Toy Time Machine: Revamped 90s Action Figures

Step into my time machine and let’s relive the golden 90s era of limitless cartoons and toys that fueled our imaginations for hours while we played with some of the coolest figures ever created. Remember the insatiable need to collect them all? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

Maybe your parent’s got you the leader of the good guys (or one of the baddies, if you were one of the edgy kids). Most of us got at least two figures. Some lucky friends would have the whole team! And then we had the spoiled kids who got the whole cast of the show with all the vehicles and weapons (and they’d be sure to let you know about it!). Well, I wasn’t one of them – but we all loved playing with them! It’s been 30 years now, and that cherished part of my childhood still holds a special place in my heart.

Through my years of collecting Transformers I have always looked back, waiting for the day I would be able to recollect my favourite figures from the 80s and 90s.

And then something magical happened when we grew up. Our generation decided that those toys would not go quietly into the night. Companies were started up, licences were purchased, and the quest to milk every last drop of nostalgia began. Why? Because I was not alone. Nearly a quarter of all toy purchases today are made by adults seeking little plastic fragments of our memories to proudly display on their shelves.

Today, we embark on a journey to revisit the most beloved and iconic toy franchises of the 90s. We’ll explore the companies that have taken these timeless classics and revamped them with the latest technology, backed by the financial support of those 90s nerd kids who never quite grew up.

Our mission, should you choose to accept it, is to assess these modern remakes across a range of factors: aesthetics, capturing the essence of the 90s, quality, poseability, collectability, completeness (because who wants just one piece?), and, of course, price. We’ll review the major toy companies that have breathed new life into these 90s gems, ensuring that they now come fully equipped with all the weapons, costumes, and add-ons we dreamed of as children.

Since this is the first of a series – let’s start with one of the big ones.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Has there even been any other combination of four words that rocked the toy and cartoon industry like they did?

‘Mighty…. Morphin…’ Okay okay we’ll get onto that later

Leonardo leads, Donatello does machines! Raphael is cool but rude, Michelangelo is a party dude! The Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles originated as a comic, then a cartoon which premiered in the 80s but really hit its global game in the 90s. If I were to pick the top ten franchises for kids in that era TMNT would certainly be on there, and the cartoon/toy combo was a match made in toy heaven. Hong Kong company Playmates was responsible for the success of ‘The Heroes in a Half shell’ with the figures themselves selling for around $5. In the first four years of its launch, TMNT had made over $1.1billion at retail! In 1990 TMNT was responsible for 60% of all toy characters in the USA, making it one of the top three best-selling toy lines in history at the time. If that’s not domination, I don’t know what is. They really stretched the line out with figures like Sewer Swimmin Donatello and Skateboarding Mike, making over 400 figures during this run. And here is this crazy thing; every other company turned the Turtles away because it was all too weird (I bet they regret that now).

Playmates

The toy line had the comic book look with the ninja white eyes conveying a more serious appearance, but I don’t think anyone was complaining. Distinctive weapons and personalities, splashes of primary colors and undeniable attitude made it impossible not to want the whole team. And Splinter. And Kang. Oh and the Turtle Van and the Blimp (I almost forgot about the vehicles). Then came along the movie, and many more quality figures from every single episode.

The Turtles have never again quite reached the height they did in the 90s, but they haven’t strayed too far from the public’s mind with several reiterations of the cartoon returning every few years, supported by a new toy line and two movies that were… watchable.

There are really just two companies that stand out from the rest. Playmates had its heyday, and sure, it still produces revamped versions of the 90s figures – but the quality is just not there, especially for the price tag of $25-$35. Bandai’s S.H.Figuarts (or SHF) is one step above Playmates, but you can only really get a few of the characters and they can’t hold up against the next two toy lines in the last few years. 

NECA

Since 2007, through some ups and downs, the National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA) who by all accounts really captured the animated series, movie, game and even comic feel have been winning for a while. After finding some loophole in the licensing, they were able to expand their figures beyond just the movie line. The animated figures look like they were plucked right out of the cartoon. However there are not a whole lot of add-ons, and it can be said of NECA; great to display, not so great to play. They can be rather stiff and the quality seems sub par for the animated versions at least. I will admit though the movie line is spectacular and looks just like they did on screen. NECA will set you back anywhere from $35-55 retail depending on the size of the figure and probably add another 25% for the secondary market, but they are pretty easy to find online. And watch out for NECA fakes!

