X-men Toys in the 90s

[WorldWideWade]

I was reading my Generation X Epic Collection that had the Collector's Preview Magazine reprinted in the back. There was a section talking about upcoming toys based on the third season of the Animated Series that was coming out at the same time which contained the Phoenix and Dark Phoenix storylines. I was taken aback by how they discussed their hesitancy to make a Phoenix figure in the set that was based around the Phoenix Saga. It admitted that it would be weird to have a Phoenix storyline set without the titular character but that girl action figures didn't sell. Only adult fans seeking complete sets finally bought up the underselling Storm action figures and caused a reprint. They were hopeful that the Rogue figure (the sole female in the set issued) would sell well enough to justify making a Phoenix one.

Now while sexism in toys is nothing new, I found it jarring the male characters made without a second thought over Phoenix, including Ch'od, Raza, Corsair, Gladiator, Warstar, Bonebreaker, Senyaka, and a Deadpool villain with a single comic appearance at the time called Slayback. Of course Hepzibah wasn't made because who would want the complete Starjammers crew or the full X-men core cast for that matter?

[Jindianajonz]

Yeah, that's not surprising at all. Boys' action figures were practically devoid of female characters. I remember being bummed that there was no Lex figure to complete my Jurassic Park collection (though at least we got Ellie), and I remember searching EVERYWHERE for an April O'Neil figure to complete the core cast of TMNT (her and Bebop were really tough to find).

X-Men fared a little better- you mentioned Rogue, and I recall Storm getting two early releases, with both black and silver costumes. I remember being super excited to walk into a toy store and finally find Jean on the shelf, and Psylocke not too long after. But yeah, not only were there fewer women compared to men in most action figure lines (you were lucky if there was one), but when cases got sent out female figures often arrived in smaller numbers than their male counterparts.

[Anna Raven]

Yeah, that's not surprising at all. Boys' action figures were practically devoid of female characters. I remember being bummed that there was no Lex figure to complete my Jurassic Park collection (though at least we got Ellie), and I remember searching EVERYWHERE for an April O'Neil figure to complete the core cast of TMNT (her and Bebop were really tough to find).

X-Men fared a little better- you mentioned Rogue, and I recall Storm getting two early releases, with both black and silver costumes. I remember being super excited to walk into a toy store and finally find Jean on the shelf, and Psylocke not too long after. But yeah, not only were there fewer women compared to men in most action figure lines (you were lucky if there was one), but when cases got sent out female figures often arrived in smaller numbers than their male counterparts.

GI Joe was stuck with just Scarlett, Cover Girl, and Lady Jaye for like ten years.

[Spectral Knight]

Jindiana, I remember getting the first April TMNT figure, and that was without any difficulty trying to find her at all.

I had quite a few of the 90s ToyBiz X-Men, but I think only I only had the light up Pyslocke out of any of the female characters at all. (I hated the early Storm figure design, as I was used to the Jim Lee design by that point), but I would have really wanted Rogue if I could have found her.

The random characters in the X-Men series was bizarre - Tusk, Senyaka et. al as discussed, but also some of the looks were odd too. Like it took until series 5 for the Lee era Cyclops costume (it being so late was the reason I didn't get a Cyclops figure until the Monster Armour series later. Also, SOOOO many Wolverine variants.

The X-figures line was weird. That there was a self-contained Ghost Rider series from Toy Biz around the same time was even stranger. What kids were putting Skinner and Outcast figures on their Christmas list...?!

[Monolith]

My not-so-secret dream is to write Character Profiles on all the 90's action figures I had as a kid, but even I can't justify a Killspree Profile.

[Spectral Knight]

"Killspree" - how that sort of character name didn't cause a public relations nightmare... it's not exactly child friendly is it

(TNMT weren't even called Ninjas over here because of the connotation with violence, they got rebranded as Heroes...!)

[Monolith]

And Killspree was the more-appropriate update of the character's name...he was originally Killjoy.

[EvilMonkeyPope]

My not-so-secret dream is to write Character Profiles on all the 90's action figures I had as a kid, but even I can't justify a Killspree Profile.

We have faith him in you.

[Spectral Knight]

And Killspree was the more-appropriate update of the character's name...he was originally Killjoy.

Erm... isn't Killspree MUCH more inappropriate than Killjoy? What on Earth were they thinking with that decision.

[EvilMonkeyPope]

There was a Deathlok baddie that debuted almost simultaneously who called dibs on Killjoy.

[norwichchris]

And Killspree was the more-appropriate update of the character's name...he was originally Killjoy.

Erm... isn't Killspree MUCH more inappropriate than Killjoy? What on Earth were they thinking with that decision.

Regarding female action figures I vaguely recall Poison Ivy, Batwoman, Wonder-Woman and of course Catwoman figures for DC. I remember wanting to get a Catwoman figure but apparently her chest was to big or something for the toy. female representation is definetely better know we even have a Female Transformer and even a Larger figure the Nemesis in production.

When I look back wish did collect the X-men figures but was too old and lack of room plus Lego is better to be honest more to do.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TRANSFORMERS-E ... B0BCMNLMV5