Action Figure Toys For Adults — Yes It’s Okay

I’ve been researching this topic for quite some time and the shocking news is — I am not the only one! Meaning I am not the only adult who likes action figures.

Adults have been collecting toys forever but the hobby really took off in the early 1990s. The thing that flipped the switch so to speak was the introduction Beanie Babies.

Back then, “beanies” as some collectors call them, really exploded on to the scene. At its inception, one of the main drivers behind the craze was the notion that some beanies could be (what my accountant calls) an “investment class.” Folks started buying and selling beanies and quite a large market was created in the process. That kind of lost steam as more sophisticated toys came out, but it spawned a collector craze that has not subsided.

Even today, and there are still some people who collect action figures as an investment.

When comic book creator, artist, writer and filmmaker — Todd McFarlane got involved in creating action figures (typically inspired by the Marvel Comics line) another wave of collectors was born.

Some of his custom pieces sell for big money. McFarlane’s website shows off his commercial work. One thing that sets him apart from others is that his pieces are seven inches tall while the industry “standard” is six inches.

His work is available both as custom and commercial. You can buy his mass market figures at major retailers for prices that are similar to those of other toy makers and all of his work is very popular.

While some people do still invest in action figures, for most people I’ve talked with, the main reason for collecting these toys is simple. It’s a form of self-expression…or a link to their childhood.

Reading from an interview McFarlane gave ABC News in 2004, he said, “…it’s just another way to express one’s individuality.”

“It basically says: This is who I am to the world,” said McFarlane. “It’s your hair color and your clothes and the TV programs you watch.”

Most people in the hobby tell me stories about their childhood so that’s the nostalgia at play.

Action figures have become so popular that Hasbro and Mattel are two of the larger companies involved in the action figure market. They happen to be two of the largest toy companies in the world — so if they are involved, it’s a legitimate business to be sure.

Places like Walmart and GameStop have become headquarters for people like me — we call ourselves “fig hunters” meaning we look for action figures we do not yet have or for bargains on others.

GameStop is an example of a major retailer that is really dialed in to this hobby. They have regular “events” promoting the figures and offer e-mail newsletters that let collectors know what’s coming — along with a chance to reserve one of the first to hit store shelves when they are for sale.

Ebay, Amazon and companies like BigBadToyStore, dominate online sales of these action figures and offer people lots of shopping choices, even if they have no local store that offers such products.

Social media (particularly Instagram) has also fueled the craze. I follow the Instagram hashtag #actionfigurephotography. It often boasts links to more than two million action figure photos — submitted DAILY to the site and shared with other fig hunters and photographer like me.

The common thread here is that whether or not it’s for investment or nostalgia — people just want things that are fun in their lives. If you have a Star Wars character in your cubicle at work — you just want to have fun. If you go to shows like ComicCon and buy action figures based on pop culture — or dress up like them — you just want to have fun. Even if you invest in rare action figures and hope to make a profit selling them later — you are really just looking for the fun that you can have buying and selling. It’s all fun. And that’s why it’s so popular.

CONCLUSION

No matter what reason you have for collecting action figures, no matter how weird it seems to some of your friends or relatives, just know this: you aren’t alone. Toys are a $150 billion dollar business on a global scale. You have lots of company.

Remember — Toys are joy.