A Sports Hero Is Born
This small eight-page comic offers a fascinating glimpse into the very beginning of the Big Jim universe. In 1971, there was no P.A.C.K., no Dr. Steel and none of the elaborate adventure themes that would later define the line. Big Jim was introduced first and foremost as an exceptional athlete: strong, versatile, confident and ready to take on almost any sporting challenge.

The All-American Sportsman
The opening pages establish the concept immediately. Big Jim is described as being “tops in every sport,” and the comic proceeds to prove it with an almost impossible résumé. Football, basketball and baseball come first, presenting him as a record-breaking college athlete. Hockey follows, along with scuba diving and motor racing, where an impressive collection of trophies reinforces his image as a born champion.

The artwork is particularly revealing. Rather than telling a continuous story, the comic uses dynamic panels resembling contemporary sports advertisements and comic-book action scenes. Big Jim is always shown at the decisive moment: throwing the football, scoring a basket, batting, racing or breaking a board.

From the Stadium to the Great Outdoors
Big Jim’s abilities extend far beyond traditional team sports. Karate, soccer, skiing, fishing, camping and hiking all become part of his world. These pages broaden the character considerably: Big Jim is not simply a professional-style athlete, but an outdoorsman and adventurer as well.

This is an important aspect of the original concept. Mattel could place the same character in almost any environment without changing his identity. A football field, a ski slope, a campsite or a racing circuit were all equally natural settings for Big Jim. The comic therefore acts almost like a catalogue of possible adventures that children could recreate with the figure.

Big Jim and His Equipment
The second half of the booklet moves progressively from character presentation to product presentation. One page introduces the Big Jim Set #4332, listing its gym shorts, dumbbell, karate board, baseball and sports book. Around it appear several of the sports uniforms that were sold separately, including baseball, football, hockey, racing and warm-up outfits.

The following page continues with basketball, soccer and karate, while also giving the Dune Buggy a prominent place. The message is clear: Big Jim is the central character, but his world can be expanded through uniforms, sporting equipment and vehicles.

Even the instructions for dressing the figure become part of the comic. Big Jim himself reminds the reader to put on his socks before pulling the pants over them — a small detail that gives the booklet the dual function of promotional comic and illustrated instruction manual.

A Snapshot of Big Jim in 1971
Seen today, this modest promotional comic is an important document from the earliest period of the line. The final page carries the reference 4332-1110, directly connecting the booklet with the #4332 Big Jim set advertised inside.
It also captures Big Jim before his universe expanded into the more character-driven adventures familiar to later collectors. There are no villains to defeat and no mission to complete. The entire concept revolves around physical action, sport, outdoor life and competition.
In these eight pages, Mattel was not yet building a mythology around Big Jim. It was defining the character himself: athlete, outdoorsman, adventurer — and a man ready for almost any challenge.

“Get in the Action” with Big Jim
The final page reveals what made the original figure distinctive. Big Jim’s articulated body could be positioned for different sports, projections in his hands helped him hold accessories, and pressing his back activated throwing and pitching movements.
Most importantly, the booklet highlights two signature features of the early Big Jim figure. Pressing his arm made his bicep bulge — the famous “muscle” action — while pressing his back allowed him to perform the karate chop and break the supplied board.
The wording on this page sums up Mattel’s original idea particularly well: “Get in the action with Big Jim.” Big Jim was designed not simply to be posed or displayed, but to perform.

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