Popular Action Figures Kids Go for Year after Year

Articles on Kids | Topics: kids, kid

by Hermosa Lara

Most people remember fondly the time they spent as children playing with their toys, especially the so-called action figures that come outfitted with dozens of accessories and were often marketed alongside a hit movie or TV show. The undisputed king of the action figures is still G.I. Joe. Any boy who grew up in the last half century or so probably remembers their first GI Joe toy, and even now the popularity of the action figure with young boys remains. Action figures are often valuable to collectors who specialize in nostalgia items. While the majority of all action figures produced annually appear and disappear without much notice or fanfare, some action figures appear to be here to stay. Here's a short list of popular action figures that have proven themselves the perennial favorites of kids everywhere.

1. G.I. Joe. What would any discussion of popular action figures be without mentioning G.I. Joe? First introduced in 1964 by Hasbro, G.I. Joe continues to entrance young boys everywhere. The first G.I. Joe action figure doll was a runaway hit. The G.I. Joe action figure continues to represent all that's honorable about the American military hero: courage, honor, and grace under fire. Hasbro continues to introduce various extensions of the original action figure doll. Young children can choose between G.I. Joe and his various allies, enemies, and foreign military units. Hasbro has also introduced a line of well-known military heroes, astronauts, and famous military units. The original G.I. Joe doll has reached iconic status in the United States. It is considered a major collector's item that can generate high bidding wars on the eBay and auction circuit.

2. Superhero action figures. One category of action figures that is always in high demand is the superhero action figure. Some superheroes like Superman, Batman and Spiderman are perennial favorites, while the popularity of others goes dormant until the next major motion picture remake. With the latest installment of the mega-popular Spiderman movies, Spiderman and his various villains appear to reign over the superhero action figure market for the moment. With a popular animated series and movie, Batman is also a favorite action figure. The oldest superhero of the bunch, Superman, has been gradually making a comeback. With a popular Superman-themed television series and a major motion picture on the way, it's safe to say that Superman action figures will never stray far from the top of the list.

Historical Quote

I think what everybody calls a miracle is just common sense.... You can look at the attitudes when people come in. That’s why they call it a miracle. These are black kids and they’re not supposed to know the things they know and achieve the way they are achieving.

—Marva Nettles Collins (b. 1936)

Other superhero action figures that are often at the top of kid's lists include the X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, and the Fantastic Four. There is quite a market for superhero action figures. In fact, a whole segment of the action figure market is dedicated to the more obscure and hard to find superhero action figures. Comic book conventions, comic book stores, and eBay are some of the most popular faces for fans to discover and hunt their favorite superhero action figures.

3. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In recent years, Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles has proven one of the most resilient and perennial favorites of the latest wave of action figures. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles originated as a small distribution comic book that was launched into a popular animated TV series. A franchise of major motion pictures followed, cementing the popularity of this num-chuck carrying, pizza loving mutated turtles. Most of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures come spring-loaded and ready to perform cool ninja tricks. They are about 5" tall and come fully accessorized, according to their distinct personality.

4. Star Wars. Who would have known that a medium-sized fantasy Sci-Fi film made in 1977 would become the epic series we know today? Star Wars action figures first became popular in the massive wave of toy popularity that swept the late 1970s and 1980s. Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and Darth Vader were first turned into action figures in the spring of 1978. They immediately became a hit with young fans of the Star Wars movie. And now a whole new generation is discovering the Star Wars universe. The three Star Wars prequel movies have launched a set of new characters that have also been immortalized in action figure plastic. It appears that the popularity of Star Wars action figures will not be waning any time soon.

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Popular Action Figures Kids Go for Year after Year" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by FamilyBabyKids.com.

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