The BCA Line

This coming Saturday marks 16 years since Owen Hart died.

I can't help but to think of the last BCA figure that was ever made of him, the one and only Blue Blazer from DTA Tour Series 2.

I'm sure it's been discussed before, but I would like to focus on this one assortment over the next few days. I'll have something special written up for the anniversary on the 23rd, but first I'd like to start by posting MOC and loose pictures that I took of the figures in 2009, as well as sharing links to my reviews of all six figures.

Here is my review of the DTA Tour Series 2 Blue Blazer figure: jakksbca.blogspot.com/2009/05/figure-review-2-dta-tour-series-2-blue.html

Here is my review of the other five figures from DTA Tour Series 2: jakksbca.blogspot.com/2009/06/mini-review-1-rest-of-dta-tour-series-2.html

By all accounts, this series was released exclusively to Wal-Mart stores in late April/early May 1999. Each figure only cost $4.96 in stores.

DTA Series 2, also known as D.T.A. Tour Series 2 or Don't Trust Anybody Tour Series 2, was named after one of Stone Cold's infamous catchphrases.

The assortment number for this set is 84450, and it consists of: Al Snow (and Head), Steve Blackman, Blue Blazer, Undertaker, "Double J" Jeff Jarrett, and Edge.








Steve Blackman – Item Number: 84451 (Includes Body-Bashin’ Ladder)



Blue Blazer – Item Number: 84452 (Includes Whammin’ Wrench & Blue Blazer Cape)





“Double J” Jeff Jarrett – Item Number: 84453 (Includes Back-Slammin’ Guitar & Slop Bucket)




Edge – Item Number: 84454 (Includes: Chair & Head-Crackin’ Crate)




Undertaker – Item Number: 84455 (Includes Mallet, Slammin’ Shovel & Sledgehammer)




Al Snow (and Head) – Item Number: 84456 (Includes Head & Crushable Trashcan)



I'll have more to share tomorrow. Until then, feel free to share your thoughts on DTA Tour Series 2, or anything BCA related for that matter.

Great series. I don't know if u remember. But before the series was out RSC had a special pre order of al snow w a signature and they were numbered. I still have my two I ordered back in 99. I got the whole set and obviously the Owen thing impacted it. Regardless the blue blazer figure is incredible and an overall stellar set.

I do remember those, or at least I think I do if you're referring to the Fully Loaded Series 1 Al Snow figures that were autographed and individually numbered.

Here's a link for those unaware of the earliest 1 of 500 exclusive offered by Ringside Collectibles in 1999: web.archive.org/web/19990819034950/http://www.ringsidecollectibles.com/JakksFigures/I_Want_Head.html

Hell, they've got one for sale right now if anyone is still interested: www.ringsidecollectibles.com/wwe-fully-loaded-al-snow-sgf-074.html

WalterF Do you remember which numbers you got?

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As I said yesterday, I have more to share about the Wal-Mart exclusive figures from DTA Tour Series 2.

For starters, I recently learned of a site called iGuide which helps you determine the worth of various items.

Here are links to the perceived values of all six figures from DTA Tour Series 2:

Steve Blackman - $4.80 to $12.00 Link

Blue Blazer - $14.00 to $35.00 Link

"Double J" Jeff Jarrett - $4.00 to $10.00 Link

Edge - $4.00 to $10.00 Link

Undertaker - $4.00 to $10.00 Link

Al Snow (and Head) - $4.80 to $12.00 Link

I also would like to point out several package variations that exist for this series, so I'll direct you to one of the photos I posted yesterday.



In this photo, you'll see Edge is packaged with a crate above his right shoulder and a chair which is placed directly behind him. To the left of him, you'll see the right side of Jeff Jarrett's package with his guitar accessory facing Edge's picture.

These are not the only packaged versions of these two DTA Tour Series 2 figures that exist (Blackman, too, but he's not pictured). In fact, supplementary waves of DTA Tour Series 2 figures that were sent to stores in the summer of '99 were riddled with variations, such as: the color change of Steve Blackman's ladder from light gray to dark gray, and the positioning change of Edge's chair and Jarrett's guitar (check to the left of them, behind the picture insert).

