Mythological/Legends/Religious Figures combo thread

[fac]

I thought since multiple companies are making 1:10 or 1:12 scale figures from various myths, cultures and religions it might be nice to have a thread dedicated to this. Not only what is being produced but what is rumored and what people may want to see.

As a caveat, I would recommend that we refrain from discussing merits of myths and religions or individual beliefs, lets just assume that what might not have meaning for one person may have meaning for another person.

I will try to update this first post with any product/companies that seems to fit.

Egypt -
Four Horsemen - https://www.sourcehorsemen.com/figura-obscura/gods-ancient-egypt
Part of the Figure Obscura line (thread here: https://articulatedthoughts.com/threads/figura-obscura.85/)
Anubis (released)
Bastet (released)
Thoth (available at LegionsCon 25, regular release in 2026)

India -
Hierophant Entertainment - https://www.thehierophantentertainment.com/
Legends of Ramayan line began as a Kickstarter, some available now and some available for pre-order.
First wave (released)
Hanuman (also Hanuman Accessory Pack)
Vaali
Second wave (due early 2026)
Rama (2 versions - regular and Prince Rama)
Lakshmana (2 versions - regular and Prince Lakshmana)
Sugriva
Meghnad
Ravana, (also Ravana Enraged Accessory Pack)

Four Horsemen - https://www.sourcehorsemen.com/figura-obscura/ganesha
Part of the Figure Obscura line:
Ganesha (released)

China - Journey to the West
HaoYu Toys has the four main characters, plus the horse and a diarama base (link to BBTS for images: https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Sear...der=Relevance&Company=592&Brand=3096&Scale=72) I believe these are based on the TV series from Chine made in 1986. I think these have all been releasedin China.
Sun Wukong (Monkey King)
Sha Wujing
Zhu Bajie
Tang Sanzang
White Dragon Horse

Fury Toys has two from the story as well:
Monkey King (https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/267933)
Azure Lion (https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/258625)

Multiple companies have made Monkey King figures in this scale.
Four Horsemen also did the Monkey King as part of Figura Obscura

Figura Obscura: Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from Four Horsemen Studios

www.sourcehorsemen.com

Japan
D13 Toys is making a line based on Japanese folklore and mythology called Nippon Adventures, including samurai, geisha and yokai demons. Kickstarter launches mid-January, some proto sculpts were shown at LegionsCon, but full list is not revealed yet - full thread here: https://articulatedthoughts.com/threads/nippon-adventures-d13-toys.284/

Greece
Shinfu Toys/Berserker Studio is doing some Greek gods, starting with the three brothers. I didn't find too many updates on this if it is continuing.
Zeus (released)
Hades (released)
Poseidon (ver 1 - https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/262725)
Poseidon (ver 2 - https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/247554)

Judeo/Christian
D13 Toys has their Biblical Adventures line which included figures based on the Bible Old and New Testaments plus artwork. A planned continuation has been discussed but not sure about the timeline. D13 Store: https://www.d13toys.com/category/all-products
Thread here: https://articulatedthoughts.com/threads/biblical-adventures.206/
Old Testament
Moses (Young - with Pharoah option, and Old)
Temple set with High Priest
New Testament
Jesus (multiple versions, based on different artwork)
John the Baptist
Roman Soldiers
From classic artwork
Demons and Lucifer
Angels and Michael

Please add to the list - especially if there have been figures for...
Norse
Celtic
Roman
Aztec
African (broad category)
Native American (broad category)
Polynesian

 

[fac]

I almost included the Marvel Legends most recent Odin here, he seems out of scale to me for Legends, but could also work as a "generic" Odin (sort of). Thoughts?

 

[docsilence]

Great idea. Also I've been looking for a Zhu Bajie that I like and this list led me to the Black Myth version over on BBTS I may need to pick up.

 

[Damien]

I almost included the Marvel Legends most recent Odin here, he seems out of scale to me for Legends, but could also work as a "generic" Odin (sort of). Thoughts?