Super7

But, if we are talking about the original 90s figures themselves then Super7 takes this one, especially in the last few years. The gorgeous sewer design packaging makes it hard to remove them from the box, and each one comes with all their weapons and more. Some of the additional Turtle paraphernalia includes alternative expressive heads, a few extra hands, and maybe a turtle comm and a slice of pizza. They have more joints than Snoop Dogg and you can display them in some deadly ninja poses. They retain the ninja white eyes giving them an edgier look and that half warrior smile/snarl that we all loved. Super7 ticks all the boxes except the price, where even the cheapest figures are going to be more than $50. Some special editions or larger figures are going to burn a hole in your wallet at a hefty $75.

So where does that leave us? If you want the full cartoon figure and are okay with somewhat basic posing, then NECA should be fine. But there is definitely a higher level of quality and range from the Super7 Ultimates line (but they tend to be 20-30% more expensive). Right now, they are up to wave 11 releasing four figures each time, which means besides the main cast of roughly 10 characters there’s another 30 to collect! Cowabunga! On top of that they have even released some of the vehicles and we are expecting more soon. I’d say NECA put up a good fight and S.H.Figuarts even tried its hand, but Super7 is the ultimate winner.

Final Battle

Look – Super7 for original toys, NECA for everything else

Packaging – Super 7, but SHF has some good entries

Accessories – Super7

Quality – Super7

Range – Super7 for original toys, NECA for the rest

Best to Display – Super7

Value – NECA is slightly less expensive, but Super7 is worth the extra bucks. 

Overall – Super7

Power Rangers

So, what’s next? Say it with me.

Mighty. Morphin. Power. Rangers. Cue intro music!

No other Ranger team dominated like the MMPR. Jason, Billy, Zack, Kimberley, and our fallen Rangers Trini and Tommy (RIP). I am not going to get into a TMNT vs MMPR debate (maybe we can save that for a future post), but here’s a fun fact: they actually had a crossover on a later Ranger series. And now a figure crossover too!

It’s Morphin Time!! And just like that, Dragonzord, Mastodon, Pterodactyl, Triceratops, Sabretooth Tiger, and TYRANNOSAURUS were here to save the day. It was at that point the bottled adolescent morphine truly kicked. I remember my younger brother absolutely losing his mind. And with a time tested formula we all loved, the enemy monster of the week would start small, giving the Rangers nothing more than a headache. Rita, in a fit of rage would then grow the monster into a giant that would defeat the individual Zords but once Megazord was formed it was all over.

Bandai

The Ranger figures came in several sizes, from 4.5 inch to the towering 8 inch figures with the iconic prism style boxes, and they were only $10 in 1994! Then some cool gimmicks came along like the flip heads, but equally as fun were the assortment of life sized weapons. And to top it all off? The Zords themselves. Which could combine into Megazord, Dragonzord, Mega Dragonzord (stay with me), Titanus and, finally, Ultra Megazord. Okay you get it, and that was even before the Thunder and Ninjazords teams. By 2001, Power Rangers generated over 6 billion in toy sales (although by then the original Morphin squad had been replaced by Time Force).

And what about 20 years later? Do you still have the urge to collect the Rangers and their Zords to display proudly in your living room? So, where do you find them?

Super7

Well, Super7 is always a contender. Quality yes, higher price? Unfortunately, yes. Like a lot of Super7 the prices start at around $55 for retail. Or grab five in a wave for about $280. Is it worth it? Well, one fun thing they included is that you can head swap the original Ranger and the replacement so Red Ranger comes with Jason and Rocky’s head, which is a great two for one deal. And, as always, the Super 7 Ultimates line packs in the arsenal of weapons, different hands to hold them, and even costume add-ons. The articulation is not without flaws, but the posing makes up for it. So far a few waves have been released, covering most of the original heroes, some of the classic villains and even a Zord or two (can’t combine). The packaging again makes you think twice before opening them, and if you don’t, well they look amazing displayed. So, if you have the money this might be the ideal line for you. 

ThreeZero

On that note, if you are ready to drop $555, you can collect the 6 original Rangers ThreeZero line, which may be the greatest Ranger figures ever produced. Standing at 12 inches tall, the figures look more lifelike than any other line to date. The hand tailored fabric clothing and four pairs of interchangeable hands, including blasters and their own individual weapons complete the picture. I kid you not, sometimes I have to look twice because I am not sure if it’s a photo from the show or the figures themselves.

