WHAT MAKES A GOOD TOY? There’s more than a few possible answers to that question. The Power Action! standard is a four-item checklist:
The first two requirements are simple to determine: 1) playability and 2) displayability. Is interacting with it fun? Does it look good on a shelf?
The next one: 3) accessibility. The general idea of this newsletter is that it’s most fun to discuss items that are readily available and affordable for most enthusiasts. We enjoy a good Target exclusive that requires hunting, but we rarely explore the more boutique, unreasonably priced tier of toys.
This brings us to our last requirement, which is a bit broader and more abstract:
Does it add something new to the industry—even on a small scale? Now, we’re not talking about shunning repaints or variations of an existing product. As you’ll see below, we actually enjoy that component of toymaking. What we’re looking at is whether it is additive to the market, bringing something wholly new to the space or advancing what’s come before.
All of the items on “Our Favorite Pop-Cultural Artifacts of 2023” satisfy these requirements. And I hope you’ll share your favorites, too, via the comment section.
Medieval Spawn - McFarlane Toys ($29.99)
Medieval Spawn has been part of the Spawn lines since the early days of McFarlane Toys. Above, you’ll see the 2023 edition of the character alongside the 1994 original. Side-by-side, it’s a wonderful portrait of how the action figure industry has progressed over three decades, owing much to this particular company. That’s why the gorgeous articulation, paint job, and stunning accessories of this year’s Medieval Spawn are part of a larger story.
When McFarlane Toys’ figures first hit the market in the 1990s, they were radical in their details, packaging, and a broader edge that was part of the Image Comics brand. Long before Redditors decried every micro-decision made by Todd McFarlane’s company, they pushed the form forward so much that many forgot how we got here.
LEGO Indiana Jones Temple of the Golden Idol - LEGO ($149.99)
Piece-count doesn't always translate to quality. Take the Temple of the Golden Idol here, which, at 1,545 pieces, contains far fewer individual components than many in LEGO's 18+ offerings. But within this set is what I consider to be the most dynamic, rewarding experience for builders this year.
Modeled after Indiana Jones' famed film debut, this journey through dangerous ruins contains a rolling boulder, illuminated idols, an assortment of swings and traps, and four minifigures to faithfully recreate his daring escape. It’s, quite simply, a masterpiece of LEGO ingenuity.
Magic: The Gathering: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth - Wizards of the Coast (Prices Vary)
Imagine how lame it would have been if Magic: The Gathering decided to only model its LOTR series after the imagery of Peter Jackson’s films. Even if those are fantastic, Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro were right to tap an impressive roster of artists to re-envision many of the beloved characters, scenes, and objects from Tolkien lore. As the history of comic books show us, a diversity of approaches and sensibilities only makes this worlds larger and more exciting.
Even more entrancing is how they’ve implemented those stories into the mechanics of Magic. Take, for instance, the abilities of the death-defying Gandalf, White Rider: “Whenever you cast a spell, creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn. Scry 1. When Gandalf, White Rider dies, you may put it into its owner’s library fifth from the top.” Gandalf’s never really out of the game, after all.
Batman: The Animated Series Batcycle - McFarlane Toys ($39.99)
Hot take incoming: Repaints get a bad rap. I feel like I’ve always been in the minority to think that repaints and reused parts are not only a reality of the industry, but fun and . When McFarlane Toys moved to release new Batman: The Animated Series toys this year, they had one of two options: create entirely new molds or revisit the fantastic DC Direct ones from the previous decade. The latter was the correct move. And although McFarlane Toys’ new “cel-shaded” paint approach to the figures has mixed results, the new treatment on this vehicle, in particular, is gorgeous and actually improves upon the original. It’s sleek; it moves and displays well; and most importantly for fans, it’s faithful to the 30+-year-old property.
Marvel Legends X-Men '97: Marvel's Bishop - Hasbro ($24.99)
Even if it’s delayed until who-knows-when, the merch machine is cooking for the upcoming revival of the 1990s’ X-Men: The Animated Series. Bishop returns with the new show, and so does his likeness in figure form, as part of the first set of X-Men ’97 toys revealed this year.
Bishop shows off this new line’s best quality: colors that pop like the cartoons themselves. The detailing is beautiful, but it’s the hues that make this one of the most stunning additions to shelves this year.
Treasure X Lost Lands Skull Island Swamp Tower Micro Playset - Moose Toys ($14.99)
Treasure X is the only IP here that debuted during our current century. These sets, made by Moose Toys, always challenge owners to unearth collectible figures. That could be a container of slime or some puzzle that must be decoded with fun devices. (For further context, there are many, many, many YouTube videos of folks freeing these characters.) The Lost Lands Skull Island line, in particular, takes us back to the days of Mighty Max with featured-packed micro-playsets. It’s a fusion between those mini-worlds of yesterday and the now-popular mystery boxes that run rampant.
This set features "15 levels of adventure,” which means there are more than just surprise figures to reveal: Most of the activations can be reset for future play. Though the ooze will excite younger kids far more than parents like me, these are sets that can be enjoyed beyond the lifespan of Treasure X’s gooey components.
And now, for the honorable mentions:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem: Sewer Lair Playset - Playmates Toys
Marvel Beginnings Vol. 2: Series 1 - Upper Deck
DC Multiverse: The Flash Movie Batmobile - McFarlane Toys
X-Men '97 Wolverine's Adamantium Claws - LEGO