Collecting Action Figures: Who Does? Who Does Not?

The last action figure I bought was in 1982. I have never owned ANY from the Indiana Jones lines (although I did have a lot of fun with Inky Skin's custom for the "Can we get Indy around the globe?" thread).

Many Raven members collect action figures but I am interested to know what percentage DO NOT buy Indy toys. (No offense toward the collectors, eh?)

Please vote!

i voted that i do , i bought star wars and indy toys in the 80's and have many of the those still, along with the backcards. can't help it i grew up in the era of the 70's and 80's !

I used to regularly acquire and play with action figures (and related vehicles and whatnot) back in the day, when I was a kid (though I didn't get any of the Indy ones until years later, as part of a larger assortment of collectibles in a trade), but not anymore. Though I've bought a couple Star Wars figures at different times within the last fifteen years or so, action figures (Indy or otherwise) aren't really a significant part of my collecting any longer.

That's not to say I have no interest; I very much do. However, the overwhelming majority of my toy-related energies and resources are put into LEGO. I love LEGO bricks and sets - Indy ones, especially, but not exclusively!

If and when I find myself with more money, time and space, I might start picking up action figures again (and certainly Indiana Jones ones would be a priority, obviously, assuming they're available), but at the moment it's just a realm I don't really enter these days.

(Oh, I should note I voted "no" based on the above, but Stoo, I see you also speak of just "toys" in one sentence of your post. I assume you really do just mean action figures and related vehicles, playsets and accessories, but do you actually mean all toys in general?)

I voted "yes". I was into the vintage Star Wars and Indy figures as a kid and that has transferred to my adulthood. I still collect Star Wars and have the complete modern Indy line. I dabble a liitle in other lines as well like Marvel, GI-Joe, etc.

I had action figures growing up and lost my interest in them/destroyed them at 11-12 years old. When Star Wars was re-released in 97' I bought some of that line and cut myself off. I was buying them for resale then a friend of mine bought duplicates and told me we were gonna open them. I quit buying again in when Phantom Menace came out. But a few years back I saw the 30th anniversary coin collection for SW and my girlfriend said I should get it. I warned her it was a bad idea and she insisted. I was right. I've had the collecting bug for several years now and I have 4 more SW toys to buy and 2 more custom Indy toys and 81' cargo truck, and unless they decide to make further Indy toys in 3 3/4" scale, I am cutting myself off again. I can't think of anything else out in either line I need or want. I am actually gonna start selling my packaged SW toys I have in storage due to lack of need of them. If they are not open they are not fun.

i still love collecting figures. im 24, and it is not your typical hobby, but i am a big kid at heart and there is something about action figures that brings me back to my childhood, and the way they have been improving film accuracy to modern toys is pretty amazing, especially with star wars. but even indiana jones by hasbro is pretty wow, how close they get the to characters. i also got started into 1/6 collecting, but i dont get as many of that scale not only because of the prices, but there really arent that many figures i'd like to own that are out. im pretty selective with what i buy. right now i got keaton batman, reeve superman and indiana jones all by hot toys. those figures are like owning the actual film character only minaturized. but i still love every once in a while getting those small 3 3/4 figures, for star wars now since i now own every hasbro IJ figure there is. pretty neat to have the whole collection, unlike star wars where its impossible, but every once in a while if i see a SW figure i am interested in, i will snag it. but yeah, its definetly a misunderstood hobby, but i enjoy it for now.

pete pretty much summed up my philosophy as well. Action figures were a big part of my childhood...mainly Star Wars, but also Indy. Collecting them now takes me back to those days.

Things have changed since those days, of course. As he mentioned, the technology has certainly improved both the articulation and likenesses of the figures. I always catch myself thinking "I wish I had THIS when I was a kid!" everytime I pick up a new figure. Also, without internet, we didn't know what new stuff was coming out unless it was on the back of the card or in a catalog. The Sears and JC Pennys Christmas catalogs were like magic tomes in those days.

Even though times have changed and we know what's coming months in advance and get to scrutinize every angle via the internet...I still get that thrill when I find something new in the store.

Also, like pete, I have gotten into 1/6 figures as well. Sideshow's Star Wars line kicked that off, then it was their Indy stuff. I try to keep myself to just those two things, Star Wars and Indy but there are so many other cool 1/6 figures I would love to own.

I collect most Indy items, but not really the action figures. Until the Comic-con exclusive lost wave was released. It was a limited edition, so I had to have it.
So I guess I will vote yes, now that I finally got it.