S.H.Figuarts

Moving onto S.H.Figuarts another contender. Bandai owned S.H.Figuarts often have a more anime aesthetic which is in line with their Super Sentai origins. The Figuarts are more detailed and articulated with better paint jobs. Slightly skinnier and smaller they sometimes look a bit malnourished. These are priced at around $70 these days and the range is fairly limited. Add to the fact they are not making them anymore and SHF loses again.

Hasbro Lightning Collection

However, if your budget is limited and you want to collect the entire Power Rangers line, then there is really just one company. The licence was sold to Hasbro in 2018 for a cool $520 million dollar deal (another franchise for Hasbro to add!). Hasbro then started releasing their own line, the Lightning Collection, the first release after acquiring it from Bandai (which had a decent run with its Legacy collection).

The Lightning collection has it all and more. They are systematically releasing every season, every new Ranger team with quality figures that can emulate those over the top Ranger poses we loved from the show. As for the Mighty Morphin team, which is usually priced slightly higher than the other generations at around $25 ($33 for the remastered versions), they also have Alpha 5 and Zordon to complete the whole experience, alongside the modernised Zords which are now larger, sturdier, streamlined and less bulky than the originals. The Zords, having benefited from modern technology and moulding methods, are a lot more expensive at around $160 (checkout the Ascension Megazord). And can combine with each other and their allies, unlike Super7.

Soul of Chogokin

Something worth having a look at is the Soul of Chogokin series (Bandai owned) which focuses on Japanese mecha. With this series, Bandai released Megazord, Dragonzord and Titanus made from a heavy die-cast metal. They may not be the largest of mechas (coming in at 10 inches), but if you want metal over plastic and can fork out $300, this may be the right robot for you.

But if you want to don your old ranger costume to wield the famous Ranger weapons, you can find their blasters, the Red Ranger sword, Dragon Dagger, and White’s Ranger’s talking Saba in the Hasbro Lightning collection.

Final Battle

Look – ThreeZero followed by Super7

Accessories – ThreeZero then Super7

Quality – ThreeZero

Range – Lightning Collection

Best to Display – ThreeZero then Super7

Value – Lightning Collection all the way

Overall – Lightning Collection for now. ThreeZero has only rangers and the price is ludicrous. Super7 isn’t far behind and is slowly releasing all the figures.

The Uncanny X-Men

When it comes to 90s intro music, there is one song that might have matched the MMPR’s intensity. Deneneneneneh! Deneneneneh! The X-Men!

Back in the 90s, the most popular comics and even figures were not the Mighty Avengers, the Fantastic Four or even the Spectacular Spidey. It was the Uncanny X-Men. Riding high off the 80s Chris Claremont run, X-Men were seen as the coolest kids in class… for gifted youngsters. And thanks to the Fox cartoon being a hit with the youth, ToyBiz was raking it in with the figure sales.

ToyBiz

The figures themselves were fairly small and had very little posing action, as was common in the day, but gosh did we love them. Combining some of the Blue & Gold team’s comic characters into one unit, we were treated to the best storylines written over the last few decades, which meant that we would get part 2, 3 or even 4 to give each story justice. We also got to see Phoenix Sagas and Days of Future Past come to life on the screen.

The tone was darker, more serious, and there were consequences (not unlike the other comic cartoon hit of that decade, Batman TAS). It was a high intensity 30 minutes filled with drama, betrayal, loss, mutie-hate and some epic battles scenes. And over a 100 (not kidding) guest appearances, which all became toys. It wasn’t just Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm and the main squad. We got to see X Factor, X Force, Weapon X, Cable & Bishop, Morlocks, Magneto and the Brotherhood, Apocalypse and his Horseman and literally every hero and villain that has ever existed in the world of mutants. The 90s toys also often came with a gimmick, some kind of lighting up part, kick or punching actions, flapping wings. Iceman actually turned blue if you put him in the fridge (parents were not fond of that one).

So, this is a little harder to judge. There are almost a dozen companies that put out Marvel figures.  It’s a battle between Toybiz Marvel Legends, Mafex, Mezco, Mondo, Hasbro Marvel Legends, and Diamond’s Marvel Select. There are a few other random ones I won’t include due to their insane $250 price tags (like the Sideshow collectibles). Toybiz Marvel Legends now is a little outdated. Let’s just thank them and move onto the next.

