Boys Action Figures are not your sister’s dolls

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If you think boys action figures are just dolls for boys, look again.


G. I. Joe Accelerator Suit Duke Figure 2009

G. I. Joe Accelerator Suit Duke Figure 2009

Dolls come with fancy dresses, pink cars and Malibu Beach houses, boys action
figures come with fatigues, Hummers and rocket launchers.

Way back in 1959, Barbie became the ultimate girl’s toy, and soon after Ken
was introduced as the boy doll..

Ken did not come with weapons, was built like a wuss and had stylish matching
clothes..  Boys everywhere hated Ken.

I’m sure you may think this sounds a bit “sexist” but the truth is… MOST
boys want to be heroes not zeros. It all comes back to the conversation thing.
Little girls love to talk … little boys love to make sounds.  Don’t believe
me, go visit a play ground.. The girls will all be acting out play with a lot of
conversation, meanwhile the boys are making imitation weapons fire and sounds of
explosions.

In 1964 the toy industry finally caught  on and along came G. I. Joe complete
with muscles and a weapon.  Boys everywhere began to turn their backyards into
mine fields and battle fields.  G. I Joe was the baddest dude around, and heaven
help any Kens that wondered into G.I. Joe territory.

The whole boys action figure craze was born when G. I. Joe stepped off the toy store shelf and into the hearts of boys everywhere.

Today’s toy action figure sets will include figures that appeal to girls, like the
Princess Leia Star Wars action figures as well as beefed up versions of many
popular characters from movies.  The new Star Trek action figures include both
female and male characters from the Star Trek movie.

However, the fact remains clear … Boys Action Figures are not your average girl’s
dolls!

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Are Boys Action Figures getting too buff?

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Are Boys Action Figures getting too buff?

XMen Boys action figureIf you’re a collector than I’m sure you have noticed your favorite action figures seem to have hit the gym and maybe the medicine cabinet.

Favorites like the G. I. Joe action figure have gone from equivalent measurements (that’s the scaled up version..as in if they were real humans) of 31.7″ waist, 44.4″chest , 12.2″ biceps in 1964 to a whopping 36.5″ waist, 54.8″ chest and 26.8″ biceps by 1988.  Now that’s some master buffing-up.

A lifesize equivalent of the Wolverine action figure would equal a 62″ chest and 32″ biceps.   Not your average guy.

So does all this bigger equate  to better?

Some studies have claimed that the increase in muscular physiques may explain the increase in Bigorexia, a condition akin to the more common anorexia that seems to inflict mostly teenage girls.  With bigorexia, it is boys and young men that are most affected.  The studies claim that the boys action figures put unrealistic expectations on young boys leading to Body Dysmorphic Order (BDD).

Many of the researchers have claimed that the increase in BDD correlates to the increase in the muscle mass of boys action figures.

My opinion is that it’s more likely that the increase in BDD correlates to the increase in Steroid use and availability in this Country and has very little to do with the kind of toys or action figures available.  Correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t the use of steroids cause psychosis?  Have you ever heard of a toy causing psychosis?

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G. I. Joe Action Figures Invade Salvation Army

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G. I. Joe Action Figures Invade Salvation Army

G. I. Joe Action Figures

G. I. Joe Action Figures

Capt Rick Ray of the Galesburg, Ill Salvation Army had a welcome surprise when an annonomous couple donated 79 G.I. Joe action figures to the Galesburg Salvation Army.

Included in the boys action figures dream collection are two boxed Classic Collection General Dwight Eisenhower figures and two Gen George Patton figures from the same collection.  Rare finds indeed.

But that’s not all…

The collection also included everything from US Navy Blue Angels to a parachute team from the Army Golden Knights and even a Battle of the Bulge Soldier.

Mercury and Apollo 13 Astronauts were also represented.

G.I. Joe action figure collectors everywhere will be taking notice and will want to follow the EBAY Auctions.

According to Capt Ray, the donation could not have come at a better time, although he could use some additional helping hands with the Ebay listings and research.

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Boys Action Figures .. Then and Now

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Boys Action Figures… Then and Now

GI Joe Action Figure

My obsession with boys action figures began in the mid 1960′s with the original 11 1/2 inch G.I. Joe Action figure and no it wasn’t a doll, regardless of what my Dad thought.  His generation just couldn’t understand boys action figures.

The Sixties were a time of upheaval.  The Viet Nam War conflict was tearing at the nation, and many a parent bulked at the idea of their boys playing with a military action figure, but for the boys of the neighborhood, G.I. Joe ruled every sand pile, rock pile and backyard lawn.

