1982 Sunsational Malibu Ken, All Star Ken, Jeans Ken, Jogging Ken & Fashion Jeans Ken

SUNSATIONAL MALIBU KEN #1088

Sunsational Malibu Ken was the first Ken available in various ethnic types, unless of course you count Hawaiian Ken from 1979, but he was just a regular Mod Ken with slightly darker skin and brown eyes. The new racially diverse Kens came with new head-molds. In Canada he was also known as Malibu Ken or Formidable Ken Malibu, in Sweden as Golden Ken, and in Finland as Aurinko-Ken.

1982 #1088 Sunsational Ken — 1982 #1088 Sunsational Malibu Ken

1982 #3849 Sunsational Malibu Ken in original packaging

1982 #3849 Sunsational Malibu Ken original packaging — Reverse of packaging

1982 #1088 Sunsational Malibu Ken in original packaging — 1982 #1088 Sunsational Malibu Ken in variation packaging

1982 #1088 Sunsational Malibu Ken original packaging — Reverse of variation packaging

1982 #1088 Sunsational Malibu Ken side of packaging

1982 #1088 Malibu Ken (Canadian version) — 1982 #1088 Malibu Ken in Canadian packaging

1982 #1088 Malibu Ken Canadian packaging — Reverse of Canadian packaging

1982 #1088 Malibu Ken (European version) — 1982 #1088 Malibu Ken in European packaging

SUNSATIONAL MALIBU KEN #3849

This afro-haired Sunsational Malibu Ken is the first ever black Ken. His head-mold is unique.

#3849 Sunsational Malibu Ken in original packaging — #3849 Sunsational Malibu Ken variation packaging

1982 #3849 Sunsational Malibu Ken variation packaging — Side of variation packaging

#3849 Sunsational Malibu Ken original packaging — Reverse of variation packaging

ALL STAR KEN #3553

All Star Ken is my favourite of all the more articulated Superstar era Kens. He is certainly the cutest. Maybe part of his appeal is that he is more like a boy’s toy than any other Ken. In Canada he was also known as Le Champion Ken, and in Europe as Athlete Ken or Ken Athlète.

1980 #1294 Sport & Shave Ken — © Mattel Inc. 1968 Taiwan

1982 #3553 All Star Ken in original packaging

1982 #3553 All Star Ken original packaging — Reverse of packaging

1982 #3553 All Star Ken in Canadian packaging

1982 #3553 All Star Ken (Canadian version) original packaging — Reverse of Canadian packaging

1982 #3553 All Star Ken in European packaging

1982 #3553 All Star Ken European packaging — Reverse of European packaging

JEANS KEN #3903

Jeans Ken was a European release.

1982 #3903 Jeans Ken in original packaging

1982 #3903 Jeans Ken original packaging — Reverse of packaging

JOGGING KEN #3988

Jogging Ken came with shorts in royal blue. Many versions have been found with shorts in a paler blue, and in lilac. I’m still unsure whether these lighter shorts are variations, or just variously faded royal blue ones. Released in Europe and Canada. In Canada he was also known as Au Marathon Ken.

1982 #3988 Jogging Ken (European version) — 1982 #3988 Jogging Ken in European packaging

1982 #3988 Jogging Ken (French/Canadian version) — 1982 #3988 Jogging Ken in French/Canadian packaging

1982 #3988 Jogging Ken side of French/Canadian packaging

FASHION JEANS KEN #5316

Fashion Jeans Ken was produced in the Philippines and Hong Kong. They can easily be told apart as the Hong Kong versions have paler skin and the new hand position. Their heads are also painted differently. In Canada Fashion Jeans Ken was also known as Ken en Jeans and in Italy as Ken Moda Jeans. Some European countries refer to him simply as Jeans Ken, which is a bit confusing considering there was actually another Ken called Jeans Ken in Europe this year.