An introduction to action figure collecting

If you’re going to do this as an investment, don’t. Buy some shares of stock as you’ll get more a of a return over the course of a decade compared to actually getting any yields for action figures. People typically collect things because they find an allure to it. So if you’re thinking about starting an action figure collection, you must really love figurines.

I. Beginning your collection:

First off, collect the figures you actually like. If you like marvel comic book heroes, collect it. If you like stars wars characters, purchase it. If you love ken dolls, buy it. The emphasis is, this is about you and what you like. Purchase a model or two to determine if this really interests you. But be warned Collectibles are hard to quit and can really set you back after a while.

II. Care

If you are intending to purchase this figure and you have a child, expect him to make a mess of it. Keeping the action figure in good condition is of utmost importance for a serious collector. You don’t want your awesome “Transformers” model to get ruined.

As a child it would be near impossible to gain satisfaction of a toy just from holding it in his hands. So expect your action figure to be dragged alongside the dirt and gravel. Expect the figure to go on several bathes with your child. You may even expect the child to blow it up with bottled rockets. These will significantly wear down a model. A solution for this would be to buy two copies of the figures, one for yourself and one for your kid.

III. Hardcore

Ok so now that you know you’re obsessed with figurines judging by the way you’ve bought two figurines. You might as well dive into the limited releases. There are a lot of amazing antique toys out there that sparks a memory of an icon you loved as a child. These could be from shows like the classic “Doctor Who” or the “Million Dollar Man”. Because manufacturers no long produce these items, you’ll have to pay a hefty price, and it’ll be worth it.

IV. Care++

You just blew a couple of hundred dollars on a figure you JUST had to have. Now that your wallet has taken a hit, this figure no longer feels as if it can be toyed with. Therefore it would be better for you to keep the figure in its original case. You’d probably put it in a secure place, maybe even behind a glass window if you’ve spent thousands. It would be dry and only to be enjoyed aesthetically through visual perception. Thats the problem with collecting, the more serious you’ve become, the less you’re inclined to play with them.

IV. New developments

Several new toy lines now produce non-movable action figures. They appear more like small statues aimed just for the pleasing aesthetic of sitting on your table. Examples include the new line of “Lost” models from the hit ABC show. These new models appear to be aimed at the older generation who once collected action figures as a child. Its also important to note that many of them are limited releases and may increase in value more quickly. However its also important to note that the popularity depends on the brand of the model.