By the time the seventies rolled in superhero and star wars action figures begin to rule the market.  This was also a time when action figures went from the standard 12 inches to the cost saving 3 3/4 inch models. Times were hard and energy cost high, there just wasn’t the available petroleum needed to make the plastic action figures.  Luckily there was no revolt from the boys of the world and they happily embraced the smaller versions.

The Eighties and Nineties brought in the collectors and spawned the cartoon line of action figures.  Gundam action figures were introduced along with popular Japanese and American cartoon characters. Read the rest of this entry

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Glorify Your #1 TV Show In The Form Of An Action Figure?

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The superb world of television brings us days and days of entertainment. Each show brings us exclusive action figures to include in our collections? Yes, true indeed. Including cable and satellite dishes, there are countless choices of tv programming to choose from. From sitcoms to dramas to animated to murder-mysteries, there is a tv show for everyone.

With the large popularity of these programs, fans want to take something back from their favorite show. Why not take back something fun? During the last 5 years or so, toy manufacturers have been making action figures based on characters from those hit television shows. These entertainment treasures are becoming super beloved. Not only are these action figures super fun to look at, but the amount of detail that exists is simply captivating. Each figure is highly detailed to the extreme and comes loaded with accessories from the show.

McFarlane Toys is a leading toy maker that has a massage product line of licensed collectible action figures from tv programs of all kinds. The smash TV show 24 brings us a superb example of a quality action figure manufactured from McFarlane Toys. In the 24 series 1 & 2 boxed sets, Jack Bauer is shown in two different scenes and ready for action. Other television shows or themes that McFarlane has transformed into action figures quite nicely include: Lost, The Simpsons, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and Hanna-Barbera.

McFarlane Toys is just one of the many toy makers that produce these great gems. Mezco Toyz also follows suit with some very populartelevision programs including: Family Guy, South Park, Heroes, and more. The list grows as the interest grows and boy, is it growing. The extreme popularity of action figures in tvshows has risen to 300% over the last 3 years. That accounts for a nice percentage of the toy industry. Some toy experts predict that action figures could account for 45% of all toys in the next 5 years.

If you have some family, friends, or co-workers that are big fans of a particular tv show, what more could be an excellent gift idea than an action figure from their favorite hit show? Fortunately, there are many reasons to give someone a gift – holidays, graduations, birthdays, Valentine?s Day, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Sweetest Day, etc. For any of the aforementioned gift-giving holiday ideas, you can give the gift of an action figure. Believe me, you will be the envy at any party when your gift stands out in the unique gift category. You may have to watch while the guests leave the party for fear they just might want to keep your gift for themselves. Why would you want to re-hash the same gifts over and over again?

So, whether you are a collector, or fan of television, or long for a gift to give a friend or a loved one, action figures can save your day. As long as the entertainment world keeps producing hit television shows, action figures will be around for a long, long, time.

By:Steve Ripsky – About the Author :
Steve Ripsky owns the popular online toy store selling action
figures, bobbleheads,
and toys. Action Figure USA.com carries the latest in action figures and bobbleheads.

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Action Figure Toy Collecting Alert – My Chemical Romance Action Figures are Worth Their Weight in Gold!

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My Chemical Romance action figures are red hot! Since their release by SEG Toys in late 2005, the collectible prices of My Chemical Romance action figures have been rising faster than the band’s 2004 ascent to teen punk stardom. The action figures are no longer available through most traditional retail chains and where ever they do show up, they are being quickly snatched up by My Chemical Romance fans, collectors, and investor’s alike. According to one teen on a My Chemical Romance band chat site, “Just forget about it! It’s impossible to get these figures unless your parents have a truck full of money.” Well, she’s right! It is not unheard of for the entire band five figure set of My Chemical Romance action figures to sell for about $500.

Just as he does in the band, My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way is leading the band’s action figure popularity contest. According to the music action figure price guide at Rock-n-Roll-Action-Figures.com, the average selling price of the Gerard Way action figure is somewhere around $180.00. Wow! Coming in at a not too shabby second place are the Mikey Way action figures currently selling for around $120.00 each. The other members of My Chemical Romance have no reason to be disappointed. The Bob Bryar, Ray Toro, and Frank Iero My Chemical Romance figures are valued somewhere in the $55.00 range. Not a bad return for some figures that originally retailed for $14.99! For a lucky number of collectors, it get’s even better. One out of every 100 My Chemical Romance action figures released by SEG Toys were packaged variant figures. These stylized variant figures featured the band members as zombies. These zombie figures are typically selling for about twice the price of the originally released My Chemical Romance action figures. That puts the collectible value of a complete set of zombie variant figures of the band near an ice cold $1000!