Mezco, Mondo and Revoltech

Mezco has some interesting cloth costumes and fantastic accessories, but it goes for a realistic look over cartoon/comic appearance. and doesn’t really suit me. In fact, the toys sometimes look more like dolls. Mondo hands down captured the cartoon with their larger oversized figures, but it’s a very limited range. Check out Revoltech if you are looking for something unique, hyper-flexible, and super stylised.

Mafex

Now it gets even trickier. Medicom Toy’s Mafex, while usually the most expensive ($100 at least), also has the best quality, articulation, and add-ons (although slightly on the slender side). They also have a few quality control (QC) issues, and sometimes have a touch of anime appearance. They haven’t got the widest range, but definitely cover the main characters. Mafex releases about one to two X-men per year (while they cycle through almost every franchise under the sun), so X-Men are not the focus, and they can be a hit or miss. Eventually they may cover more of the 90s figures, and arguably are the best of the toy lines mentioned here, but the price usually stops me from diving in.

Diamond Marvel Select

Then we have Diamond’s Marvel Select, which actually has some great designs with better paint and more accessories, but weaker articulation. The body proportions are a bit off, as well as being 7 inch scale versus the others at 6 inch scale, but this does mean they have some better scaled versions of the bigger characters like Colossus or Apocalypse. Most standard figures start at around $25, but the popular ones will be double this on the secondary market.

Hasbro Marvel Legends

Honestly, this all may be too close to call and it’s going to come down to what YOU like aesthetically and how much you are willing to pay. Cartoon or comic? Modern or retro? If you want the ENTIRE team and every character possible (without completely destroying your bank account), then it has to be Hasbro’s Marvel Legends. I might get a bit of hate for this due to QC issues, lack of accessories, and some odd body part choices, but this line is for the completionist. With the X-Men line running so deep, it’s viable when the figures cost around $25 for a standard 6 inch toy. And if we are looking at the cartoon figures from the 90s, the Marvel legends line has pretty much everyone under the sun as well as multiple variations of their costumes. Marvel Legends even released a VHS line based on the cartoon, which features the boxes looking like the old tape covers! They have only covered about eight figures so far, but with the X-Men returning in 2023 with a new show called X-Men ’97, you can expect to see more. Otherwise, they also have the retro line that also captures that era’s comic book style.

Final Battle

Look – Marvel Legends perfectly captures the 90s figures, although Mafex and Select are right up there.

Accessories – Mafex and Mezco

Quality – Mafex 

Range – Marvel Legends

Best to Display – Revoltech (seriously check out the articulation!)

Value – Marvel Legends

Overall – Marvel Legends (but Mafex scale works well, so you can mix it up)

WWF

‘If you smeeeeeeell which toys…. are for collecting.’

The Attitude Era, standing above all other times in wrestling, whether it was the Golden Age or Ruthless Era, reached a level of popularity to rival that of the Chicago Bulls or Spice Girls. Only truly exploding in the later 90s, WWF toy figures were still popular from the earlier half, featuring characters like Bret Hart, Undertaker, and the classics Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. But even when the world was under the sway of Hulkamania, it was nothing compared to the fanaticism of Monday Night Raw featuring some of the biggest stars ever to walk the Earth. Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Mankind, Triple H, Shawn Michaels and D’Generation X. Undertaker and Kane, The Hardy Boyz… the list goes on.

Jakks Pacific

Jakks Pacific was the toy line which brought all those wrestlers from screen to the living room, and the figures usually sold for around $10 for the main lineup. This partnership only started in 1995 and Jakks was but a burgeoning company taking its first steps. But they somehow managed to get a 10 year deal, which was arguably the greatest decade of WWF (now WWE), and within 2 years their company had grown by 250%.

Jakks were forward thinkers and gave us some realistic figures using new (at the time) facial scanning technology. They also produced a lot of variations of sub-lines such as Build and Brawlers, Maximum Sweat (with very stylised massive figures), Snapping Bashers, Slammers and the Legends series. But what’s wrestling without a ring to battle in? Well, Jakks delivered, and even had a Titantron to announce the wrestlers as they made their entrance (which was activated by a small metal strip under the foot of the toy). We had boiler rooms, steel cages, tables and ladders and chairs (oh my!) and even backstage playsets to create any kind of hardcore match you could think of. It was a great time for wrestling collecting where you could re-enact some of the era’s greatest actual battles like 1998’s notorious Mankind vs Undertaker Hell in a Cell.

Mattel

There is no competition here. At least for the WWE line (not talking about TNA or rival AEW) – Mattel’s WWE Ultimates and Elite lines are the clear tag team winners. Why?

