Toys / Toy Collecting

San Diego - Heaven for the Action Figure Geek

By Randy Herkowitz
July 24, 2008 - 08:45

The San Diego Comic-Con is geek heaven if there ever was one.  What started out as a small 300 person comic book convention in 1970 has grown into a monster four day event featuring movie stars, comic book artists, toy companies and everything in-between.

In particular, toy companies small and large use this amazing event that brings in over a hundred thousand consumers to introduce and show off new products.  Not only that but most toy companies offer an exclusive item for sale no where else but at the San Diego Comic-Con itself.



These exclusives tend to attract a lot of attention on the secondary market due to their exclusivity.  Many items are produced in smaller numbers than the demand.

Every year the show gets bigger, the action figure exclusives get better and the toy community gets more frustrated (that is if you are unable to attend and get all the goodies).  I for one know I am rather troubled that I am unable to go and not just because I want the exclusive toys but as I said earlier, this is geek heaven.  The opportunity to flaunt your fanboy side by dressing up like your favorite superhero or movie character or just observe those who do.



Let’s go back to the action figure exclusives though.  This year in particular has me jealous for those who are fortunate to attend as major and independent toy companies are offering up some of the best exclusives ever for a convention. 



Mattel is probably leading the pack with such action figure exclusives as DC comic books, Lobo action figure for their DC Universe series.  Justice League Unlimited fans are given a treat with a two pack of Giganta. There will be both a standard size version and a ten inch version.  If that wasn’t enough, Mattel Toys is launching their collector targeted Masters of the Universe series of action figures with the King Grayskull (in other words, He-Man himself).



Hasbro Toys is also offering some wonderful items such as a Cobra Commander wearing a suit with a podium for all the fans of the 25th Anniversary line of G.I.Joe action figures.  Hasbro Toys certainly hasn’t forgotten their Transformers loyalists either by offering a Classics style Nemesis Prime and a 6” Titanium Skywarp.

 

Perhaps, I sound a little more bitter than happy that these and other toy companies are offering such great product and maybe I am because I’m not able to go to the convention and even if I was, that does not guarantee me that I will be able to get these action figures before they sell out.



Nevertheless, I look forward to the San Diego Comic-Con each year as it grows into the monster that it has become because I do get to see pictures and hear about what future products are coming out. However, I find it disheartening that there is no other way to get many of these exclusives unless of course you choose to go the Ebay route and spend an arm and a leg to get an otherwise ten dollar articulated piece of plastic.  Nonetheless, it is all part of the hobby.  If you choose to be a collector and want a specific action figure or collectible, you do what you are willing to do to get it.  I just hope I don’t have to put a second mortgage on my house in order to keep my DC Universe action figure collection up to date.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12