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<p>With the news that Mattel is updating its line of Barbie Dolls to be more diverse and realistically representative of the population at large, I bring you these updates on popular boys&#8217; action figures from yesteryear:</p><p>* Action Jackson: Now in his late 60s, AJ ain&#8217;t getting any action without the help of a little blue pill. But he still makes the ladies swoon in his one-piece jump suit.</p><p>* Big Jim: The epitome of a hunk, Jim was muscle-bound, ripped and had a full head of hair. Today, Jim is divorced, beer-bellied and balding. He still answers fan mail, however.</p><p>* Six Million Dollar Man: His bionic eye developed cataracts and his bionic leg short-circuited, giving him cramps. The special effects sounds you heard and saw of Steve Austin moving in slow motion when he was doing superhuman feats is the way he is now all the time: In slow motion.</p><p>* Planet of the Apes: Cornelius left Zira for an ape 20 years his junior and went on to have offspring who refer to Cornelius as &#8220;gramps.&#8221; Zira became a millionaire marketing frozen bananas on a stick.</p><p>*GI Joe With Kung Fu Grip: Sidelined with arthritis, GIJWKFG opened a pottery shop.</p><p>*Stretch Armstrong: Became homeless and an alcoholic after being repeatedly mistaken and abused as a substitution for Silly Putty.</p><p>* Major Matt Mason the Man in Space: Following budget cutbacks at NASA, he retired and is now working as a guest services representative at Disney&#8217;s World of Tomorrow.</p><p>* Evel Knievel: Went on to write his autobiography, &#8220;Bag of Bones.&#8221;</p><p>* Ben Kenobi: After watching the &#8220;Star Wars&#8221; prequels, was arrested after threatening to &#8220;go all Death Star on George Lucas&#8217;s ass.&#8221;</p><p>* GI Joe: After valiantly serving his country, still trying to collect proper veterans&#8217; benefits for the government.</p><p>* Ken doll: Lacking any male genitalia, was divorced by Barbie and later underwent reconstructive surgery and now goes by &#8220;Kenya.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">An arrangement of Fashionista Barbies, by Mattel, is shown at Toy Fair in New York. The company is introducing curvy, petite and tall Barbies this year. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Barbie.jpg</photo1><caption1>An arrangement of Fashionista Barbies, by Mattel, is shown at Toy Fair in New York. The company is introducing curvy, petite and tall Barbies this year. </caption1><photoCredit1>AP photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Christopher Mele</p><p>Mele&#8217;s Musings</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>About Men Radio is a show about men. Not all men, mind you, but specifically about a group of lifelong friends coping with rapidly changing gender roles and how they interact with their partners, their kids, their co-workers and each other. It&#8217;s funny, feisty, smart-assed and very, very real. To learn more, go to <a href="http://aboutmenshow.com/" target="_blank">aboutmenshow.com</a>.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Christopher Mele is married and the proud dad of two sons and two adult stepchildren, all of whom have given him prematurely white hair. His childhood in the Bronx defined his friendships, which endure today and for which he is grateful. A career newsman, writer and editor, the Lords Valley resident is glad for the opportunity to share stories and insights about the challenges that the modern-day middle-aged guy faces in the world.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Mele’s Musings: A change in Barbie brings about thoughts of her male counterparts