Action figure collecting is fun. How do I know this? I know this because I collect them and have done so for quite a few years now. Through them you can celebrate and show off your interests in your favourite movies, franchises or simply what you loved as a kid growing up.
Figure Collecting
Like most collectibles you can find that your collection’s value will rise over the years and you may also have an investment opportunity on your hands. For me though collecting figures is a hobby that sits nicely alongside my retro game collecting and it reflects everything I love pop culture wise from my youth to the present day.
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- Vintage Star Wars Mini Rigs Guide
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What Figures Do I Collect?
My biggest collection of action figures are Star Wars toys from original vintage figures to modern day Black Series figures. I also collect a few other action figure lines too.
Star Wars Figures – From vintage to modern with a focus on Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker figures
WWF Hasbro Figures
NECA Movie Figures
Gaming Figures – I like to pick up random gaming figures
Kiss McFarlane Figures – I have a full set of the band that was released in the late 1990s
WWE Elite Figures – this is a new collection, and I am looking to collect a few figures that were my favourite wrestlers of the past.
The Real Ghostbusters Figures – the retro line that came out in 2020
Why Do I Love Collecting?
I love figure collecting because as I said above it reflects my pop culture tastes. It also brings a sense of nostalgia especially when collecting action figures from my childhood. Discovering old and new toys can be a lot of fun, especially when you go out looking for them and can physically pick them up and look at them before you buy them.
I also love that with so many adult collectors now collecting toys that there are new figures and products being launched all the time. If there is something you are interested in there is probably an action figure for it (or at least a Funko Pop)!
Are You Thinking About Collecting Action Figures?
If you are thinking about starting a figure collection it is important to focus on what you want to collect and what you want to get out of it:
- Are you collecting figures that you had growing up?
- Is your collection going to be based around another interest such as movies?
- Have you thought about a spending budget?
- How will you display your figures.
If you can limit your choices early on, then this will allow you to focus on a specific set of action figures and from there you can then branch out to other figure lines if you want to.
Starting a Collection
Once you have decided what you are collecting and how much you have to spend you can start buying and hunting for your first action figures.
If you are collecting new figures you will find them:
- In local stores that sell action figures.
- Specialist stores such as Forbidden Planet or Comic bookstores.
- Online retailers such as Amazon
- eBay – where you need to be careful and have a good idea of current prices.
If you are collecting old/retro figures you can find them:
- On Facebook Marketplace – check regularly for your local area.
- Boot Fairs/Flea Markets – not always guaranteed but the more you go, the more you should find over time and hopefully priced competitively.
- eBay – you can find pretty much everything on eBay but a lot of the time you will probably be paying a higher price to get specifically what you want. Always a good last resort though.
- Toy fairs and conventions – again you might have to pay a bit more, but you are more likely to find figures that you want to add to your collection.
- Trade with other collectors – if you can find other collectors on social media you can trade with them and even make new friends within the collecting community.
Terminology To Look Out For
Below you will find some useful terminology that you may come across when buying action figures, especially if you are buying vintage or retro figures that aren’t brand new:
- “MIB” means “mint in box”.
- “MIP” means “mint in package”.
- “MOC” means “mint on card”
- “NM” means “near mint” – the figure is in the package but there is some wear and tear on the package.
- “Beater” means an action figure not in good conditions and will need upgrading.
- “Loose Limbs” means an action figure has loose arms or legs. This is a common with vintage Star Wars Figures.
Action Figure Resources
The following websites and YouTube channels are great resources to get ideas, tips and see what new action figures are coming on to the market:
- Action Figure Insider (website)
- Toy News International (website)
- The Toyark (website)
- Pixel Dan (YouTube Channel)
- Pizzaro’s Pieces (YouTube Channel)
I really enjoy figure collecting. Just like collecting retro games my love for action figures and toys comes straight from my 1980’s childhood. We were spoiled for great toy lines such as Star Wars, Masters of the Universe and transformers just to name a few.
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