jim’s adventure equipment had evolved by 1979. The helicopter could carry a rescue basket beneath its fuselage, while the heavily equipped off-road vehicle combined a winch, ladder, tools, fire-fighting equipment and other accessories for rescue missions.

There was little attempt to keep Big Jim within one coherent universe. Instead, Mattel offered a collection of ready-made adventures that could coexist — a freedom that had become one of the defining characteristics of the European range.

Few pages illustrate the extraordinary variety of Big Jim in 1979 better than these. Within a single catalogue spread, the range moves from a North Pole expedition and tiger hunt to alpine rescue, pirates, motocross and Western adventure.

The transition could hardly be more dramatic: horses and covered wagons on one page, aliens and rocket launchers on the next. By this point, virtually no setting was beyond the Big Jim universe.

These facing pages perfectly illustrate the freedom — and growing diversity — of Big Jim’s world in 1979. On one side, Fulmine and the Far West wagon belong to a traditional Western adventure; on the other, Big Jim confronts a giant Tentaculus before heading into space with the Space Robot equipment.

From P.A.C.K. to Agent 004

The LazerVette had already served the American P.A.C.K., but by 1979 Mattel had given it a new life in Europe. Recoloured in red, it became Big Jim’s armed sports car, retaining its hidden weapon beneath the hood while fitting perfectly into the new Agent 004 world.

The Sea Jet follows the same secret-agent spirit in a particularly imaginative way: its motorized boat conceals a detachable miniature submarine, which Big Jim can actually ride for underwater missions.

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Real heroes always live great adventures.

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