Ditto, for me with Billy Ray, and Pete's sentiments. I grew up with Kenner's Star Wars line, which was my favorite of all toy series. Sure I got into He-Man, G.I. Joe, etc., but nothing compared to going to a galaxy far, far away in my imagination, and playtime. My Star Wars collection dwarfed my other collections not only because it was my fave, but spanning three movies from '78 to '85 meant Star Wars was around for me longer than other toy series' that came and went.

When looking at books and sites that document the entire Star Wars line, I was pleased, and surprised to find that (at least as far as SW figures were concerned), I owned about 70-75% of the line, and a few of the really cool vehicles, and sets, so I feel pretty blessed.

When I first saw the TV ad for Kenner's Raiders figures, I was mystified, as Raider's was my favorite movie, even as a kid. I had to have them! Unfortunately (or perhaps, fortunately), I couldn't always get toys at the drop of a hat. That, and Raiders toys didn't seem as readily available. Don't know how many months or so it was after seeing the TV ads, but when I finally saw Raider's toys in the store I was thrilled. And my Mom offered to buy me 2 figures. Unfortunately (of course), there was no Indy to be found. Dissapointing as that was, I was somewhat content to bring home Sallah and Toht, with the hope of finding Indy somewhere down the line.

I found those figs out of state, while visiting Grandparents, but when I made it back home, I managed to find more of the line, including playsets, at one particular store. I went back to the store whenever I had the chance, to keep tabs on the Raiders toys I was plotting to get, as soon as my parents decided to take me on the next toy run.

Can't remember ever seeing them get Indiana in, and I wouldn't snag my first figure of Jones till the Crystal Skull reissue. But I had my sights set on the playsets, and then one day, my Mom decided to take me to pick up the Streets of Cairo, or Well of Souls playsets she and I had spotted previously, only to find, they had been clearanced and sold out. That was the end of Indy toys for me, for awhile. I continued with Star Wars 'till it's end in '85.

Fast forward to 1995, when Lucas started oiling the gears for his Star Wars merchandising rebirth, a friend and I, for kicks and nostalgia went to check out the new SW figs we heard about, and I walked out of the store with the new Han Solo figure. Although could've been MOTU Han, because he looked like a 'roid rager. And, true to form, I lost his blaster while riding in friend's Suzuki Samurai w/ the top down.

Didn't go for any more figs for quite sometime (college'll do that to you), until Hasbro brought on Indy like the second coming! I hadn't realized SW had been continuing as strongly as it had, and I had, perhaps subconsciously, made a point to resist temptation, and avoid SW altogether.

I got hooked again when, fairly early in '08, while shopping for toys for my Niece and Nephew, I stumbled upon Indiana Jones themed Lego's. Being a gigantor Indy fan, it was the coolest thing in toys I had seen in awhile. Though I eagerly awaited the new movie, I never thought I'd see any Indy toys again, and not in Lego form. But looking back, how could you not have Indy Lego. They were made for each other.

I picked up a few for myself, and started keeping an eye out for more Indy merchandise. And I was absolutely ecstatic, when one day, while the movie had yet to be released, I spotted what I had hoped to see, IJ toys, and lots of them! I had to take one home with me, and the first one I acquired was, Indiana w/ the Arabian horse. I was kinda envious that they hadn't had such cool Indy stuff when I was a kid, and the sheer nostalgia that picking up these figures conjured was fantastic.

That got the ball rolling for me (or after me) , and although I originally intended to only pick up a few of the more iconic figures, when I saw all the great figures and vehicles they were producing, and that being able to collect them all was within my reach, I was hooked. I spent more time and money then I had planned, going from wanting one of everything, to picking up duplicates, army building, etc. Having pack-in relics, and mail-away figs, only sweetened, and sealed the deal.

Things kept getting better as they went on to prepare, and release figs from the rest of the saga. But alas, like so many others, I never saw Temple Doom figs materialize, and have something to look forward to by completing my collection with that and SDCC Raiders wave 2 figures.

I thought Indy was it for me and collecting action figures, but while actively pursuing all things Indy, I started paying attention to the exceptional line of toys that Hasbro continued to release for Star Wars. I thought it would be great to pick up a few of the main characters, for old times sake, and then I remembered how much I enjoyed receiving exclusive mail-aways for the original Kenner SW, and the recent Indy line, so I picked up enough to get those.

