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Buy what you like
Collecting
new or old action figures
Collecting opened/loose action figures
Collecting opened/loose action figures with packages
Collecting
packaged action figures
Collecting both opened/loose figures and packaged figures
Size and Scale
Collecting theme
Where to Buy
On this page I will teach you how to start your action
figure collection and build it up properly.
For those of you who already have a collection, I think you
will still benefit from the information on this page as well
as the other pages on my site.
Collecting figures is very straightforward. There’s really
only a few ways to collect.
You can collect new or old figures or both.
You can collect opened/loose figures without their original
packages.
You can collect opened/loose figures with the original
packages on the side.
You can collect figures in their original packages -
unopened/sealed.
You can collect a mixture of opened/loose figures and
figures in their original unopened/sealed packages.
Buy what you like
The most important thing to remember when collecting is
always collect items that you like.
Always.
Always. Always.
You will see this noted in different parts on my site and
referenced in different ways.
You should never buy and collect certain figures solely
based on the fact that someone else collects it and
therefore you should collect it.
You should never buy and collect
certain figures solely based on the
fact that it’s the hottest trend going on and you want to
get in on the latest trend.
You may of course like items that are the latest trend and
you may like items that others collect, but it should never
be the factor in your decision to buy and collect.
After a period of time if you go after items that you don’t
like, you will look at your collection very soon and realize
you have items that you never liked. They’ll just collect
dust and never enjoyed and you’ll need to get rid of them.
It’s no fun to collect something you don’t like.
It’s
avoidable that you’re going to collect something that others
collect and also happen to be the latest trend. It’s a law
of numbers.
It
should only be a result of a common thing as there are
millions and millions of collectors who love Star Wars,
Batman, Spider-Man, Superman for example and each has had
its own time when they were the hottest thing going on.
They are all still around today.
I personally love figures depicted of these characters and
of course it just so happens that many others love them too,
but I don’t collect them since others do and I don’t collect
them since they’re the hottest trend either.
I collect them because I very much like them.
One of the greatest things about collecting is knowing
someday you will be handing down your collection to your
children or someone you know who would love to carry on your
legacy.
Isn’t it great to know you’re handing them something you
cherish - something you’ve worked so hard to build up for a
long time - something that you truly love.
Collecting new or old action figures
Some collectors like to collect newer figures that have come
out in recent years.
It’s very easy to start and collect with so many offerings
coming out on a monthly basis and with many resources to buy
and choose from.
Some
collectors like to collect old figures since they are
scarcer and much harder to find and in most cases are valued
more than their newer counterparts which adds to the
collectability.
Remember older figures in most cases were not saved due to
the fact that figures were intended to be toys and played
with.
No one really thought one day that they would become
collectible and millions and millions were thrown away or
damaged during its many hours of play by kids and adults all
over.
I have collected both new and old figures, but presently
focus in on the newer items since they are being produced
with better sculpting and materials and with better paint
jobs.
I also find it very satisfying to collect items that I can
actually find at a more reasonable rate and at a fair price
than older figures. I used to enjoy hunting for the older
items, but with so many new offerings coming out it is very
hard to go back and collect older figures.
That’s not to say I don’t collect older figures and you
shouldn’t.
You can go either way or collect both. There are no wrong
answers here.
I have created many pages on my site on new and old figures
so you can read about various toy lines so you can make your
decision on which route to go.
Collecting opened/loose action figures
Deciding on whether to collect opened/loose figures or
packaged figures has its advantages.
Collecting
opened/loose figures tend to cost much less than packaged
figures because most people believe that anything out of the
original package is considered a used item even though there
are many times when an item has never been used.
It’s the mere fact that someone has touched them after the
manufacturer has placed an item in its package that this
interpretation is made.
This is a real advantage to opened/loose figure collectors.
If you
purchase items brand new and open them, they will cost the
same. However you may have more options since package
condition would not be a concern to you and there are
choices out there where damaged or less than pristine
condition packages will cost less than the mint condition
packages on the after market.
Collecting opened/loose figures are also more fun. You
actually get to touch the figures. Now that they’re in your
collection, you can pose them and display them in any way
you please.