That brings up an interesting topic of conversation that might be outside the scope here but is still kind of relevant: When does it STOP being a myth/religion figure? Odin being the great example. That is clearly MARVEL's Odin, but it bears virtually no resemblance at all to anything someone within the myth/religion world would recognize as Odin. Is it still an Odin figure, or is it too specific to being the specific superhero character?

There's also that new company making the barbarian guys line - Brutal Realm. I think the company is just Realm Toys? Several of the characters are from mythology/history. Ogun is African myth. Uruk is Sumerian but is a made-up character named after a place, but also could just be an actual Sumerian mythological character like Gilgamesh if you wanted. There's other figures that are just generic members of a mythological or historical cycle - Native American, Celtic, etc.

Also, do the old Stargate figures count as Egyptian mythology? There's another 'whole other conversation' kind of thing.

As a caveat, I would recommend that we refrain from discussing merits of myths and religions or individual beliefs, lets just assume that what might not have meaning for one person may have meaning for another person.

As an addendum to this, it's also worth noting that differentiating between 'myths' and 'religions' already assigns merit to beliefs. There are living practitioners today of almost every 'myth' religion. Probably won't come up here, but you never know. Someone could get ornery at the suggestion that the Greek Gods were just myths.

 

[PanchaMaestro]

That is a very specific use of the term "myth"; to ascribe a story to be false or superstitious. That meaning is quite modern. The primary meaning of the word myth is an ancient story that tells us something fundamental about ourselves and our environment; usually involving supernatural elements. It has zero assertions about the validity or "truth" of said story. This is the first 20 minutes of every Religious Studies class I ever TA'd.

Myths are living things. There is no "right" version of them. They constantly evolve. Even the myths we know as ancient evolved over time in their time; to suit their needs. Take the primary myth of "Western Culture"; the Iliad and Odyssey. The Trojan war "happened" around 1200 BCE; the oral tradition churned for hundreds of years with these stories; particularly from 900-600 BCE when Greeks regained writing. Then theses stories began to be written down and by the Greek Classical period 400-300 BCE they probably had their basic form. Of course we only have versions from the Middle Ages; copies of copies of copies. There is no one thing that is the "proper" myth. Marvel's Odin is a foot note to the "real" Odin. His story addresses the concerns of the age he was created in in the same way those other Odins addressed the concerns of theirs. Marvel's Odin I would assert arises in post modern world's concerns about capitalism and anxieties about technology and authority.

 

[Damien]

That is a very specific use of the term "myth"; to ascribe a story to be false or superstitious. That meaning is quite modern. The primary meaning of the word myth is an ancient story that tells us something fundamental about ourselves and our environment; usually involving supernatural elements. It has zero assertions about the validity or "truth" of said story. This is the first 20 minutes of every Religious Studies class I ever TA'd.

100% -- but you're talking about the difference between public and academic understanding of these concepts. I've had theological debates with literal Catholic priests where we talked about the 'Christian myths' with no problem, and I've been absolutely -screamed- at by regular 'Christians' for saying the words 'Christian myths.' That's what I was referring to - just the word myth, in modern parlance if not in academia, makes an implication some people are not comfortable with or will outright get angry about. Most people have not taken any Religious Studies classes (although they should).

Myths are living things. There is no "right" version of them. They constantly evolve. Even the myths we know as ancient evolved over time in their time; to suit their needs. Take the primary myth of "Western Culture"; the Iliad and Odyssey. The Trojan war "happened" around 1200 BCE; the oral tradition churned for hundreds of years with these stories; particularly from 900-600 BCE when Greeks regained writing. Then theses stories began to be written down and by the Greek Classical period 400-300 BCE they probably had their basic form. Of course we only have versions from the Middle Ages; copies of copies of copies. There is no one thing that is the "proper" myth. Marvel's Odin is a foot note to the "real" Odin. His story addresses the concerns of the age he was created in in the same way those other Odins addressed the concerns of theirs. Marvel's Odin I would assert arises in post modern world's concerns about capitalism and anxieties about technology and authority.