Why Jakks went through with these variations is anyone's guess, but they can be accounted for and do make up a very small part of this highly collectible line.

It’s been roughly seven and a half years since I purchased the complete MOC set of DTA Tour Series 2 on eBay. I think I paid about $24-25 shipped for all six figures. To this day, it remains one of the better deals I’ve come across in shopping for BCA figures online.

I’ll always remember as a kid when my mom surprised me with a MOC Blue Blazer figure from DTA Tour Series 2. She bought it at a local collectors shop for $75 sometime after Owen’s passing because she knew how much I liked him. I’ve kept it in its original packaging all these years, and though it isn’t worth very much, I still consider it a prized possession.

One of my favorite repaints from back in the day was the DTA Tour Series 2 Edge figure in turquoise ring attire. I remember receiving it as a gift prior to meeting Edge in person at a local mall signing in late July of that year. I probably had more fun collecting repaints than I should have as a kid, but it was hard not to with all of the Jakks products that were on the shelves in 1999 (by far, the most productive year for the BCA line).

All in all, I’ve got my fair share of memories, but now I’ll take a look back with a mostly-unbiased perspective at DTA Tour Series 2, the Wal-Mart exclusive assortment that took Jakks collectors by storm in the summer of 1999. I hope you guys like it. 

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DTA Tour Series 2 started out innocent enough.

The series line-up was likely first revealed to collectors in mid-March ’99 when AFR (short for “Action Figure Resource”, a precursor to WF) delivered the news of upcoming Jakks figure releases for the year. "DTA Series 2", as it was known, was slated for a March 1999 release and featured the likes of: Blue Blazer, Jeff Jarrett, Steve Blackman, Edge, Undertaker, and Al Snow.

In early April '99, Wal-Mart was said to have surpassed Toys“R”Us as the number one toy retailer in the United States. The department store/warehouse chain based out of Arkansas held the exclusive rights to all of the DTA Tour Series BCA figures released from November 1998 (Series 1) to August 1999 (Series 3).

Steve Blackman, whose DTA Tour Series 2 figure was slated to be his last for the BCA line, was rumored to have been among the WWF talent fired in mid-April '99. It turned out to be false information.

Reports of DTA Tour Series 2 figure sightings can be traced back to April 30, 1999, via AFR (see: "DTA 2 is out!" and "More on DTA2" on the sidebar) and Yahoo Groups.

A guy named Matt from Google Groups said on May 2nd that he had just heard of the Blue Blazer figure. He said it comes with a cloth cape and a wrench.

The first images to be shared of DTA Tour Series 2 Steve Blackman and Blue Blazer on Yahoo Groups appear May 4th/May 5th.

Matt from Google Groups commented on May 9th that Blue Blazer “looks like one of the best figures Jakks has done so far.” He also said he was looking to buy one for around $15 or less. 

Because of the relative lack of information in those days, at least one person on May 11th was led to believe Blue Blazer existed as part of a six figure boxed set. It does not, however, and the same can be said for all of the DTA Tour Series figures that were strictly released on singles cards. 

Jeremy Moran from Google Groups said he found Blue Blazer at his local Wal-Mart store on the night of May 14th. "It’s a pretty nice figure," he said, "especially considering it’s a repaint.”

For those unaware, DTA Tour Series 2 Blue Blazer was a full body repaint, comprised of a Slammers Series 2 Patriot head and Superstars Series 1 Bret Hart body.

By mid-May 1999, BCA collectors who could log on to the Internet and shop online were looking to buy or trade for the new Blue Blazer figure. For example:

• A guy named cmjb from Google Groups on May 12th said he was looking to either buy or trade for two Blue Blazer figures, loose or MOC, and he had a lot to offer for them.
• Ken from Google Groups posted on May 13th that he had two Blue Blazer figures for sale for $15 each.
• One collector from Google Groups offered up a Stone Cold vs. Vince McMahon Grudge Match Series 2-pack on May 16th (link coming soon) in exchange for one Blue Blazer figure.
• On May 17th, cmjb from Google Groups said he was willing to trade a WrestleMania XV mail away exclusive Stone Cold figure for two Blue Blazer figures.

