Action Figures!
Do you like action figures? Collect them? Did you play with them as a kid? If so, what sort appeals to you?
Getting into the Action
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about action figures… And that’s gotten me thinking about action figures and their connection to stories.
Although I know some purists will differ, for the purposes of today’s Wander, I’m going to include figures that some might call “dolls” in the discussion. Since, according to Wikipedia, the term “action figure” was first coined by Hasbro for their G.I. Joe line, and the early G.I. Joes were clearly dolls, just dolls meant for boys rather than girls, I think I’m on safe ground. And, of course, figures of this sort pre-date Hasbro coining the term. “Tin soldiers” filled the need long before plastics came along. They were followed by any number of rubber and plastic figures.
As I see it, there are three general classes into which action figures fall: figures that are essentially illustrations of a specific character from comics, television, or movies; figures with some story, and figures without a backstory .
Dolls tied to specific television and movie characters go back a long way. Their shapes have changed along with affordable materials, until today you may purchase a highly poseable representation of the character of your choice, complete with characteristic equipment. Although still marketed to children, many adults collect these as well. Indeed, there is a sub-market of high-priced figures meant for adults.
When I asked on Twitter why people collect action figures, Jas. Marshall replied: “As a talisman w/the traits of the character. Ex: I have a River Song figure from the ep where she made a Dalek beg for mercy.”
Jas. Marshall is in good company here. The attachment to figures of potent characters as talismans probably began back in prehistory. Often these would have been figures of gods or demigods but if, as Christopher Knowles persuasively argues in his book of the same title “our gods wear spandex,” then these action figures are part of a venerable tradition.
Figures with some story have also been around for a long time. Barbie started out as a fashion doll, basically, a miniature model which girls could costume as they chose. However, over time, Barbie acquired a sister (Skipper), a boyfriend (Ken), and various friends. Even when I was a girl (a long, long time ago) there were books telling about their interactions. These stories weren’t very detailed. The one I remember had to do with what Barbie was going to wear to a picnic; the kicker was that after spending page after page trying on different outfits, Barbie arrives at the picnic to find that everyone is wearing the same dress. Nonetheless, these slim books did give a sense of potential stories involving Barbie and her friends.
Today, of course, Barbie has moved into the class of figure with a full and detailed backstory, which is presented in movies, books, and comics. She has a great deal of company in this.
One of the most fascinating evolutions related to action figures and story is the “Ever After High” line of dolls/action figures. These dolls are supposed to be the descendants of various fairytale characters. Some are happy to follow the tradition set by their parents. Others want to break the mold and make their own stories.
Author Shannon Hale tells on her website how she (an already established author of YA and middle grade fiction) was approached to write the backstories for these characters, up to and including novels. What’s fascinating about this to me is that these were dolls that hadn’t yet been released. Other than alluding to traditional fairytales, they were not tie-ins to any existing story. However, having a story in place was clearly meant to make them more compelling.
That’s rather cool. I plan to read the first book in the series, because I want to find out more.
Providing a toy with a backstory is not unique, certainly. However, a more common mechanism for getting the story out has been a cartoon series (Jem; He-Man and the Masters of the Universe) as the marketing tool of choice, not the old-fashioned, so often maligned book.
However, despite the mechanism being in place for promoting action figures as part of an existing story, there are plenty of figures that are provided with only the thinnest of stories: sometimes only a name and a few lines of text. Some of the figures in today’s picture fall into that category. The animal-warrior figures are from Papo and are listed in their catalog simply as “Mutant Lion” and “Mutant Tiger.” Who mutated them, why they were mutated, and whether they are unique or part of a larger culture is left to the imagination of the owner.
The producers of the I Am Elemental figures go out of their way not to provide a backstory for their characters, even though in other ways these masked figures greatly resemble higher-end superhero action figures (which are usually tied to some comic franchise or other). I Am Elemental’s website makes clear they are prompting a “play experience where girls are the creators of their own stories.”
Obviously, I have action figures, including the ones in the illustration. Although I don’t have any that I’ve purchased because of their association with a favorite series or movie, I do own a couple. For example, I have a blue-haired anime figure that Jim bought me, not because she was the heroine of Sakura Wars (which I’ve never seen), but because, at that time, the character I was playing in a friend’s RPG happened to have blue hair. So, my figure is named Yunome Ame, not Sakura.
And, believe me, if I saw the right figure from a favorite show, I wouldn’t hesitate to join Jas. Marshall in giving it shelf-space as a talisman.
That said, most of my figures have been purchased because of a sense that there’s a story there. In some cases, the story has been written. The pale-featured young woman on the horse in today’s illustration would become Blackrose in my short story “Hunting the Unicorn.” A certain two-headed dragon given as a gift by a college friend would become Betwixt and Between in my first published novel Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls.
I rather like to think that someday I’ll find the right story to go with the Mutant Tiger and Mutant Lion.
So… Do you like action figures? Collect them? Did you play with them as a kid? If so, what sort appeals to you? Have any of them ever given you a story?