This is where I think we probably diverge in opinion. I don't think you can necessarily just slap a name on something and say it is still that thing no matter what you do with it. At least not and have it be recognized as part of the traditional understanding of that thing. I could write a book where Thor is the son of Hela and Tyr, and has long black hair and golden skin. I could make it interesting and compelling. But if I went into an academic position and taught that Thor is those things as factual elements of Norse mythology, I'd be fired. And I would say when most people are talking about 'the myths,' they're talking about our oldest and best understanding of them, not 'everything anyone has ever done with those characters since then.' Which is why @AceofKnaves categorically rejects the idea that Dracula is actually Judas.

 

[fac]

That brings up an interesting topic of conversation that might be outside the scope here but is still kind of relevant: When does it STOP being a myth/religion figure? Odin being the great example. That is clearly MARVEL's Odin, but it bears virtually no resemblance at all to anything someone within the myth/religion world would recognize as Odin. Is it still an Odin figure, or is it too specific to being the specific superhero character?

That's why I didn't include it - it is Odin-esque, but I am not well versed on how Odin was represented in the artwork of the day.

Not going to try to police the thread, but my thought was to keep it to more traditional appearance and not when co-opted by media to fit into a different story - so I'd say no to Stargate or Marvel or DC gods and goddesses if it was me.

As an addendum to this, it's also worth noting that differentiating between 'myths' and 'religions' already assigns merit to beliefs. There are living practitioners today of almost every 'myth' religion. Probably won't come up here, but you never know. Someone could get ornery at the suggestion that the Greek Gods were just myths.

That is a very specific use of the term "myth"; to ascribe a story to be false or superstitious. That meaning is quite modern. The primary meaning of the word myth is an ancient story that tells us something fundamental about ourselves and our environment; usually involving supernatural elements. It has zero assertions about the validity or "truth" of said story. This is the first 20 minutes of every Religious Studies class I ever TA'd.

I wasn't assigning those terms to any particular culture or group I listed for what its worth.

 

[Damien]

Not going to try to police the thread, but my thought was to keep it to more traditional appearance and not when co-opted by media to fit into a different story - so I'd say no to Stargate or Marvel or DC gods and goddesses if it was me.

Makes sense to me. That does narrow the field quite a lot. I don't think too many companies have ever tackled traditional religion/myth stuff without the pop culture bent driving them on.

That's why I didn't include it - it is Odin-esque, but I am not well versed on how Odin was represented in the artwork of the day.

Pirate Gandalf...basically?

 

[PanchaMaestro]

You'd be fired b/c you would be asserting the Thor of antiquity or the middle ages was known to do A, B & C but there is no evidence of that. Thor is known to do A, B, & C from your 2018 novel or Jack Kirby's 1968 comic book. You'd be making a false historical assertion about what myths are told and when and what they probably meant and to whom. It's bad history; not bad myth making. Your and Marvel's Thor have a different kind of historical and cultural impact as Thor of 850 CE.

I am just saying there is no way to freeze this things in time. They weren't back then either. Nor are they know. Thor of Denmark in 450CE is different from the Thor of Northumbria in 970CE which is different from the Thor of Long Island NY 1966.

I mean Marvel's Odin has very Odin like things about him. Old man with one eye and 2 ravens and a spear. But he's all dressed up like Darth Vader going to a disco.

Dracula is a little different. He is a literary character elaborated on after his creation by multiple authors. Religious mythical stories and characters are established over long periods of time by multiple "authors". There is no primary text for their long line of creators to point to. Ganesh has no Bram Stoker.

 

[fac]

Makes sense to me. That does narrow the field quite a lot. I don't think too many companies have ever tackled traditional religion/myth stuff without the pop culture bent driving them on.

Essentially, if it was 500 BC and Egypt or Greece could produce plastic action figures, what would they have them look like.