Everything changed on the night of May 23rd... [To Be Continued]

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Part Two will be posted tomorrow on the anniversary.

Well, I don't know how concise Part Two will be lol, but here it goes anyway!

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A BCA Retrospective: DTA Tour Series 2 (Part Two)

Everything changed on the night of May 23rd.

Following the tragic death of Owen Hart at age 34, at least one collector on May 24th said he was willing to pay big money to get his hands on Blue Blazer.

Stephen Leach from Google Groups said the figure was selling for outrageous prices on eBay as of May 25th.

A guy named MR. SOCKO said on May 26th that he thinks it could become the rarest Jakks figure ever if they stop making them.

Jeremy Moran from Google Groups said it was already hard to find since it’s the only new character in the assortment, but now it’s even more in demand following the death of Owen Hart.

When Stephen Leach found DTA Tour Series 2 Blue Blazer in stores nearly two weeks earlier, he said there were several on the pegs, but he admits “it’s not gonna be easy from here on out to get one.”

In the days following Owen’s death, many Jakks collectors are simply on the hunt for a BCA Blue Blazer figure no matter the cost.

Stephen Leach from Google Groups said on May 28th it disgusts him to see the MOC figure go for anywhere from $50 to $150 on eBay.

Depending on where you lived at the time and what access you had to a Wal-Mart store, Blue Blazer could be found for as little as $4.96 upon its release.

Even still, some collectors could see beyond the monetary value and wanted nothing to do with it after reading about the significant role that Blue Blazer’s costume/cape played in Owen Hart’s death (it is believed his fumbling with the cape while suspended nearly 80 feet in the air triggered the quick-release latch which prompted his fall).

On June 14th, Tomart’s Action Figure Digest previewed the new DTA Tour Series 2 figures on their website and commented on this possibly being the last action figure made for Owen Hart.

A poll from the Jakks Figure Heaven website ending the night of June 15th asked what everyone’s favorite figure was from DTA Tour Series 2, and Blue Blazer won with a whopping 72 percent of the votes (Steve Blackman finished in second).

Rumors then began to circulate on June 17th that Jakks was planning to release a special commemorative boxed set including the Blue Blazer figure, but this can almost entirely be written off as pure fantasy given the potential lawsuits for such an endeavor.

Mike Wilk from Google Groups said on June 22nd that the real problem in all of this is the “scum” asking $60 for a MOC DTA Tour Series 2 Blue Blazer figure on eBay. He thinks that it is a sad world in which we live when as soon as a person dies, people all of a sudden feel compelled to ask crazy prices.

On July 7th, J.VV. from AFR speculated that we had seen the last of DTA Tour Series 2 in stores. However, reports begin to surface one week later with multiple people claiming to have found them in stores again.

According to a guy named Big Josh on July 14th, the asking price for a Blue Blazer figure dropped to around $30, seemingly due to the arrival of additional shipments at Wal-Mart stores.

A guy named TMAN who had yet to find a Blue Blazer figure said on July 15th he would bet that people will lose interest in a few months, especially if Jakks offers it on their new website this fall.

A guy named Derek from Google Groups told an amusing story on July 15th of the day he encountered DTA Tour Series 2 at his local Wal-Mart store. To follow up on that, he said he found those exact same Blue Blazer figures at a collectibles store the next day for $50 each.

A contributor to Figure Zone named Tha Showstoppa said on July 23rd that Jakks did send out a second wave of DTA Tour Series 2 figures a few weeks back, and it was huge.

Several days later on July 28th, the same guy reported that Wal-Mart will receive ANOTHER shipment of DTA Tour Series 2 figures within the next two weeks. He said Jakks will more than likely ship more Blue Blazer figures, but to expect a maximum of one per box in this next wave.

In the meantime, a guy named Axl Mossman chides someone on July 29th for selling a Blue Blazer figure for $30 plus shipping. He said it is only worth about $20 MOC.