Because Stone Cold said so. Okay it’s more than that.

WWE Mattel figures are divided into three main tiers. Basic, Elite and Ultimate. Basic is for low articulation and low prices (under $10 in some cases), aimed more for the kids who want to lay the smackdown on their figures. Elites really pick up the game and you would get most of your line from here at a decent price ranging from $20-30. They come with some very nice costumes, maybe one or two accessories, and overall just look great.

Ultimates is the next tier up with full costumes galore, sometimes a championship belt, weapons and a wide variety of expressive faces with multiple hand types to pull off the signature moves. They also had a stellar quality paint job and incredible posing ability, but came with a price tag around $40-50. Ultimates have limited releases and these figures (especially popular figures like Austin and the Rock) can go for $100 within a few months. Luckily they have done every superstar at least twice in case you missed out.

Mattel WWE Elites

The WWE Elites are fairly balanced when covering all the eras (in case you need your Batistas and Randy Ortons to go up against the Attitude Stars), so you will definitely be able to complete your Monday Raw or Thursday Night Smackdown Roster. Having said that you may not be able to get a few Jakks only figures that have been removed from the company’s production line due to sad or insidious reasons (see Chris Benoit or Brian Christopher Lawler).

Mattel WWE Ultimates

I haven’t taken any of my Ultimates out of the gorgeous white and red boxes, adorned with shiny golden logos, with some of the most lifelike sculpts you have ever seen – down to the eyebrows. I haven’t dived too deep into the line, but I can happily say The Rock, Stone Cold, Undertaker and Kane have a home on my shelves. I’ll need to add Mankind and Triple H eventually (Bret Hart and Hogan as well, but they aren’t Attitude era technically).

Mattel wrestling rings and accessories

And do not fear, Mattel also released all the wrestling rings, and many more objects to hit each other with than you thought possible. Commentators and their tables, referees, announcers with the mic, and a huge cardboard arena with entrance add-ons to turn the memory of the Attitude Era into reality in your own living room. And they really show no signs of slowing down even when the WWE product itself is nowhere near the hype machine it once was.

Super7 Ultimates

Are there really no contenders for this match up? Super7 Ultimates line has tackled only a handful, so it’s no real competition. Sure, they’ve got great accessories, but aren’t a real challenger. Gotta love that Andre the Giant though!

S.H.Figuarts

S.H.Figuarts also has a limited selection (the main reason that holds them back) and are actually very decently priced around $30-40, however quite hard to find now since they stopped making them. The figures themselves are somewhat small for wrestlers but they look great and have some wonderful articulation but don’t really scale if you want to mix and match the whole collection. WWE is pretty careful with their licensing and essentially leaves it to Mattel to handle.

Final Battle

Look – Ultimate WWE and SHF

Quality – Ultimate and Super7

Range – Elite (or Jakks for those missing figures)

Best to Display – Ultimate

Value – Elite but Basic is the cheapest

Overall – WWE Elites (with a sprinkle of Ultimates).

And if you ain’t down with that, I got 2 words for you…. BUY IT.

Mortal Kombat

Come to think of it, did I just pick these franchises based on their awesome intros? The song was more iconic than the actual 1996 movie with its high tempo explosion of beats that kicked in after the infamous battle cry of ‘MORTAL KOMBAT!!’ Everyone had their favourites, whether it was the champion Liu Kang, the ballbusting Johnny Cage, or the kiss of death Marine Sonya Blade. Then there was a whole line of colourful ninjas which was a smart way to reuse the models and create new character personalities from different worlds and competing clans, all with ancient cultures and motives to kill each other in hilariously gruesome ways. So ‘Get over here!’ and let’s dive in.

Hasbro

The MK Hasbro toys may not have been at the same level as some of our previous entries, but not just in terms of popularity (the extreme violence was controversial at the time, so a lot of the younger audience may have missed out). The main reason has to do with them re-using GI Joe parts to make sub par figures. Still, MK fever was very real. It was so hot it was almost … fatal (sorry).

Infinite Concepts & Jazzware

One thing the 90s toys really could not capture was all the blood and gore of the games. The classic fatalities, animalities, brutalities and if you were lame, friendship finishers. Where was the spine and skull Sub Zero pulled out? Where is the acid for Reptile to dissolve his enemies? I’ll be honest, the toys were quite a fail, even at the $10 price tag. In 1999 Infinite Concepts tried a 7 inch scale line, but their second series didn’t even go to production. Jazzware was the only company that ever did it justice, but this was 10 years after the 90s figures. So, in reality, the 90s MK figures had little impact on the toy market in comparison to the brutal video games they were based on.