You can
even play with them. That’s not something you can do
if they’re in the package.
One of the things you need to be aware of is you need to be
sure what you’re getting in an opened/loose figure.
I will be as detailed as I can on other pages on my site
describing and providing photos of various action figure
lines that I like to collect and I believe are worth
collecting.
You should always want your items to be complete. You want
to ensure loose figures you’re contemplating on purchasing
have all of the accessories that came with each particular
figure.
Most collectors strive to be complete with their collections
in this regard.
Reviewing and studying here on my site and on some of the
other reliable sources I have found on the internet over the
years will help provide you a resource providing you a given
figure’s
completeness.
Here’s some of my favorite sources for photos on figures on
the internet - Cool Toy Review, Rebelscum, Yojoe
and in magazine form - Tomart Action Figure Digest.
I will cover different action figure lines on its own pages
such as DC Universe Classics, Star Wars, Marvel Universe,
Marvel Legends so you can read and see some of the various
figures in those lines and their accessories.
Of course some collectors don’t care about accessories and
the long-term trading possibilities so their options are
even greater and cheaper as most sellers will offer these
items at much less since they are incomplete.
Collecting opened/loose action figures with packages
Let’s say you decide to collect opened/loose figures and
want to hang on to the packaging for the future.
Most collectors don’t expect that you will retain the
plastic bubble packaging as it is almost not worth saving
and using for future trading along with the figure and the
cardboard backing.
I have seen some sellers offer the figure in its plastic
bubble and the inner plastic tray that the figure is
situated to with the card back which has been detached from
the bubble as a representation that the figure has not been
touched.
I don’t know of anyone who saves the bubble after having
taking the figure out from the plastic.
If you save anything in addition to the figure and its
accessories - save the card back. It typically has photos
of the figure and other figures in the line along with a
profile or summary of the figure and or that line.
Most collectors almost always save the card back as it is a
real collector’s item by itself.
GI Joe and Star Wars figures almost always have some sort of
profile and description on the character on the card backs.
These are worth your time and effort to hang onto. Handle
them with great care as you do your figures.
Some figures come in a box of some sort. I would recommend
saving this. You can save any of the cardboard inserts and
plastic ties and baggies that are within the box in case
there comes a time when you need to trade out that figure.
Most collectors want these as they may end up re-packaging
up the figure for their collections.
The plastic bubble described above in almost all cases will
have been torn open to the point that trying to reseal back
on the card will look very unattractive, but I have seen
some collectors do a masterful job of removing the plastic
from the card.
Use your best judgment if you think having those bubbles
hanging around will be of use for you in the future.
Collecting
packaged action figures
If you decide to collect packaged figures, you will be
in most cases paying more than buying opened/loose items.
They will be in most instances more valuable than
opened/loose items purely on the facts that they are in
their original package, unopened, untouched and there are
less of them around.
Most people open their items than keep them in packages.
It’s a known fact.
Action figures are purchased by kids than any other segment
and they’re usually opened more times than not.
Most collectors who collect packaged figures tend to be very
strict on the condition of the packaged figures they buy.
A small ding in the corner, dents, creases, scratches or
other marks on the package can sway collectors from buying
that item and having to wait it out for another item to come
along.
If it’s newer items, then you have a better chance of it
being replenished at your favorite store.
If it’s an older item, then you risk the opportunity of not
seeing that item again for months if not years.
Some collectors don’t mind a minor imperfection on the
package as long as it’s not demolished.
Each person will have their own tolerance as to what they
will accept and what they will not.
Remember if you ever decide that one day you will sell or
trade your item then you will need to try and pick out the
best possible package since most packaged collectors want
them in the best condition they can find and will only
accept one that has only small defects.
Displaying packaged figures look great as you have the
benefit of the package art or photo that the figure came in.
I know some collectors love to have their packaged figures
hanging on a wall display or on a shelf with its fabulous
graphics showing like a million bucks from far away or up
close.
Collecting both opened/loose figures and packaged figures
There was one time that I collected both opened/loose and
packaged figures, but after a period of time I found that
this was very costly.
