Assemble Your Action Figure Army

(Published June 14, PDI-Super)

Monsters, aliens, heroes, villains… the toy collector can create and re-create epics via fantastic plastic

By Oliver M. Pulumbarit

Photos by Benedict S. Bartolome

It’s a pretty normal sight to see grownups in toy stores purchasing action figures for themselves, especially in recent years.

Grown men and women have become staunch toy collectors, appreciating the sculpture-like quality of favorite film or comic book characters.

Some superhero fans have been able to amass toy incarnations of their favorite crimefighters and even their corresponding arch-foes. Many of these intricately painted figures range from six to seven inches in height, and possess multiple points of articulation. Film or TV characters immortalized in plastic are also sought-after items; many collectors praise the toys’ faithfulness to actors’ likenesses.

Some hobbyists are satisfied with just looking at their unopened figures, while others rip through the packaging, play with the toys a little, and pose them in display shelves later. Action figure aficionados, whether belonging to one category or the other, frequent toy sales and occasional toy conventions. Chase or variant editions, loose (unpackaged) figures, and cheaper-than-usual items often become part of the treasure trove.

Here are some popular action figure sets that form mini-armies:

Marvel Universe

Marvel Legends figures, which debuted in 2002, have a number of movable parts that allow a variety of poses. These usually have accessories or weapons that also previously appeared in the comic books. Dozens of characters have become action figures in a number of releases, and those who started collecting early can create teams like the X-Men, Avengers, and a massive battalion of supervillains. Certain Marvel Legends waves have extra figures that can be assembled once completed. Marvel Select figures have less articulation and are slightly taller than the usual Legend, but both toy types have similarly detailed paint jobs and can be grouped together if opened.

DC Universe

DC Direct figures aren’t as playable as super-articulated toys, but they’re beautifully sculpted and painted. These usually have pegged display bases, shaped like specific logos or mastheads. Like many Marvel toys, the DC Direct toys are often inspired by existing comic books. Teams like the JLA, the JSA, Teen Titans and Green Lantern Corps have been translated to DC Direct figures already. The newer DC Superheroes line is similar to Marvel Legends, in that the figures are fully poseable and a bonus figure can be created when a set is completed. Smaller versions of several characters are already appearing as DC Universe Infinite Heroes action figures.

Film and TV

While not action figures in the traditional sense, Transformers toys are similarly fun merchandise; there are various toy lines that continue to attract devotees of the different shows, as well as action figure collectors. The Star Wars figures, approximately 4 inches tall, also have a devoted fan base. Completists and casual buyers are still getting a barrage of Star Wars characters inspired by the movies, the new TV show, and even the comic books. Other memorable properties that attracted toy geeks were the Lord of the Rings series of films, and the relaunched He-Man show, to name a few.

Horror and fantasy

McFarlane Toys specializes in fantasy and horror figures. Back in the mid-‘90s, McFarlane started releasing finely crafted, statuesque Spawn figures, characters created for his comic book or exclusively for the action figure series. Eventually, McFarlane Toys also did Movie Maniacs (bogeymen from flicks like “Friday the 13^th,” “Psycho,” “Scream,” etc.), dragons, and even star athletes and rock gods. While they have very limited movable parts, the ornate designs often overpower the lack of playability. The different fantasy figures can form warring hordes of monsters and warriors from different time periods and realities.