What’s a figure? Part I

Chicago is always asking, "Does anybody really know what a figure is? Does anybody really care?" To which I answer emphatically every time, "I'm not sure, but yes, I really care!"

In turn, I ask:

Is there a foolproof definition of what qualifies as a figure, accessory, creature/beast, or environmental piece in the 3.75" line?

And if an item can't be classified as one of these, does it just become dreck? As I continue the monumental task of cataloging and tracking my collection, this question comes up a lot. The origins of this conundrum stem from when Hasbro announced the POTJ Boba Fett 300th Figure. This sent shockwaves through the OCD collecting community that brought the entire hobby to its knees, which nearly led to the collapse of western civilization into chaos and anarchy.

The race was on to account for the 299 figures that came before Fett. Did multi-pack and/or pack-in figures count, or only basic carded figures? Were the POTF2 Jawas one figure or two? Was the carbonite block an accessory or a distinct Han Solo figure? Was Salacious Crumb a figure, an accessory, or a creature - and did he count at all since he was originally part of a 2-pack with Oola - and did either of them count since they weren't basic carded figures? What about figures that were nearly identical, like the basic POTF2 Han Solo and the Jabba pack-in that had slightly repositioned legs? Or how about Leia in Boushh disguise from SOTE that was later re-released, but sourced to ROTJ?

Fortunately, Hasbro immediately clarified the situation by creating a list of all 300 figures, including detailed criteria and transcripts of the decision-making that occurred behind the scenes. This has served as the guiding light for collectors ever since. Eschewing cutting edge technology like dial-up modems and message boards, Hasbro opted to distribute these documents in a more traditional way, by hiring locals to hammer copies (fresh off the printing press) to the church doors of every village, while town criers announced the details to the hoi polloi on the streets of every town. Eventually, the news reached the desired audience, and collectors the world over were satisfied. Nobody was ever bothered by this again.



Ultimately, the "300th Figure" question was never answered (other than possibly with a vague comments that the number 300 was just an approximation), and collectors have since been left up to their own interpretations as to what qualifies as a figure.

Before we get into the nitty gritty of how we can answer the question, here's a little background. My definition of a unique figure has typically been geared more to how I collect in general, rather than a description of specific items within my collection. This has evolved over time, and continues to evolve, but admittedly is more of my attempt to retroactively codify/justify the type of collecting in which I personally partake. I did the same thing years ago with my award-winning "What is a sport?" thesis, for which I devised criteria in such a way that only 10 events on planet earth qualified as a true "sport", whereas everything else was reduced to either an "athletic competition" or a "game of skill." (Hint: Water Polo is a sport, Boxing is an athletic competition, and Auto Racing is a game of skill.)

I collect "3.75 inch scale action figures that are realistically styled and sculpted with articulation that is reasonably within contemporary standards." But this is very far from a perfect definition, even as far as I'm concerned. I still felt the need to acquire most of the 5POA figures during the Dark Times (2012-2018) because this was the only way to get 95% of the characters. I had skipped most of the animated TCW and Rebels figures because I was waiting for them to eventually be realistically sculpted, but I didn't see that happening with most of the new media. As such, I even purchased all the animated Resistance figures because I have no desire for them to exist in realistic form, so in my mind, I acquired them in their only form that will ever exist. I had felt the same way regarding the small number of hyper-styled Microseries figures that were released in 2003. I collected them because they were extremely limited in scope, and probably would have been all we ever got to represent that particular source (or so I thought at the time).

For me, even my own definition of how I collect isn't foolproof. I'm not sure that I consider those CW Microseries or Resistance figures to be part of the line. I don't even count all the animated TCW figures as part of the line - but I do count the vehicles. And what about realistically sculpted figures that are painted nonsensically that have no place in a screen-accurate display? For example, the dreaded comic-inspired paint schemes applied to the first releases of Hasbro's comic 2-packs in 2007 like the stormtrooper with blue highlighted armor. (You could get creative and put him next to a figure with a blue-lightsaber.) Those abominations have modern counterparts in the recent TVC repaints of Boba Fett, but I wasn't complaining (much) about those. But then this gets dicey when thinking about "special" figures like the Silver-coated anniversary releases, Jorg Sacul, or the Christmas card version Yoda. I mean, they are figures, but they aren't meant to be part of the "main" line.

These are all figures, of course. Well, most of them anyway. But whether or not I collect them isn't about the larger community, or how to classify them, but whether I consider them to be included within my own definition of what to collect. Within my collection, there are many specific items from throughout the history of the line that aren't easily categorized.

OK - This was mostly just for fun and conversation, and some of it strayed beyond my core question. This was a warmup for Part II in which I will give a bunch of examples of items whose classification is up for debate. It will help us answer, "Is it a figure, accessory, creature, environment, or dreck?" This is going to catch fire, and every time a new item is announced, the kids will immediately say, "It needs to be FACED!"

These aren't just random Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey, no sir. I am legitimately trying to settle upon the best definition. That's where you come in, if you're commenting below. Ultimately your input will shape a major project we are working on which, if all goes well, may be a great tool for everyone to use. But don't get too comfortable with your thoughts right now, because Part II is coming. In the meantime, let us know what you collect - what are your boundaries, what are your limits, where do you draw the line. Are you a completist of 3.75? Do you collect certain factions? Certain characters? Do you stick to a part of the timeline like "OT only"? Do you world build, or do you prefer to keep things under control by only collecting the figures and skip vehicles and playsets?

---

comments powered by Disqus