So, why did I add them here? Well, if you were left with a hole in your soul, then look no further because they have been recreated beyond your wildest imagination.

McFarlane

McFarlane gets a shout out here with decent priced figures at around $20, although the majority of the line is based on the later games rather than the 90s originals. They do have a Spawn feel, unsurprisingly, and usually have a weapon or two to deal out some pain.

Storm Collectibles

But as with most video game figure lines, this is a match fought and won by HK based Storm Collectibles. If I had to describe them in one word, it would be ‘toasty!’ These 7 inch scale works of art are to die for. If you want King of Fighters, Street Fighter, or Tekken characters, then Storm is the way to go. Now, the prices are very high in comparison (at least $100 at retail), and I limited myself to Sub Zero, Scorpion, Reptile, and the MK 3 Sub Zero. I would like to get the rest as they have released Shao Kahn, Goro, Motaro, Kintaro, Liu Kang (and his dragon) and all the ninjas with the MK1 and 2 costumes, as well as Rain, Noob Saibot and Smoke. If and when Johnny comes out I will probably grab that one, but the retail price is ludicrous. Don’t even get me started on the secondary market. It’s basically the cost of a flight to Outworld. And now double that for the 12 inch scale line.

Are they deserving of this price? In terms of the quality and paint job, I am going to have to say yes. Sure, a bad figure pops up every now and again, but they always come with a plethora of accessories. I’m talking at least 3 pairs of alternate hands, several heads, multiple weapons, special moves and lots and lots of blood and bones – there’s nothing that even comes close. They have enough articulation to pull off any move in the game when you attach their special ability effects, like Scorpion’s spear or Sub Zero’s freeze blasts. It’s a beautiful visualisation of the Mortal Kombat game. Liu Kang even comes with his finisher Dragon! I took these out of the boxes because they are meant to be posed and displayed holding broken bones, fighting in pools of blood, and breathing fire from their mouths. If you ever dreamed of a shelf full of death and chaos while light battles dark, Earthrealm vs Outworld, gods vs mortals; then look no further. This is the 90s remastered to perfection.

And in the next few years they will have completed most of the MK1-3 characters, which stand at the 7 inch range (with the bosses closer to 8 inches). This isn’t even a contest, so let’s just FINISH IT.

Final Battle

Look – Storm Collectibles

Quality – Storm Collectibles

Range – Storm Collectibles

Best to Display – Storm Collectibles

Value – Storm Collectibles (if McFarlane did a MK1-3 line they would be here)

Overall – Storm Collectibles 

So, a “Flawless Victory” for Storm Collectibles.

Outro

So, there you have it – five of the top 90s franchises that, as a kid, you wished you owned the entire set! Now, as an adult who has made responsible life decisions and financial choices over the last three decades (I hope), you can put that hard earned cash to good use and realise the dream to collect the whole line, displaying them in all their glory.

Each time I glance over at my shelves of 90s action figures, I am filled with nostalgic joy, and I marvel at how far toys have come since those days. My Mortal Kombat figures are locked in deadly battle, The X-Men are posing like a Saturday morning cartoon, The Ninja Turtles are still unopened (but I will complete them one day!) The WWE Ultimates and MMPR that I have also sit in a box, but I am from a family of collectors and these lines are almost completed by my brothers, and are out of their cardboard prisons for us to share in their magic. I’ve even got all the logos 3d printed for maximum effect. The next step is getting the backdrops to really capture the whole world.

Toy collecting can be an expensive hobby! But like most addictions, it is almost impossible to give up unless you really want to (and I really don’t!).

So, what about the other 90s classics? What are their modern versions like? Biker Mice from Mars? Star Wars? Gargoyles? Transformers, or even Toxic Avengers? Well I’ll be back for Part 2 soon, and there we can dive deeper and look at the updated figures to help you choose how you want your memories immortalised in your home. 

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Adam Smurthwaite

Born and raised a geek, Adam spent most of the 80s watching Saturday morning cartoons while spending most of the 90s trying to find them again! From Transformers to Marvel and Star Wars, to everything fantasy and sci-fi, no piece of merchandise is off-limits (as long as it’s sufficiently nerdy). He is a passionate connoisseur of nostalgic plastic and loves reading, writing, and dreaming about them.

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