SUMMARY:
Fisto, the "heroic hand-to-hand fighter" was produced in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Argentina, France, India, Mexico (Aurimat), and Spain. With his giant, spring-loaded fist, he smashes evil! This figure comes with removable armor, broadsword, and has twisting punch action.
The Hong Kong figure is characterized by its light-silver fist, dark purple belt, and armor color, brown to reddish-brown hair, and dark to bright purple boots. The head can be soft, or it can be semi-hard rubber.
The figure can be marked © Mattel. Inc. 1983 HONG KONG or © Mattel. Inc. 1983, the armor marked © Mattel. Inc. 1983, and the sword is unmarked except for its SKU numbers (7015-2259). Since the figure was made in 2 different places (Hong Kong and China), you will see lots of variances from one figure to the next.
Both the belt and the boot colors have a tendency to change. For example, you can find a Hong Kong marked Fisto with dark purple, glossy finish boots. Another can have lighter purple boots, also with a gloss finish. A third can have mid-dark purple boots, in a matte finish.
The bodies can have a matte or a glossy finish. The leg molds change as well. In some figures, the injection point is right above the boots. On others, the injection point is over the fur line of the boots. These injection point variances are not exclusive to either a Hong Kong marked, or an unmarked figure. You can find this change on both. Some figures have the SKU engraved on the inner leg, while others don't.
A note about the Katana sword… For years, the Hong Kong Fisto has been reported to have been found on occasion with a Hong Kong-marked dark Katana. Typically, it has been found in Europe. It's difficult to 100% verify the legitimacy of this weapon, as there haven’t been any MOCs found with it. The sword is a high quality, soft plastic, and does not appear to be a bootleg. I would lean towards it being authentic, but would want to see more examples before I say for sure. For now, it's a mystery.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Brown to reddish-brown hair
2. Light silver fist
3. Dark purple belt and armor color
4. Bright to dark purple boots
MARKED: © Mattel. Inc. 1983 HONG KONG or © Mattel. Inc. 1983 (no COO)
ARMOR MARKED: © Mattel. Inc. 1983 (7015-2049 Front, 7015-2059 Back)
SWORD: 7015-2259 (No country markings)
MAIN MOLD VARIANTS:
1. Figure marked HONG KONG
2. Figure with no COO marking
