Figures Toy Co.

Rich has been talking a lot about Figures Toy Company lately so, being curious as I am, it was time to take a look for myself.

Unlike some of the other collectors here on TKL I really don't have a connection to the whole Mego look since I wasn't exposed to them as a child. While the I am able to see the appeal it just never struck me as particularly engaging. That being said I was uncertain what I would find when I visited their site. Needless to say Rich was right. They do an excellent job in recreating the design of older dolls quite well and this makes up the bulk of their product line which spans multiple series and franchises. FTC also sells wrestling figures which I did not explore, though I have the feeling Rich (who has been a fan since childhood) did.

Harry Potter

8" Harry Action Figure

12" Harry Action Figure

Ron Weasley

8" Ron Action Figure

12" Ron Action Figure

Drako Malfoy

8" Drako Action Figure

12" Drako Action Figure

My only real complaint about the series is that they excluded Hermione Granger from the line. For real fans of the Harry Potter series there is a base set, the trio, to be complete. If you can't collect Harry, Ron, and Hermoine you can't have a set. Drako is a nice touch, but only as far as being an extra and as they opted for only three figures they would have been better served with various incarnations of Harry. With that said, I feel that overall the figures in either the 8 or 12 inch incarnation could compete on the level of other merchandise for the franchise quite well. Had these figures been released ten years ago–that is, prior to the last film–they would have made waves and impressed fans. I know I would have been. Now, you really only have a small dedicated group that is interested in other aspects of the franchise that moves away from collector dolls, though I am aware of a number of premium offerings in that department as well.

All in all the series of Harry Potter dolls from Figures Toy Company are a nice inclusion for the fandom and I am certain there are a lot of happy collectors out there that are glad that they got theirs while they could.

Recently I have begun to explore the world of FTC and what a fantastic world that is indead! While browsing their site I happened upon a find of a lifetime. Conan. Not just Conan the Barbarian mind you, an indreible 8" version that made my Mego dreams come true. Well, almost true. You see–Conan has gone into retirement. And as much as it pains me there was no way I was going to miss out on the opportunity to share not just Conan the Barbarian but Solomon Kane and Kull The Conqueror figures as well (I need to share my pain).

And before you tell me that there are plenty of action figures for Conan ... I know. They even spun off the series and turned it into a short lived children's cartoon released in 1992. Which is to question the sense of exposing children to the not kid friendly work of Robert E. Howard. The series came complete with its own line of figures. Though they were not half as impressive as ... These!

Conan the Barbarian

Includes an authentic cloth outfit, molded axe, boots, belt & wrist guards. Comes in resealable plastic clamshell packaging that can be opened and closed without damaging the figure.

Solomon Kane

Includes an authentic cloth outfit with a molded sword, pistol, gloves & boots. Also includes a cloth hat. Comes in resealable plastic clamshell packaging that can be opened and closed without damaging the figure.

Kull the Conqueror

Includes an authentic cloth outfit, molded axe, boots, belt, wrist guards & crown. Comes in resealable plastic clamshell packaging that can be opened and closed without damaging the figure.

Figures Toy Company has been producing a lot of different Joker figures, but what makes this pair jump out is the added level of detail they have received. Both Gold Card figures, they are exclusively sold be Excelsior Toys. That means if you are looking for them elsewhere you will be disappointed.

DC Comics Retro Outfit Joker Action Figure

This classic 8" Joker is pulled right out of the pages of some of Batman's greatest adventures. Sporting his Tux, the figure has a nicely tailored costume which plays on the characters style and sense of humor.

Retro Harley Quinn Action Figure

Harley Quinn fan? This 8-inch Golden Card figure has striking out fit. The choice in material is different than many of the FTC figures you'll find in their assortment, yet it is still true to the Bruce Timm and Paul Dinni design.

Are you looking for something original to add to your collection? For batman fans look no further than these retro 8-inchers produced by Figures Toy Company. These figures featuring Batman in his classic black costume are an Excelsior Toys exclusive so you can't order them directly through FTC.

When I saw the character I immediately thought of the Tim Burton classic film from '89. I can recall back to the day that my dad and I went to see it, sitting there together in the dark theater it was a treat for both of us, as he was the one that introduced me to the comics. I re-watched the film earlier this year, having not seen it for more than a decade, and I can only say that I wish they had had this figure back then.

Without Removable Cowl

There are actually three versions to choose from. The original Batman figure is sculpted with a rounder softer face and cowl. This was later reworked to be more inline with the DC Comics look of the character in his black costume. The new sculpt sports an edgier face and chin which deviates slightly from the Mego look, but only slightly, which shouldn't be a deal breaker for most fans.

Original Sculpt

New Head Sculpt

With Removable Cowl

Retro action figures are definitely part of collecting. Not everyone enjoys this aspect or actively follows it, but for some the desire to reclaim a portion of their childhood is a strong indicator on whether or not figure X is desirable. Of course we can't all go down that path, there is a finite number of toys still in existence (and most of these are in less than stellar condition) but we are in luck. There has been a growing trend among the toy market to produce modern figures in retro styles. Super 7, Funko, NECA, and others have given us many of the figures we dreamed about as children or similarly styled characters from modern franchises. Yet, that still leaves a lot of room for expression and one company has worked actively to fill that void.

When I learned of Figure Toy Co. I was intrigued by the large assortment of figures they have to offer. The figures are true to the 8" doll style of figures popularized by Mego, yet they offer figures the former manufacturer never did or could. Much like the Retro Daredevil released from Diamond the lines produced by FTC are true to their genres and the look that has since become iconic.

I was first introduced to them through their Super Friends line based on the long running DC cartoon series (of which I was a devoted fan of as a child). When I saw the Super Friends Darkseid figure I knew that I had to report on this stellar find.

Darkseid, at 8" tall is massive, but that is not the only thing that makes this entry so fun. Everything from the head sculpt to the sewn costume fits perfectly with what you would expect from a figure of this type.