But Hasbro truly won me over again, when they started (re)releasing SW figs in vintage Kenner style packaging. I started with the Empire line, just as ESB was celabrating it's 30th anniversary. However as tempting, and cool as it is to see the prequels in Kenner style vintage packaging, I have decided to narrow it down to only collecting original trilogy, and for the most part, just vintage style. Gotta prioritize. And I just sent out for the exclusive mail-order only Boba Fett prototype, today/yesterday. Don't know how long I'll choose to do it, but for now, yeah, I'm a collector.

also aside from star wars, i also love that mattel 6" ghostbusters movie line which mattel did an excellent job with the detail and quality of those figures. i also have a few neca 7" figures from Predator and Terminator 2, and i think some pirates od the caribbean, whatever gets my interest. i also collected some retro lines, like the original kenner batman movie stuff, from Batman, Batman Returns and Batman Forever. i think i got all the batmobiles and vehicles and alot of the basic figures for those lines, i LOVED the batman movies as a kid. i think i even have some figures from that indiana jones/batman ripoff the Shadow, the one with alec baldwin. i love that movie as a kid so there are quite a few different figures i have from various film lines. im looking foward to getting those 3 3/4 inch scale men in black figures this month, it will be neat to have figures from that series in star wars scale.

Been trying to remember the first action figures I ever had.

I remember having some secondhand 12" Marx figures. Then Action Man (the US/Canadian GI Joe).

Then it would have been the 8" Mego figures and 9" (?) Lone Ranger series by Gabriel, with the chuck wagon and horses.

Then Star Wars came along, and Buck Rogers, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Play Asterix, Kenner Super Heroes, Toy Biz Super Heroes, Todd McFarlane, Dragon 12", Sideshow 12", and finally there was Hasbro Indiana Jones, as I never saw the Kenner line in shops here.

It seems like I've always collected action figures.


You could also add Lego to the list, as today they're mini action figures (with as many joints as a vintage Star Wars figure), though when I first had Lego the mini figures were the type with their hands in their pockets and solid legs.

This page brings back memories.

Now my focus is settling on 12" Hot Toys.

I collected most of the Indy figures I could for a while. I mostly buy the star wars figures. My figure collecting comes and goes though. I'll go months without even looking or thinking about figures, then one day out of the blue I'll just decide to look, and I'll grab something, then for a few weeks I'll collect, then the interest wanes.
It's been a few months since my last figure purchase. I've been collecting prop guns here lately.

I was a pretty avid collector of the modern Star Wars line...UNTIL Indy came along.

During Indy's brief run, I was obsessed with the line and devoted all my collecting energies to it.

I have (almost) all of the items from that line, made a few customs over the years and was lucky enough to get the "Lost Wave" set from comic con.

But when the Indy line died at the end of 2008, it killed most of my interest in SW, too.

I have collected a few SW figures since, but really only a handful a year at best and only because they have released terrific versions of the core characters. I got the Wal Mart Jabba, the "Vintage" versions of Bespin Han, Bespin Luke, slave Leia, etc. The incredibly high price tag for these new figures is at least partly responsible for my not buying the secondary and tertiary characters.

I have a small smattering of other figures that are in the same scale- mostly a few Marvel ones, a few POTC, etc.

But the heyday of my collecting is far behind me and my interest continues to wane with each successive year.

Lance Quazar said:

I was a pretty avid collector of the modern Star Wars line...UNTIL Indy came along.

...

But when the Indy line died at the end of 2008, it killed most of my interest in SW, too.

I have collected a few SW figures since, but really only a handful a year at best and only because they have released terrific versions of the core characters. I got the Wal Mart Jabba, the "Vintage" versions of Bespin Han, Bespin Luke, slave Leia, etc. The incredibly high price tag for these new figures is at least partly responsible for my not buying the secondary and tertiary characters.

...

But the heyday of my collecting is far behind me and my interest continues to wane with each successive year.

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I stopped buying Star Wars figures new when I realized it was hopeless trying to keep up with the new releases. Now they're £7.99 in the shops the only time I add to the collection is if I see them cheap loose (or sometimes cheap and still carded). I remember the days when they were only 99p in the shops. My first ever Star Wars figure was Hammerhead, which I swapped the next day at school for a Tusken and Vader.

I only got on board the Hasbro Indy line as they were finishing in the shops.

At present I'm trying to get rid of a mass of carded SW figures to clear room in the attic for empty Hot Toys boxes. If I have a figure loose, I no longer want it carded as well, unless it's something special, or potentially useful.

Though I never did open my Indy Lost Wave, as they were so damn expensive.

I personally never, ever had any interest in carded figures.

What good is an action figure if you can't put him in action??

when i was a kid i opened all my figures , but as i got older i still bought two of everything , one for my son (and me) to play with and one to keep for my collection ( which won't be worth a ton of money since everyone did practically the same thing .

indyclone25 said:

when i was a kid i opened all my figures , but as i got older i still bought two of everything , one for my son (and me) to play with and one to keep for my collection ( which won't be worth a ton of money since everyone did practically the same thing .

