The Complete Handbook of Action & Toy Figures

Chapter 1: Understanding Action & Toy Figures

An action figure is not a toy. At least, not only a toy. In the context of this handbook, an action figure is an engineered consumer product — a small-scale articulated sculpture manufactured to precise tolerances in materials chosen for specific mechanical and aesthetic properties. It is a printed object, a brand vehicle, a collectible asset, and, in many cases, a significant financial instrument. To understand what action and toy figures actually are, you have to separate the object from the nostalgia and look at what it is made of, how it is constructed, how it has evolved, and how the ecosystem around it functions in practical terms.

Let us start with the object itself. A typical mass-market action figure from the last three decades is composed of several distinct plastic types, each selected for a reason. The most common is ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), a tough, rigid thermoplastic that is used for the main body parts, limbs, and often the head. ABS is favored because it holds detail well, resists impact, and does not deform under normal play or display conditions. The second major plastic is PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is softer and more flexible. PVC is used for hands, capes, soft goods connectors, and often for the torso of figures that require some give — like those with ball-jointed hips or shoulders that need to flex. The third plastic you will encounter frequently is POM (polyoxymethylene, also known as acetal or