Here was John Barnett’s take on Blue Blazer from the July 30th edition of Ringside Collectibles’ Figure Insider column:

“Without a doubt, the hottest figure of the year is the Blue Blazer from Wal-Mart's DTA Tour Series 2. When the assortment hit Wal-Mart stores in May, Blazer was the first to come off the pegs. Then, on May 23, tragedy struck and we lost Owen Hart in an unfortunate accident. His Blue Blazer figure was hot before his untimely passing and its popularity skyrocketed afterward. Making the figure even more scarce was that ALL DTA 2 figures disappeared from stores soon after the Over the Edge PPV, leading to internet rumors that Jakks recalled the assortment due to Hart's fatal accident. While this rumor has never been confirmed, it is undeniable that DTA 2, and especially the Blue Blazer, became almost impossible to locate.”

In his next column on August 7th, John mentioned the additional shipments:

“If you're looking to pick up DTA Tour Series 2 figures, it appears Jakks has shipped more of them to Wal-Mart stores. This supplementary wave seems to be riddled with variations though. Steve Blackman's ladder appears to be darker than in the first shipments, and the placement of some accessories seems to have changed.”

On August 8th, Sablebomb from AFR devoted an entire column to talking about DTA Tour Series 2 and the Blue Blazer figure that will forever define it. She spoke from the heart, and it is the best piece that I’ve ever read on the subject. Here is a transcript:


Throughout the latter part of the summer of '99, rumors continued of Owen Hart tribute figures/box sets that were in the works, only to later be proven false.

Aaron Morgan from Figure Zone on August 11th defended his decision to sell Blue Blazer for $67 on their website, citing a limited stock and a similar value listed in a recent issue of White’s Guide to Collecting Figures.

DTA Tour Series 2 Blue Blazer then did something that no other Jakks WWF figure had done up until mid-August ‘99. It made its way to number six on “The Top 10 Hottest Action Figures” list in ToyFare Magazine (Scott Hall and Goldberg from the Toy Biz WCW figure line also made the list).

By mid-to-late September, DTA Tour Series 2 figures were nearing the end of their run in Wal-Mart stores.

One collector reported seeing three MOC Blue Blazer figures for sale for $20 each at a flea market on September 16th.

Mitchell Warren from Google Groups said on September 23rd he wandered into his local Wal-Mart store last night and found two DTA Tour Series 2 Blue Blazer figures.

On October 6th, in one of the last pieces of information that I could gather, DTA Tour Series 2 Blue Blazer ranked seventh on the “Top Ten Toys For September” list on Action Figure Times' website with an estimated value of $25 to $70.

Finally, based on the average price of nine recent completed MOC Blue Blazer figure listings on eBay, the going rate for a MOC Blue Blazer (as of May 22nd) is $17.64.

I remember when those Blue Blazer figures hit our WalMart. I was 16 at the time, a huge wrestling fan. I still played with my figures, but didn't let anyone at school know that lol. My older brother's girlfriend worked as a cashier at WalMart at the time. She called my brother and told him that they were at WalMart and she had a guy come through her line that bought 2 or 3 of them.
This was back in 1999, unlike today where news and pictures of future planned figures come out months and months before the figures do, other than what was shown in ToyFare, we still found out about new figures when we stumbled across them at a store. My family didn't have a computer at the time. So when she called telling us that those were at our store, that was the first we had heard about there being a Blue Blazer figure. Being a big wrestling fan, I wanted one. I was already planning how he would debut in my BCA fed. Also I knew with Owen's passing, these would be hard to find and wanted to get one early so I didn't miss out on it. By the time I made it to the store, they were all gone and for years I never did see one to buy. I've since seen 2 at flea markets, but the sellers were still asking the high, jakked up prices that followed Owen's death.

Great retrospectives.

Congrats on getting this thread to 200 pages too.

Got a few more customs I completed that I wanted to share!

         

@tbain81: those all look good, but for some reason I really like the Big Show. I think it's got something to do with wishing we had a ring gear BCA Big Show years ago.