Name your top five greatest action figures of all time, and why...

[enyawd72]

Starting with the 1970's, pick ONE figure from each decade...70's, 80's, 90's, 00's, 10's, and explain why you feel it's the best, whether it's just a personal favorite, nostalgia, design wise, etc.

Here are my picks...

1970's
Kenner's Six Million Dollar Man. This figure sums up the entire decade of the 70's IMO. Unlike Star Wars which has had toys forever now, Steve Austin in his red jogging suit perfectly captures 1970's nostalgia and pop culture like no other. It's a well made, instantly recognizable icon of action figures.

1980's
Mattel's Skeletor. He-Man was the phenomenon of the 80's, and I'll never forget the first Masters of the Universe figure I ever saw. HUGE compared to the Star Wars figures of the time, this bright blue colored, ripped dude with a skull for a head was just about the coolest thing ever.

1990's
McFarlane's Spawn. There's no denying, this company changed action figures forever, taking them from simple playthings to beautifully sculpted and painted works of art. I feel Spawn was at least partly responsible for the explosion of toy collectors in the 90's.

2000's
Toy Biz Marvel Legends face off Hulk. Marvel Legends have been around for over a decade now, cause they're awesome. Within the line Toy Biz had some real winners. They went out on top with their face off series which contained what most everyone agrees is the definitive Hulk figure.

2010's
Hot Toys Christopher Reeve Superman. This is the first figure that ever brought a tear to my eye. This figure is absolute perfection in design and execution, and really shows what modern manufacturing and design can achieve.

[Mikey]

1970's - 12" Gi Joe Adventure Team .... Love Mego, but Joe is THE action figure

1980's - nothing outstandingly good imo

1990's - WWF Hasbro's

2000's - Captain Dunsel commodore decker

2010's - EMCE Six Million Dollar Man

[toys2cool]

60's - Gi joe soldier
70's- Mego batman (First toy i ever bought at a toy show, I was 8 or 9)
80's- toss up between Faker motu & Shipwreck Gi joe
90's hasbro 2nd series Ultimate Warrior (I loved that thing and still have it! )
2000's - WM6 Jakks Ultimate Warrior
2010's- Hot toys 89 Keaton Batman

[Earth 2 Chris]

60s-I'd probably pick the GI Joe action soldier too, although I'd love to say Captain Action.

70s-I'm going to say Mego Batman. The 8" format ruled most of the decade, and Batman (with molded cowl) is the quintessential Mego to me. He also had the most spin-off toys.

80s-This is a 3-way tie between He-Man, Duke from GI Joe RAH, and Optimus Prime. Those three toylines were the 80s for so many kids.

90s-I'm going to be selfish and say Combat Belt Batman (the regular Batman) from BTAS. So many lines were based on cartoons in the 90s, and this series was the first to really translate the look of the show to the toys

2000s-DC Universe Classics Dick Grayson Robin. This figure is my personal favorite of the whole line, and I think he really nails down what this line did so well: present the true classic version of these characters better than any line before.

Chris

[BlackKnight]

... I dunno, Tough Concept ..
I can't pick a Decade.
I'll Right What BK Likes to Play with and Why.

1. Super Powers Batman and the Batmobile..
This is Probably Hands Down my Favorite Toy Duo Ever as a Child. That Batmobile was Driven Harder than Kim Kardashian on Her Best Get Around Day.

2. Snake Eyes the Commando With Timber . RAH 1985
my Favorite 3&3/4 Inch Joe Ever. And I had Many of them. I've Always Been Such a Fan ... and of the Cartoon.

3. DCU Classics ...
Not Sure What to Write Here ..., Kilowog ? ... DeathStroke ... ? Powergirl ? Hawkman ? ... Man, I play with these Guys Like Every Day ..., and Night to Be Honest Here. lol ... I can't pick 1, but There's someone Here.

4. Mego Batman.
He's my Fav. I blame this Guy for my Online Internet Habbits, Ebay and Vintage Mego Collection as well as All of my Custom Nonsense. It's Because of the Re-Discovery of This 8inch Doll in 2001, That I have All This Crap in my House Today .

5. Hot Toys Dutch 12inch Figure.
I waited 20 Years to Get This Guy ... and He didn't disapoint. It's really because of him, that I have bought so many and got into Modern 12inch Figures...., and Now Have so many...., It's like Crack.

[BlackKnight]

2000s-DC Universe Classics Dick Grayson Robin. This figure is my personal favorite of the whole line, and I think he really nails down what this line did so well: present the true classic version of these characters better than any line before.

Chris

lol ...
I just play'ed with him last night ..., Batman , Riddler and Samurai Guest Stared.

[VinMan]

You always have good ideas Dwayne. I thought about this for the past hour...

