Skyward Fire

The latest and maybe the most important invention in mankind’s history since the discovery of powerful video game consoles, the cell processor and the various games that we play in modern times has been invented. Yes, I am talking about the Time Machine (was just finished last week) and I am going to be the first one to use it and will be using it to travel back in time to the date 22 June 1965 and location Wermelskirchen, Germany. “Why that particular date?” you might ask; well that was the unfateful day when the infamous Uwe Boll was born and I will make sure that he does not grow up to become a movie director and make vomit inducing movies out of uber-cool games (Farcry anyone?).

Are you still reading this? OK, so now that I have your attention, here’s the real deal.

The time machine has not yet been invented ( I bet I had gotten all your hopes up for time traveling to the Mesozoic era and playing Turok first hand, but sorry people, maybe in the next century). What this article is really about is .. well .. ACTION FIGURES!!

Yes you read that right.

What do you understand when i say the word “Action figure”? According to our wonderful Wikipedia -”An action figure is a poseable character figurine, often made of plastic and other materials, and often based upon movie, comic book or video game characters.”

Now that you have a basic idea of what it is, allow me to elaborate in my own words what I think an action figure is, first of all and quite simply it is a magnificent piece of art amongst other things. It is also a faithful replica of your favorite game, comic or movie protagonist which you can keep in your room, on your desk, in your display shelf and many other possible places to basically appreciate the work of the hard working creators and designers who made the character for that movie or game in the first place.

Now if you are going to say that these things are for kids then my friend let me tell you how hugely mistaken you are. Action figures are a big deal in this time and to support that claim here is a little fact for you guys – Today Action figures are a 1.5 billion dollar business and one of the few segments of the toy industry that actually grew in the last few years. The majority of people that buy these are in their twenties and their thirties and are really not kids anymore. Let’s look at an example shall we – If I buy and wear a t-shirt that says ‘Metallica Rocks’ then it’s cool, and I am just expressing my love for their music? But if I buy an action figure of James Hetfield and keep it on my desk then that’s kiddish, eh?? Oh pleassse … and you say I need to grow up. These days there are companies solely devoted to making action figures and nothing else like Mcfarlane, NECA, Mezco, SOTA along with many others.

It’s less about play action for the collectors than it is about getting it right. The overall look and feel of a figure by which i mean the sculpt, the paint job, articulation and capturing the intricate details (like say the mandibles of a predator or the chains of Kratos) has to be awesome.

Nowadays with every new blockbuster movie or a great game there are licensing deals for making action figures and collectibles of the characters.It started with Star Wars and became a rage from then onwards. May that be movies, sports, games, comics even music bands there are action figures of almost everything. And it is a great way of immortalizing that particular moment or the character in 3D and it is also a way of just showing your likes and dislikes, like “Hey, I like God of war and that’s why I have a 12 inch Kratos standing on top of my desktop monitor.”

I am an action figure collector myself and have been one since as long as I can remember. Sadly in our great country India, this hobby is almost non-existent, but I wish to change that and I hope this post will work as a catalyst for the same. Here’s a link bunch for some fantastic action figures from my very own collection. Keep a look out for more on action figures right here!