I have
since thinned down my collection and focused strictly on
opened/loose items.
I recommend that you stick with only one style with an
occasional packaged item or opened/loose item of a figure
that you want and need two of. This way you have the best
of both worlds without spending too much to keep up your
collection.
It also looks better when your collection is comprised
mainly of one or the other for display.
Size and Scale
Action figures come in many different sizes such as 3-3/4
inches tall - 4 inches tall - 5 inches tall - 6 to 7 inches
tall - 8 inches tall - 9 inches tall - 10 inches tall - 12
inches tall - 18 inches tall and even taller than that.
Find the
size that fits best for your living environment. Remember
with larger figures if you decide to keep them in their
original packages will take up more room than smaller
figures.
Zero in on one or two sizes that you like and stay with it.
It will look uniformed and display great if you stick with
one or two particular sizes.
Of course maybe you like every size of a character or theme
like Batman for example which has been produced in just
about every size imaginable. Or maybe you like every scale
of Lord of the Rings figures.
That’s fine too, but my point is not to go after every scale
for every action figure toy line that you want to collect.
You will soon have an accumulation rather than a
collection.
Just don’t go overboard. We all don’t have infinite space
to house every figure out there and what’s the fun if you
have most of your items in storage boxes never to be seen.
By sticking with a couple of sizes for your collection, you
will build up a nice looking collection that you will be
very happy with.
Collecting theme
Once you’ve nailed down the above ways of collecting now
the decision is to narrow your collecting theme and focus on
what action figures or action figure lines to go after.
Using Captain America as an example - there is a line of
figures based on Captain America’s world. It is initiated
by the movie Captain America the First Avenger. Some are
comic book inspired - some are movie inspired and some are
concept inspired which means the manufacturer hasn’t taken
creative license to make different versions of Captain
America that the public has never seen before.
You need to decide if you’re going to collect a particular
figure’s line of figures or collect a specific sub-theme (ie
comic book inspired - movie inspired or concept inspired
figures from that line) or collect a specific character or
characters.
Again using Captain America as an example, I would collect
the most recognizable figures from the comics and movie and
avoid the concept series and other variations. I would pick
up the more recognizable characters in his world like Red
Skull, Bucky, Crossbones and Winter Soldier as long as they
are in their classic or as closed to classic uniforms.
My recommendation is to collect the more well-known figures
since they usually get the most attention by the
manufacturer throughout the development process to finished
product. That is the face of their given brand and they are
going to make sure that those figures are the best made.
They want to impress and catch the buyers’ and collectors’
eyes so we buy them and tell others about them so they will
buy them too.
Occasionally there’s going to be a figure that is lesser
known and gets completely ignored by buyers and collectors
and then they become either returned and destroyed or
discounted and end up to who knows where and suddenly they
are a collecting sensation since they’re impossible to find.
I’ve seen so many of those examples and even ones that you
wouldn’t expect like Penguin from the original Batman the
Animated Series line in the early 1990s. I used to see
droves of those sit on store pegs hanging there for months
and then they all disappeared and overnight everyone wanted
them.
Penguin is a recognizable character that most collectors
should’ve picked up, but didn’t. Don’t spend time chasing
down obscure figures unless it’s a character that makes your
collection look right.
Most manufacturers love to create multiple variations of a
given figure so they can sell more of them. They anticipate
that kids and adults will want to purchase the more
well-known characters in all sorts of colors with different
sets of accessories. Collecting 20 versions of Captain
America from any product line doesn’t make a lot of sense as
does collecting 1000 versions of Batman.
Mostly manufacturers will only create a handful of key
characters in recognizable classic outfits. Stick with
those and occasionally pick up a variation if it really
interests you.
You will always have a good feeling about the more
well-known figures since that is what more than likely
attracted you to a particular line of figures, but the
lesser known figures may interest you too just don’t get
carried away with buying every single one.
You need
to keep your focus and not allow it to become overwhelming
and collect every possible figure in each and every line.