 

[Damien]

You'd be fired b/c you would be asserting the Thor antiquity or the middle ages was known to do A, B & C but there is no evidence of that. Thor is known to do A, B, & C from your 2018 novel or Jack Kirby's 1968 comic book. You'd be making a false historical assertion about what myths are told and when and what they probably meant and to whom. It's bad history; not bad myth making. Your and Marvel's Thor have a different kind of historical and cultural impact as Thor of 850 CE.

I am just saying there is no way to freeze this things in time. They weren't back then either. Nor are they know. Thor of Denmark in 450CE is different from the Thor of Northumbria in 970CE which is different from the Thor of Long Island NY 1966.

No, I understand that. I think you're missing my point. I'm talking about what regular people mean when they talk about the myths. If someone says to you "I really want a good figure that represents mythological Thor" you'd be a complete asshole to be like "every figure of Thor is mythological Thor." You know what they mean and you're just being an insufferable pedant if you do that, I think you can agree. Like correcting someone's pronunciation of 'Odin.' It's not helping anything and it's probably not relevant to what they're even asking you.
Or if my son said 'did Thor have lightning powers in the myths?' and I was like 'yes,' because in the modern Marvel comics he does - I'm not really answering the question he's trying to ask, I'm answering the question I want to answer to be the smartest guy in the room. The most important thing I ever learned studying history and mythology (and theology) was to meet people where they are instead of talking around them.

At the very least, there's a lot of qualifying questions. Relevant to this thread if someone said 'what about a really good King Arthur figure?' Oh boy... I've GOTTA start with 'what do you mean by King Arthur -- what kind of King Arthur are you looking for?' To be fair, though, if someone asked me about a good Thor figure with no context at all, I'd probably be like 'Hasbro did that 80th Anniversary one that was pretty good.' But then again, I don't think people ask for mythological action figures very often so that would never be my first assumption.

Essentially, if it was 500 BC and Egypt or Greece could produce plastic action figures, what would they have them look like.

Or what do we think they would have made them look like, I suppose. I can get behind an 'our best guess' kind of line. I think in the 1:18 scale Boss Fight was doing a decent job of that with the Greek line. Their Athena and Medusa are really nice (although the medusa is definitely as inspired by Harryhausen as anything else). Unfortunately, we didn't get very far with that before it ended.

 

[PanchaMaestro]

Oh I totally get you. Get the distinction of popular culture Thor vs mythical Thor. That's why I'd have no interest in those Berserker Studios Greek figures. 4 Horseman and Heirophant for the win all the way. I mean they are totally fine; but we have more than enough stuff with video game and other popculture fantasy type influences. The appeal to me is more how these characters were more or less presented for 1000s of years before all that.

If asked what's a good Thor figure I don't think I'd be a pedant to say like "from Marvel comics?" If someone asks what's a good Apollo figure if I asked "based on League of Legends?" or whatever that I'm being an ass.

I mean King Arthur is a great example that the oldest isn't necessarily the "best" or most iconic. We think of King Arthur as a medieval character not an ancient Welshman!

 

[fac]

Relevant to this thread if someone said 'what about a really good King Arthur figure?' Oh boy... I've GOTTA start with 'what do you mean by King Arthur -- what kind of King Arthur are you looking for?'

Funny you mention that because whether King Arthur, or the Odyssey, fits into this or not was something I thought about, given I included Journey to the West. I could go either way on those.

Or what do we think they would have made them look like, I suppose. I can get behind an 'our best guess' kind of line.

Yes, I mean there is no "right" answer but for instance, this version of Marvel's Hercules in spandex is probably not how he was envisioned by kids first hearing his story 2,500 years ago...

 

[fac]

That's why I'd have no interest in those Berserker Studios Greek figures.

Curious what your thoughts would be about an "accurate" line - I feel the problem with doing an "accurate" line for the Greek or Roman gods is that their looks are pretty dull really.

 

[yojoebro82]

I would take a Jesus action figure. I don't quite know how I would want it to look, but I imagine I'll know it when I see it. Four Horsemen would be my pick to do it.