The Man From Atlantis and Scuba Squad

## The Man From Atlantis/Scuba Squad

The logos for both Kenner’s failed Man From Atlantis and Scuba Squad toylines. Note how even the shape that wraps itself around each logo looks familiar.

## Collectible Information

### Status

Found (3” 3/4 Dr. Schubert model and concept art for vehicles & aliens)Lost (The Cetacean submarine playset and 12” Mark Harris)Existence Unconfirmed (3” 3/4 Mark Harris)

### Location

Dr. Schubert, along with a test shot of the 12” Mark Harris figure and concept art of vehicles & aliens, is in possession of Chris Georgoulias

## Product Information

### Year(s)

1977-1978

MEGO, as we all know, once said no to the *Star Wars* license and vowed to do a potential toyline based off the show *Dallas*; which starred Patrick Duffy. Kenner, on the other hand, who needs no further introduction on how game-changing their *Star Wars* figures were, came very close to making toys for another 1970's show that also happened to star the Duff: *The Man From Atlantis*. Once that series sank like the actual Atlantis, Kenner tried to keep one aspect of their batched toyline afloat by reincorporating it in an original toyline based on scuba diving; which also drowned to no avail.

## **Summary**

*The Man From Atlantis* was an American science fiction television series that ran from 1977 to 1978 and had 13 episodes, each based off four consecutive TV films. The premise of the series followed an amnesiac man named Mark Harris (Patrick Duffy) who was believed to be the only survivor of the lost city of Atlantis, as he possesses extraordinary powers like being able to breathe underwater, withstand extreme depth pressures, and raw superhuman strength. He has webbed hands and feet, light-sensitive eyes, and swims with his arms & legs in the fashion of an underwater butterfly stroke and/or dolphin kick. He is then discovered by the Foundation for Oceanic Research, a governmental agency that conducts top secret research and explores the depths of the ocean in their submarine known as the Cetacean. The show met negative reviews on its “lack of adult appeal” and “thinner-than-water plotlines,” but noted that younger audiences would get a kick of it.

## **The Toyline**

Around June to September 1977, Patrick Duffy and the show's production company, Solow Production Company; which was spun from the live action arm of Hanna Barbera Animation, travelled to Cincinatti, Ohio to meet local company Kenner where they negotiated a line of toys based on the upcoming *Man From Atlantis* series that was set to premiere in the fall season. Kenner was more than thrilled to take up the job offer and production on the new toyline kicked into high gear.  Much like their *Six Million Dollar Man* line, Kenner wanted to split their MFA figures into two different sizes: 3" 3/4 and 12". The quarter scale figures would've incclude Mark Harris and his nemesis Mr. Schubert (played by Mr. Schubert; best known as King Tut from the 1966 *Batman* series). The 12' figure line would've had just one 1:6 figure of Harris in yellow swim trunks and was an unapologetic recycling of the 12" Steve Austin as the robotic right-eye can still be seen on the prototype (granted, it was just a mock-up and the final product, had it been released, could've been different, but still). The centrepiece of the line would've been a playset vehicle based off the Cetacean submarine with accessorized features like spheres with rotatable deck knobs that allow child access to interior chambers, a conning tower/periscope, rotating prop with “pinging” sonar sound via a drive wheel in the fourth sphere, claw that fits over the nose and operates from first inside sphere, claw storage on deck ring, decompression chamber (with disappearing milk) that also fits over nose and rotates to fill/empty the chamber that can be stored on deck, and included figures of “Man From Atlantis” and Dr. Elizabeth Merrill (played by Belinda J. Montgomery). Concept artist Steve Hodges also drew up additional ideas for the toyline like 3" 3/4 figures of aquatic aliens that would've came with each playset, an effort to make the show more toyetic like when MEGO added kid-friendly monsters to their *Star Trek* series; diving ships, and the Undersea Explorer vehicle, which Hodges based on vehicles he made for Mega Micronauts. Other products Kenner had planned include a Dip Dots Painting Design book featuring Harris swimming with a dolphin, and a 3D See-A-Show Viewer; which was basically Kenner' unashamed attempt to cash in on the Viewmaster.

## **A Second Chance?**

After *The Man From Atlantis* was cancelled due to high production costs and a declining audience, Kenner decided to quietly shelve what they had planned, yet was looking for ways to make leftovers of what was already made. In their last-ditch effort, they pitche "Scuba Squad": a series of toys and plaYsets that came with action figures of deep-sea scuba divers. Catalogs that were issued in the late 1970's showed prototypes of products they had planned like the Aqua Sled, Deep Sea Retrieval featuring a dolphin and Probe, and Quest for the Giant Squid which came with the undersea Manta Snare vehicle. The more interesting set to be featured was the Scuba Squad Cetacean Sub which is not only the same mold and features as the one from the planned *Man From Atlantis* toyline, but still had the name "Cetacean" attached to it. Unsurprisingly though, while no real reason has ever been given, it seems that Scuba Squad was never released.  It may have been due to low interest and Kenner needing to focus on some of their more bigger lines like *Star Wars*.

## **Final Verdict**

Chris Georgoulias of the Star Wars Collectors Archive owns the original prototype for the 3" 3/4 Dr. Schubert action figure, along with a test shot of the 12" Mark Harris and an order sheet for the Cetacean sub playset;  though the original models for those products themselves, along with the quarter-scale Harris, Scuba Squad playsets, and the other Kenner products (Dip Dots, See-A-Show); have yet to resurface. Concept art by Steve Hodges for the miniature aliens and extra vehicles is available online, though those specific products never made it to the model stage. Kenner's toyline for *The Man From Atlantis* is as much of a mystery as the submerged island the show was based off and to this day, remains: **PARTIALLY LOST.**

## **Gallery**

The 12" Mark Harris prototype that used the same mold as Kenner's one-scale Steve Austin.The prototype for the 3" 3/4 Dr. Schubert action figureConcept art by Steve Hodges for alien figures that were planned to appear in playsetsConcept art by Steve Hodges for minaiture submarines in the toylineConcept art by Steve Hodges for the Underwater ExplorerAn order sheet filed by Kenner for the Cetacean submarine in their Man From Atlantis that mentions an action figure of MFA and Dr. MerrillConcept art by Steve Hodges for alien figures that were planned to appear in playsetsA toy catalog advertisement for a Kenner coloring book based on the showA toy catalog advertisement for a Kenner See-A-Show 3D toy based on the showA toy catalog ad showing an assortment of nautical sets planned for Scuba SquadThe Cetacean submarine playset shown in a toy catalog advertisement for the repurposed Scuba Squad toyline

## **References**

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man\_from\_Atlantis
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFjX-O0q3c4
3. ↑ http://www.plaidstallions.com/kenner/bionic.html
4. ↑ http://www.plaidstallions.com/kenner/manfromatlantis.html
5. ↑ http://www.plaidstallions.com/manfromatlantis.html