Unsung 80's Action Figures...Reborn

Seattle-based designer rolls out own new/old toy line

When it came to toys, the ‘80s were truly the era of the infinite and awesomely ridiculous. Take Food Fighters (sentient hot dogs and hamburgers wielding weapons), Sectaurs (bug-people who rode around on giant hand puppets), Rocks & Bugs & Things (rocks that transformed into monsters), and Super Naturals (fantasy warriors with morphing holograms for faces). Chances are you won’t see any of those properties resurrected a la He-Man or Transformers.

Which is why one toy designer wants to recreate many of them unofficially. Tony Fowler, of the toy sculpting studio Working Class Villains, appears to have developed a new method of action figure production that doesn’t require overseas manufacturing, glue, screws, or sonic welding. He wants to use this process to make redesigned sculpts of obscure ‘80s figures available to modern-day fanboys. We've heard of indie movies and indie bands...but an indie toy line? We like it.

The dream is now a reality. WCV calls their figures “Backyard Legends,” and is kicking off their first offering with “The Prince of Crystal,” based on the old Crystar action figure. After successfully financing the first wave of figures on Kickstarter, these little clear plastic rarities will be available this weekend at Emerald City Comicon in Seattle.

In the spirit of fanboy collaboration, Working Class Villains has solicited suggestions for their second wave of project figures...as such, we’d totally buy a new line of Dino-Riders, er, “Giant Lizard-Pilots.” Just sayin’.

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