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Sizing up the Competition
By admin | September 6, 2010
When it comes to action figures, some lines just tower over others. Literally. If toy companies are sizing up the competition, they’re not just looking at sculpting details and articulation… they’re also taking note of just how big the friggin’ toys are too. And just like the age old “sculpting vs. articulation” debate, size differences can make a serious toy collector’s blood boiling.
While there’s no set standard anymore for an action figure’s size, we can break it down to three far-from-complex categories: small, medium and large. Yep, just like an order of fries, except no ketchup.
Let’s start with the bigguns. There are plenty of monstrously enormous figures, but the most common large ones would have to be the 12-inchers. Nowadays, you’ve got all sorts including Hasbro’s special STAR WARS and G.I. JOEs, McFarlane Toys’ big-ass SPAWN and MOVIE MANIACS, and a huge collectible frenzy with Sideshow Toy’s PLATOON, JAMES BOND and TWILIGHT ZONE figures.
Then there’s the medium figures, which clock in around the 5 or 6-inch range. These are your standard action figures. If it’s a basic toy line, it’ll fall into this category, like Playmates’SIMPSONS, Toy Biz’s MARVEL LEGENDS and LORD OF THE RINGS, and JAKKS Pacific’s WWE figures.
And finally, there’s the li’l guys which seem to be all the rage these days. And we’re not just talkin’ Legos. DC Direct’s got a whole line of 3-inch POCKET HEROES and Art Asylum’s releasing some seriously articulated 3-inch MINI MATES.
So with all these different sizes, does that mean one is any better than another? Not at all. Personally, I’m partial to the 6-inch puppies, because that’s where you get the most bang for your buck: the best articulation/sculpting combo. They fill out a shelf nicely. There’s something to be said about the current mini-craze, too. The li’l guys can hang out all over your desk or computer monitor without freaking out your co-workers. And the 12-inchers seem to give off a more serious collectibility aura.
Now, what conclusions have me made? Well, for one, that a guy can spend a few hundred words just talking about the size of action figures. But also that just like real people, action figures come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They should be treated with respect and share equal space on your shelf.
Oh, and when you’re not looking? Yeah, your 12-inch figures are kickin’ the crap outta your 3-inch guys.
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