Comic book genres as action figure inspiration.

[Atomic Knight]

This is something that can apply to both DC and Marvel, but I bring the topic here specifically as we don’t have much inkling of what Mattel will do next year. And Legends is much further along on its journey of exploring the Marvel Universe anyway.

This is a discussion about comics only. And the many different genres that used to comprise the industry. That started to fall apart around the time that the direct market was established as well as the “DC Implosion”. Primary major genres include:

•Superheroes (duh)
•Science Fiction
•War
•Western
•Fantasy/Sword and Sorcery/Medieval
•Supernatural/Horror
•Big Monsters

Minor genres include:

•Teens (like Archie)
•Action/Adventure (generally normal human protagonists)
•Spies
•Romance
•Martial Arts

Both Marvel and DC have ample supplies of all of these. And there’s more if ya wanna dig deeper.

War is problematic as most of Marvel’s War titles are WWII centric. And it’s tough to have Nazi antagonists made into figures. But a Howling Commandos 8-pack would be insane.

Hasbro has done a great job with Science Fiction, but they can always do more. Killraven and the rest of the original Guardians of the Galaxy would be a good start.

Night Rider is so cool, it’s one of the figures that pushed me over the edge to start buying Legends in the first place. Rawhide Kid, Two Gun Kid and so many more are just out there waiting…

I’ll take some more Crystar. Arkon is awesome. Always thought so. How ‘Bout Skull the Slayer? Weirdworld?

Classic Horror is where it’s at. Gimme Tomb of Dracula all day long. Blade, Frankenstein, the Mummy, etc.

But what I’d like to see more of is the Monsters of the Marvel Universe, pre Fantastic Four #1. In fact, I’d buy a Haslab subscription for a Fin Fang Foom sized figure every other month. Reissue FFF, then follow up with an old school Groot. Build out from there.

Your thoughts on more/different genres…?

 

[tasmaniantwister]

It's one of the real under-discussed strengths of the Marvel Universe, characters from all these different genres existing in the same world (s).

As far as genres, I'd throw in Mythology. Obviously, the Asgardians and Olympians, but also other pantheons and characters from every inhabited continent on the planet. There's something cool about every belief system having some basis in reality and being able to interact with each other.

 

[Ultra Seven]

... a Howling Commandos 8-pack would be insane.

I can tell you that I have absolutely dreamed of this. I doubt it's even on the Hasbro team's radar, but it would magnificent. My collection focuses 60s-80s basically in exclusivity, one of my dreams is to have a "dawn of the Marvel Universe" shelf with the lead characters of Marvel's silver ae titles as they appeared on the cover of their first appearance. Making pretty good headway, but Sgt. Fury is the holdout:

... and I don't think they'd be too arduous from a tooling standpoint, given the WW2 Logan they put out last year. And come on, show me the Marvelite who wouldn't want to recreate the cover of Sgt. Fury #13. I'll take away their no-prize.

 

[PanchaMaestro]

Not to stir anything I but I assume by minor genre you mean minor for influencing action figures today. Because romance and teen comics were huge in their day. Pulling numbers Absolute Batman could only dream of. I might would buy decent Dan Decarlo style Betty and Veronica for my classic comics shelf. Mostly out of interest in Decarlo than the characters. Would I buy a Patsy Walker figure. Hmmmm

Marvels war stuff would have to be so overtly Kirby for me to buy it.

 

[Ultra Seven]

Patsy Walker and Millie the Model are characters I am reluctant to say I would pre-order day one.