I'm not much of a doll collector (excuse me "action figure" collector). But there are a few figures I am a sucker for and one is of course Judomaster, the character created by Frank McLaughlin for Charlton Comics which inspired both my "nom de electron" and the name of this here blog.
The Charlton Comics "Action Heroes" were purchased by DC as a present of sorts for then editor Dick Giordano who had overseen their creation (for the most part) while at Charlton.
(Note that neither Nightshade nor Judomaster are mentioned by name on this poster.)
DC was in the midst of the infamous "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and while dusting and ordering the DCU, they decided to add in Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, Nightshade, Peacemaker, Thunderbolt (for a time until they realized Pete Morisi actually owned the rights), and Judomaster. Well, Judomaster was the hardest to fit since his adventures had taken place in WWII alongside his partner Tiger. Possibly it's the costume, which is the Japanese Rising Sun, but for whatever reason Rip Jagger didn't get much play. There was the L.A.W. mini-series which tried to team the heroes up and there were a few efforts to put the Judomaster name on more modern characters but they came to little.
(Nhut Le as Judomaster)
Then Peacemaker got a TV show and who should show up but Judomaster. But not Rip Jagger, WWII veteran and that makes sense since the Peacemaker is a far cry from Pat Boyette's original as well. The "Judomaster" in the TV show was small in stature and wore green. Curious character and interesting enough save for the tag.
He did get a figure. A Funko Pop version.
And then I stumbled across the "Action Figure" above, part of a set featuring Peacemaker and Vigilante (also from the TV show). He's not green and he's not small. This is the classic Judomaster as McLaughlin envisioned him. I'm not aware that this likeness has been done as a toy before. I had to snap the trio up and they rest now on my wall safely ensconced in their original packaging. (Of course.)
Why they made this change (likely lack of communication) but the Dojo approves. Though the irony that it happens in a line dubbed "Super Powers" since the classic Judomaster famously has none.
Rip Off
You''re certainly correct that the use of the classic costume might have been miscommunication. Yet I've seen so many funko editions of characters I would have thought long forgotten that an appeal to nostalgia-customers might also be a possibility. Failing an interview with a funko exec, I guess we'll never know.
ReplyDeleteThere will probably be a "classic" Judomaster from Funko Pop eventually. They might get around to me before it's over.
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