Packaging: Rounded box with a panoramic view of James Dean (1931-1955) with a background of a bricked street. Can you believe that James Dean has already been dead for more than fifty years? On the back of the box are pictures of the "Rebel Rouser" and "City Streets," which are other James Dean figures in this DSI series. I like this headsculpt better than the one Mattel used for their James Dean, American Legends series.
History: These figures were issued in 1994 by a company called DSI, and they seem to use a headsculpt of a James Dean who has a 1950s wholesome look. This figure is still available on e-bay and other sources, and the headsculpt is closer to the 1950s look than the one Mattel did in 1999. Just like the picture of James Dean which is on the back of the box of the Mattel version (1999); the picture of the real James Dean on this 1994 box shows a guy who looks very angry and brooding. Unfortunately, none of the James Dean figures has ever tried to capture that "mean streets" look that helped to make James Dean a Hollywood legend. They all seem to be aiming for the Barbie collectors and not the GI Joe action figure collectors.
Figure: The figure is similar to a Ken doll, but it has an SLU or Action Man type of neck-post. I transferred the head onto an Action Man body, and it fit perfectly on the Action Man body (but not on a GI Joe neckpost).
Outfit: A very nice sweater, pants, socks and shoes. The outfit is extremely well tailored. If James Dean had lived longer, he may have been playing John Travolta's father in Saturday Night Fever! The outfit would have fit in with a "college campus" look, a "sock-hop" or just about any other occasion where youths would be congregating!
Market: This figure is usually available on the internet, including e-bay and yahoo auctions. The price excluding shipping can vary from $10-$25.
Overall: I put this James Dean headsculpt on an Action Man body. Even though the skin tone does not match perfectly, the figure looks much better. Once JD is in a Navy Seal outfit, he should look awesome. Sorry JD, no sock-hops for you.
Grade: A
