Collecting The Creator, As An Action Figure
12.26.07 By Collin DavidOkay, I know that I talk about action figures. A lot. What I hope to communicate in these little talks, more than anything, is that there is a toy for everyone. Sure, a vast majority of well-known action figures focus around superheroic characters or movie properties, but they’re so much more. They’re figural reminders and representations of things we like - and I guarantee you that there’s at least ONE for everyone.
And more and more, there’s one OF everyone. I’m not even sure if I can count the figures created in the likeness of Johnny Depp in his various personas, or the growing collection of through-the-ages Elvises (Elvi?) - but even behind the scenes, and usually fairly camera shy, we have the creators, thinkers and artists behind the things we love. While it’s uncommon that these guys ever get too much personal exposure, they do get a lot of intellectual respect, and recently, action figures of themselves. And almost always, it’s really clever.
The first action figure / creator item that came to my attention happened within the Muppet Show line of action figures by Palisades. Through a limited edition, Collector’s Club only event, Palisades created a complete action figure of Jim Henson. Of course, since this was a Muppet line, they created the figure of Henson in his Muppet form so that he’d blend in with the rest of his creations. The actual Henson Muppet appeared on the show a few times as a background character, but the posthumous homage to Henson as a Muppet, godfather to such a vast and interesting array of creations, was both appropriate and moving.
Peter Jackson, director of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, also appeared as an action figure created by ToyBiz. While Jackson didn’t appear onscreen, (and please correct me if I’m wrong - there was a lot going on in those movies), he appeared as a rare Hobbit figure, right alongside Frodo, Sam, Pippin and the like. In properties where there are large, generic races of things and armies of faceless warriors, one can often find the face of a crew member or other important behind-the-scenes players slipped in among the masses. Peter Jackson also made an appearance as a Corsair Warrior in a line of statues created by Sideshow Toys.
Todd McFarlane, creator of Spawn, collector of baseballs, controversial personality, and toy revolutionary, possibly made the earliest appearance of a creator-as-action-figure. While not an independently released toy, McFarlane was a pack-in accessory in the Spawn Alley Playset, as ‘Todd the Bum’. The whole McFarlane toy company has always had a bizarre sense of humor. The figure was later re-released through the collectors’ club as ‘Todd the Artist’.
Of all creators, George Lucas has had the most figures made of himself - all of them limited edition and usually only available in special giveaways, conventions, or online shops. He’s appeared as a Stormtrooper, a Rebel Pilot named Jorg Sacul, and also in a Lucas family four-pack, which features likenesses of the whole Lucas family (two of whom have appeared in the Star Wars films in one way or another). Within this pack, Lucas is re-named ‘Baron Papanoida’, and is again given an alien biography to back up the figure - but he’s never really been great with creating alien names. Unofficially, Lucas has made a fourth appearance in the Star Wars McQuarrie Concept collection of figures. These are an ongoing 
line of figures (mixed in with regular Star Wars assortments) that are based on the original artwork of Ralph McQuarrie, the artist who painted an array of characters and scenes to pitch the Star Wars trilogy to producers. McQuarrie’s painting of the original Han Solo bears a striking resemblance to a young George Lucas. While there’s no official word that this is actually based on Lucas, I’d bet my Death Star on it. Or at least, like, twenty bucks. Ralph McQuarrie has also recently been made into an action figure, conveniently and respectfully named ‘General McQuarrie’.
Quentin Tarantino recently appeared as an action figure also, after he made an on-screen appearance in Grindhouse. In an action figure line with only four figures, he was one, and because of his twisted sense of humor, his figure was simply called ‘Rapist #1’.
We also can’t forget about the immortal Stan Lee - finally made into an action figure during this past summer’s convention season, Marvel Legends style. He features an interchangeable head that he can switch out with Peter Parker, so he also doubles as Spider-Man in some bizarre, old-man way.
And there are surely many left to come. The dreams of us lowly creators becoming action heroes, or at least figures, are becoming more realistic. Be sure to keep an eye out for the Collin David action figure - sometime in the distant future.
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Article Tags: action figures, George Lucas, Jim Henson, Johnny Depp, McFarlane, Muppet Show, Peter Jackson, Stan Lee, ToyBiz================
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