Biggest Action Figure without a Cartoon/TV/Movie Tie-in?

[apes3978]

Ever since Hasbro coined the marketing term "action figure" our culture has kind of developed an almost visceral negative reaction to the word doll. Doll is not a bad word and none of it really makes any sense. Why are Hasbro's 5POA 12 inch Titan Heroes action figures when Mattel's 12 inch 22 POA Made to Move Barbies are dolls? Why was He-Man an action figure and She-Ra a doll when they both had the same articulation and punching action feature?

I always thought the marketing strategy was that boys would play with 'action figures', and girls played with 'dolls'. Not saying it's right, just that's the way I perceived their marketing.

On the other hand, I have an ex-GF who'd try to belittle my Mego stuff by saying that I played with 'dollies' and words to that effect. (Glad she's gone BTW).

[Werewolf]

When the vintage Kenner SW line moved past vinyl capes they used a lot of soft goods. In vintage Motu Prince Adam had a fabric vest and Scareglow and King Randor had fabric capes. If She-Ra's fabric cape makes her a doll is Scare glow also a doll? Super Powers Consistently used a lot of soft goods. So then are they are also dolls. Again it doesn't really make any sense.

[sprytel]

I personally don't draw much distinction between dolls and action figures. Although I love to poke the bear when people are clearly too uptight about whether GI Joe is a "doll" or Barbie is an "action figure".

But if you were to make a distinction, I think the only sensible one to make is: "soft goods" = doll / "no soft goods" = action figure. So Barbie is a doll. Mego is a doll. 12" GI Joe is a doll. 3.75" GI Joe is an action figure. Kenner Star Wars is an action figure. Etc. It also explains why some lines like She-Ra spark so much debate... because the figures are mostly molded like MOTU, but does consistently have fabric elements brought into it.

[Megotastrophe]

My favorite randome use of action figure law is when people make a definition of doll and of action figure that makes the 12 inch Joe's and 8 inch Megos dolls and not action figures despite Joe being the primal archetype of the term.

[Werewolf]

When you get right down to it, there isn't much difference between a GI Joe or a Barbie.

There really isn't any.

Ever since Hasbro coined the marketing term "action figure" our culture has kind of developed an almost visceral negative reaction to the word doll. Doll is not a bad word and none of it really makes any sense. Why are Hasbro's 5POA 12 inch Titan Heroes action figures when Mattel's 12 inch 22 POA Made to Move Barbies are dolls? Why was He-Man an action figure and She-Ra a doll when they both had the same articulation and punching action feature? Like I said, it doesn't really make any sense. It's just marketing term.

[tay666]

Even ignoring the fake doll/action figure divide, the average 70s/80s Barbie had ball neck, ball shoulders, twist waist, hips and jointed knees. Thats more articulation than the average 5 POA Star Wars style figures from the same era.

Very nice rebuttal.
I never considered Barbie's as dolls.
Dolls (to me) are either babies or rag dolls like Raggedy Ann.

When you get right down to it, there isn't much difference between a GI Joe or a Barbie.

[Werewolf]

Made-to-move Barbies and Kens are pretty impressive mass-market dolls IMO.

They are pretty amazing for the price point.

To be totally fair even the original 59 Barbie wasn't badly articulated. Had 5 POA same as Kenner SW. They then added bendable knees and twist waist in the mid 60s.

[PNGwynne]

Made-to-move Barbies and Kens are pretty impressive mass-market dolls IMO.

[Werewolf]

Heck, the Made to Move Barbies have way more articulation than the ones from the 70s and 80s. They even have swivel biceps and double jointed elbows and knees.

[J.B.]

the average 70s/80s Barbie had ball neck, ball shoulders, twist waist, hips and jointed knees.

Thanks Werewolf. I was thinking of the earlier Barbie figures and had no idea of their evolution. Wealth of knowledge, this place is.

[Werewolf]

Does Barbie even qualify as an Action Figure? I thought you had to have a minimum amount of points of articulation before you can go from Doll to Action Figure. I could be wrong.

Even ignoring the fake doll/action figure divide, the average 70s/80s Barbie had ball neck, ball shoulders, twist waist, hips and jointed knees. Thats more articulation than the average 5 POA Star Wars style figures from the same era.

[J.B.]

Barbie..

Does Barbie even qualify as an Action Figure? I thought you had to have a minimum amount of points of articulation before you can go from Doll to Action Figure. I could be wrong.

[Mejo]

Golden Girl and the Guardians of the Gemstones

[msenger76]

Barbie had 2 long running marvel comic series in the 90s. plus the gold key comics in the 60s. and made for video cartoon by the dozen so she is definately out

i think even 12" gi joe had 2 issues of showcase from DC in the 60s

[Megotastrophe]

Evel had a couple movies and a few comics. Plus countless media appearances. I had thought about him but I disqualified him for those.