The My Chemical Romance figures were originally released in 2005 at Hot Topic and Spencer Gift stores. The Hot Topic figures came complete with a “prayer card” designed by band front man Gerard Way. The Spencer Gifts figures included limited-edition Jim Dunlop guitar picks as an accessory for each figure.

Each My Chemical Romance action figure from SEG Toys stands about 4.75” tall and features 16 points of articulation. Accessories include a red handgun and a coffin for each figure…weird!

By:Joshua Lundorff – About the Author :
Joshua Lundorff is the owner of Rock-n-Roll-Action-Figures.com, an online retailer featuring collectible action figures of musicians, bands, and pop culture icons.

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Enjoy Hours of Creative Fun and Playtime With Marvel Action Figures

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There are lots of children who love to watch and read the adventures of their favorite superheroes and the nasty villains. For these children there is just as much fun and enjoyment to be found in playing with toys that are from their favorite cartoons as watching the cartoon. Some of the toys that are used are Marvel action figures.

The different Marvel action figures are firm favorites with children. The many marvel action figures include firm favorites like the Fantastic Four, Spider Man, the Incredible Hulk, Dr. Octopus, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Magneto and other well known Marvel action figures.

You can find these Marvel action figures in the traditional non poseable six inch toy. Currently there are new additions to the Marvel action figures. These characters have been given the group name of Marvel Legends. Among these action figures various new charters include Ghost Rider, Scarlet Witch, Sasquatch, Mr. Sinister and others.

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In both the traditional Marvel action figures and the new Marvel Legends figures there are many villains and superheroes that you can find. Some of these action figures will have poseable accessories that you can use to keep these figures standing upright.

While it is mainly children who love to play with their Marvel action figures there are adults who buy these action toys. These individuals buy the various Marvel action figures for the purpose of adding them to their collection of collectible action figures and comics.

As many of the Marvel action figures are ones that have been redesigned it is possible to buy both articulated and non articulated action figures. Providing that these action figures are kept inside of their packaging you can still consider these Marvel action figures as being collectible.

To make people enjoy the process of buying these Marvel action figures and Marvel Legends even more attractive, there will often be a re-printed comic book which features the exciting adventures of these characters. In some instances you find a poster book of the character that you have chosen. These various action figures can be bought as four to six action figure packs.

In the various Marvel action figures toy packs children will have hours of playing fun as they discover the joy and adventures of re-telling the adventures of their favorite action figures in an original new storyline. This is probably the reason why Marvel action figures are so popular with children. With these toys there are so many hours of creative fun and playtime that is possible with these toys.

By:Muna wa Wanjiru – About the Author :
Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on Marvel action figures, visit his site at MARVEL ACTION FIGURES

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Neca Announces New Collectible Music Action Figures for 2007

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According to NECA’s Myspace webpage, the action figure manufacturer, known for their highly detailed entertainment and music action figures has announced their plans for some new music figures in 2007. Topping the music action figure list are new 7″ action figure versions of Freddie Mercury (Queen) and John Lennon (the Beatles). Both of these music action figures were previously only available as a 18″ figures from NECA. The 7″ John Lennon action figure is available for preorder on our John Lennon Action Figure page. The expected shipping date is around the end of February 2007. NECA has also announced the addition of a new John Lennon action figure to be released towards the end of the year!

As the NECA Freddie Mercury and John Lennon action figures get smaller, their Kurt Cobain action figure is growing up! NECA has announced that it will release a huge 18″ version of the Nirvana rocker early in 2007. The figure is a pumped up version of NECA’s earlier depiction of Cobain from Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit video. More new additions to NECA’s music action figures includes an AC/DC action figure 2 figure box set featuring Angus Young and Brian Johnson, a new Ramones action figure 2 pack set, and New Iron Maiden Figures #5 and 6. Curt Cobain will get his third action figure in 2007 to go along with his Smells Like Teen Spirit and MTV Nirvana Unplugged action figures. As of April 2007, the exact style of this figure has not been released by NECA.

By:Joshua Lundorff – About the Author :
Joshua Lundorff is the owner of Rock-n-Roll-Action-Figures.com. An online retailer featuring collectible action figures of musicians, bands, and pop culture icons.

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