70's - Mego WGSH Shazam. Loved him then. Love him now. Maybe thats why I have 5 today.
80's - this is a 3 way tie between Super Powers Hawkman, Transformers G1 BlueStreak (my first Transformer ever) and Tri-Clops from MOTU.
90's - I cheated above.... I picked 3 that I was still messing with even in college in the 90's.
2000's - DC Universe Classics Flash. Or maybe Black Manta... Oh no. Deathstroke??
2010's - Young Justice Robin. I know he is cheesy in some ways, but I am always grabbing him to mess with while I watch TV. I liked that 6 inch line. SHould have continued!!

[madmarva]

1. Mego Superman and all his mego buddies
2. Star Wars vehicles
3. 3 3/4 GI Joes and vehicles
4 Super Powers Green Lantern and all his buddies
5. Marvel Legends and DC Universe Classics collect and connect figures

[HardyGirl]

Hmmm...

60s-Toss up between GIJoe and Captain Action. GIJoe was the first "action figure" beyond the molded plastic soldier or cowboy, but Cap was the first interchangable Superhero

70s- This is really tough b/c the 70s were just chock full of great action figures, but I'm gonna have to go w/ Mego. What other company could take the same body mold and turn it into so many cool figures from all kinds of franchises? There was something for everyone, even girls! Sci-fi, superheroes, buddy cops, the whlolesome family, even boxing! you can't get much groovier than that.

80s-The WORST action figure decade IMO. Sorry folks, but I don't like small, molded plastic guys that didn't pose well, and the clothes were painted on, or the accessories could be eaten up by mom's vacuum. And I just didn't like the new concept for GIJoe, or He-man, Transformers, Star Wars figures (except the big ones), She-Ra...yadda yadda....I'm a 70s kid and proud of it!

90s- The return of the 12" GIJoe! Ok, so it didn't start out as my beloved Adventure Team, but they got there eventually. And there were different sets for the Hall Of Fame guys and Classic Collection so there were opportunities for classic play. And I really loved the New Adventures of GIJoe series w/ sharks and rafts and mummies and treasure!

2000-present- The return of "Megos"! Re-Megos, if you like! one of my happy moments was not only discovering this site, but Doc Mego, CTVT, EMCE, CAW, ZICA and BBP! Reliving the magic was possible again, and there are different franchises for Superheroes and Sci-fi and now CUSTOMIZING! (or in my case kitbashing!)

[VintageMike]

Pretty tough but as always all nostalgia with me.

1-Star Wars I was just the right age to see SW explode and Megos start to go by the wayside. Even during my darkest financial days I refused to sell any of my first series childhood figures. First wave of ESB is also tops my list.

2-Mego While WGSH was on teh wane (unbeknownst to us kids) great fun with still to be had bu mixing the remaining WGSH with Star Trek and even the Dukes of Hazzard.

3-G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero The transition toy from childhood to my teens. Have some great vacation memories from early teens but due to becoming a tten Joe didn;t have the long run of Mego & SW

4-Stretch Monster: This guy was used and abused, and we had nothing but fun doing it!

5-WWF Superstars by LJN My love of wrestling kept these toys in my life longer than they would have been otherwise. Side note: The mold for the ring for this line would be reised for years even when the figures no longer scaled to it!

[RickD]

1960's - Gilbert James Bond 007 and Odd Job

1970s - Great Year for toys- too many to list

1980's - Super Powers Mr. Freeze and Kenner Indiana Jones 3 3/4 inch

1990's- Kenner Dark Knight collection Bruce Wayne

2000's- SDCC Indiana Jones Toht figure.

[spacecaps]

80s-The WORST action figure decade IMO. Sorry folks, but I don't like small, molded plastic guys that didn't pose well, and the clothes were painted on, or the accessories could be eaten up by mom's vacuum. And I just didn't like the new concept for GIJoe, or He-man, Transformers, Star Wars figures (except the big ones), She-Ra...yadda yadda....I'm a 70s kid and proud of it!

GASP! Sacrilege!!This is seriously the worst thing I've heard all day..all week actually. Nay! All month. Yup. The worst thing I've heard all month. Wait you know what, all year. Definitely the worst thing I've heard all year. It's like someone saying they don't like The Beatles, or Summer vacations, or Christmas....

[toys2cool]

GASP! Sacrilege!!This is seriously the worst thing I've heard all day..all week actually. Nay! All month. Yup. The worst thing I've heard all month. Wait you know what, all year. Definitely the worst thing I've heard all year. It's like someone saying they don't like The Beatles, or Summer vacations, or Christmas....

for real the 80's are arguably the best decade ever for toys...while other decades have great lines...the 80's had so many that it's hard to compare...Star wars, He-man, Gi joe, Thundercats, transformers , super powers...etc.. those are some of the best ever!!

[BlackKnight]

............ The 80's is why I am Even an Adult Toy Collector. Thats Almost Blasphamey. lol.

[The Toyroom]

I wasn't buying toys too much in the 80s but c'mon it was an exciting time for those who were. The lines had such depth to them...Transformers, GI Joe, He-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Fun stuff! And Super Powers too!