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I have bought two of everything so I could open one and keep one mint on card for resale. I stopped doing that about two years ago due to the expense and I just don't care about packaged figures anymore. Plus SW keeps putting out the same figures over and over again in a new package and with the availability of shopping ebay and like sites, they are not hard to find so they don't increase heavily if at all in value. I would rather sell off the ones in boxes and get my money back.

Lance Quazar said:

I personally never, ever had any interest in carded figures.

What good is an action figure if you can't put him in action??

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Henry W Jones said:

I am actually gonna start selling my packaged SW toys I have in storage due to lack of need of them. If they are not open they are not fun.

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I can understand that perspective, and I have to admit there are times I am tempted to open all my extra German Soldiers, Ugha Warriors, etc (especially when I could have sent their UPC's in for additional Crystal Skeletons and Thrones). If for no other reason than to beef up any displays I may wish to set up. Btw I don't have any on display right now, as they're currently in storage. However (and maybe you don't "share this sentiment" Henry & Lance), there were a few times I either, updated inventory on my MIBox Indy figure collection, or resituated them, and while looking at them, I felt a sense of contentment and satisfaction in having them packaged.

They're just stuff, and will become "dust in the wind" like all other material things in this life, and if I lost them I would get over it. But there is something fun about having an undamaged, MIB Indy toy line. Alot of it is nostalgia of childhood, I suppose, but I think having it in package also reminds me of the fun I had searching for them, and there is something humorously comforting in knowing I have backup, should something happen to my open collection. Also it's cool knowing, if I give it to a son I may have someday, or if I sell it to a collector, or give it to a relative, how much cooler, and special it'll be to them, that it's brand new.

Billy Ray said:

Also, without internet, we didn't know what new stuff was coming out unless it was on the back of the card or in a catalog. The Sears and JC Pennys Christmas catalogs were like magic tomes in those days.

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I know what you mean. Besides TV ads for SW toys, it was those little booklets that came with the Kenner SW vehicles, that made me privy and excited for new releases. Some of which I never ended up seeing except in photos, such as the Star Destroyer, or the Skiff Barge (which was released as SW was nearing the end of it's tour of duty).

The_Raiders said:

I mostly buy the star wars figures. My figure collecting comes and goes though. I'll go months without even looking or thinking about figures, then one day out of the blue I'll just decide to look, and I'll grab something, then for a few weeks I'll collect, then the interest wanes.

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Does any particular niche in Star Wars draw you in? I know that for me, besides all original trilogy Kenner vintage packaging, I'm usually focused on Cantina/Jabba's Palace/Tatooine creatures, after that it's fighter pilots. Of course Bounty Hunters are absolute first priority, but there are only so many of those. Pretty much anything I owned original Kenner's of, also interests me.

Lance Quazar said:

I have (almost) all of the items from that line, made a few customs over the years and was lucky enough to get the "Lost Wave" set from comic con.

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That's great you were able to obtain the rare Lost Wave! I planned on ordering it, when it was briefly available on Hasbro's website, but it didn't work out that way. Probably sometime soon. Just curious, which gaps you have in the collection, and if they are born out of choice, or because of their unavailability?

Sea Monarch said:

Just curious, which gaps you have in the collection, and if they are born out of choice, or because of their unavailability?

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Pretty sure the only things I never bought were the two mini playsets, Temple Trap and Temple Pitfall. They seemed silly to me at the time.

Though, of the two, I kinda wish I had bought the pitfall. At least it had some snakes which I could have found display use for. No big deal either way.

I even eventually bought the big Akator playset, but didn't really like it and it remains stowed in my garage. I bought it for what I thought was a cheap price on ebay about a week before they started blowing them out at retail for next to nothing!

Lance Quazar said:

Pretty sure the only things I never bought were the two mini playsets, Temple Trap and Temple Pitfall. They seemed silly to me at the time.

Though, of the two, I kinda wish I had bought the pitfall. At least it had some snakes which I could have found display use for. No big deal either way.

I even eventually bought the big Akator playset, but didn't really like it and it remains stowed in my garage. I bought it for what I thought was a cheap price on ebay about a week before they started blowing them out at retail for next to nothing!

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Didn't really like it? You don't proudly display your "Veiny D!ck and B@lls Playset" er, um, I mean "Akator Playset" on your coffee table?

<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/6900103670_4b8695995c.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="akator"></a>

For shame!!! And you call yourself an Indiana Jones fan!!