McFarlane Toys: 30 Years In The World Of Pop Culture Collectibles
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For 30 years, McFarlane Toys has made itself a household name among fans and collectors. From superheroes and sports stars to anime and video game characters, they are known for constantly expanding and exploring all aspects of pop culture. And with the exciting announcement of their first line of Marvel action figures, McFarlane Toys is putting another notch in their belt, just in time for their 30th anniversary.
McFarlane Toys was founded in 1994 by the legendary Todd McFarlane. McFarlane made his name as a comic book illustrator through his work on Spider-Man in the late 1980s and 1990s. He spearheaded some of the best-selling Spider-Man comics at that time. He was the first artist to draw Venom and has been credited as the character’s co-creator, though it has been a topic of dispute. By the end of his time with our favorite friendly neighborhood superhero, McFarlane was one of the most popular illustrators in the Spider-Man universe.
In 1992, McFarlane co-founded Image Comics with seven other illustrators. In the same year, he produced the first issue of Spawn, an original character he had created when he was sixteen. With over 350 issues to his name at the time of this article, Spawn is easily one of the most popular and successful comic book characters of all time. Following Spawn’s debut and success, McFarlane collaborated with Mattel to produce Spawn action figures. However, he wasn’t satisfied with how his beloved characters would be represented and instead decided to take back creative control. He founded McFarlane Toys in 1994 and Spawn became the first line of action figures produced by the company.
Collectibles based on many aspects of pop culture rapidly followed the still-popular Spawn toys. Over 30 years, McFarlane Toys has produced collectibles inspired by DC, Disney, the NFL, and a host of popular movies and anime, including James Cameron’s Avatar, Pacific Rim, Bleach, and Demon Slayer. Action figures based on popular games such as Mortal Kombat, World of Warcraft, and The Witcher, as well as tabletop games including Warhammer 40k, are all part of their catalog.
In May 2024, McFarlane Toys thrilled fans with news of the upcoming release of their first Marvel action figures. This is the first collaboration between the two industry giants and a source of great excitement for fans. The line will include a range of 7-inch, 1:10 scale, and 1:6 scale figures, featuring some of the most celebrated Marvel characters. Captain America, Deadpool, Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Iron Man will all be part of the first release in September 2024, with hopefully many more to come.
McFarlane Toys are renowned for their detailed, posable figures. Todd McFarlane is known for his highly detailed illustrations and brings the same attention to detail to the collectibles produced by his company. Fans love the articulated action figures that express the quirks and personalities of their favorite characters. McFarlane Toys has a well-deserved reputation for high-quality, durable, and dynamic action figures, collectibles, statues, playsets, and more.
After 30 years, McFarlane Toys, under the innovative and fan-focused direction of Todd McFarlane, is one of the major players in the collectibles arena. With their ever-expanding catalog of properties and impressive and versatile range of action figures and collectibles, they’re a popular choice among fans and collectors alike. The release of the Marvel action figures is fast approaching and we can’t wait to see what they do next. In the meantime, check out Entertainment Earth’s great selection from McFarlane!
Do you own any McFarlane Toys? Are you excited about their first Marvel line? Let us know in the comment section! And don’t forget to subscribe to our free newsletter, PopPulse Digest, for all things collectibles, pop culture, online deals, and more.
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