You can
get very creative with your collecting. Maybe you want to
focus in on collecting only female action figures or Marvel
action figures. Maybe you want to collect Green Lantern
figures. Maybe you want to collect science fiction/space
fantasy figures like Star Wars or Star Trek or fantasy
figures like Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia.
Just try and stay in a given theme which will compliment
each toy line. I think Star Wars figures in the 3-3/4 scale
look very nice next to Marvel Universe figures in the same
scale as does GI Joe figures of the same size. Some
actually cross right over into each other’s world.
It’s really up to you how you want to concentrate on a given
theme for your collection.
I just want to provide you some guidance in some of the
temptations and pitfalls to watch for in theme collecting as
they are not advertised by any manufacturer. They want you
to buy every thing they produce and that’s not feasible for
most of us.
As always collect what you like.
Where to Buy
As noted above there are many sources to find action
figures. I will get into more detailed specifics on my
Where to Buy page, but there are essentially three places to
acquire them from.
Locally - Mail Order - Internet.
Each has its advantages for both new and old figures.
As you browse the dedicated action figure toy line pages on
my site, I will provide references to find those toy lines
which makes the most sense.
I find buying new items locally to be best however if you’ve
missed some items that have since passed its shelf life
(example Iron Man figures that came out the previous year
and you just started to look for them this year), the odds
of them coming back into stores are remote.
A case of those figures may be hanging around in a merchant
or manufacturer warehouse needing that stock to be uncovered
and sent out to stores in order to make room for incoming
newer product. Those will be gone in minutes of reaching
shelves as there are extreme collectors out there who
frequent shops daily looking for items and will not pass up
the opportunity to pick those up for future
selling/trading.
Your odds of beating them are not favorable.
I will
say that if a figure line just came out and you missed the
first initial shipments, you can be patient as they will be
coming back into the stores again soon as most toy
manufacturers will be alert to sales information and will
always work with their re-sellers to restock those items.
Don’t fall prey to high priced sellers who claim that the
figures will never come back out at retail. I’ve seen too
many items in the last 30 years that immediately sold out,
but after a few months came back in droves.
Local
comic book stores typically carry new figures as they are
easily tied to the comic book world. That would be another
source for you to check out. They will be a little higher
priced since they aren’t a large chain store like Target or
Walmart and don’t order nearly as much and cannot pass on
discounts to you that the larger stores get.
You can also try swap meets and comic book and toy shows.
Most swap meets run on weekends with comic book and toy
shows operating quarterly/bi-annually or annually in most
areas.
Hitting the internet may the best option for items that have
passed their shelf life.
Typically for mail order you need catalogs from those
sellers or see their ads in magazines and newspapers. I
used to get a catalog from one of the major merchants
Entertainment Earth that produces a catalog as well as has
ads in magazines and have their own web site offering newer
figures. I find it much easier though to find items on
their web site.
The internet is a great source for both new and old
figures. There are a plethora of choices, but with newer
figures sometimes the cost of shipping makes it cost
prohibitive.
You will have to weigh your options of time/effort and
money. There’s always something else to collect to bide
your time between so only use the internet when you’re
pretty sure locally it’s not going to happen for you for new
figures.
For
older figures using comic book conventions and the internet
makes the most sense.
Local comic stores tend not to be able to keep those
in stock due to size and space. They carry newer figures
and have to sell through those to make space for more newer
figures.
Occasionally there are some antique stores that have sellers
who have a small booth where they offer older figures. I
have found a couple locally, but again due to space
limitations their offerings are not great.
It’s those conventions where you have private
sellers/dealers who have been hunting and collecting older
pieces that bring them out specifically for these shows.
That’s the time to try and acquire them or they won’t
resurface again for months and sometimes years.
The internet plays a part in that mentality too. Private
sellers/dealers know they’re going to get the best dollar
for their items by selling them to collectors and not to
other sellers.
Using
the internet at places like Ebay or Amazon or even their
own web sites will provide that venue for those sellers to market
older figures.
You will find expanded information on the subject of where
to buy on my dedicated
Where to Buy Action Figure page.
Happy Collecting!!!
Johnson's Collectibles
