I began to really read comic books in earnest in the late 1970s – starting with Marvel’s Uncanny X-Men and Avengers and branching out to DC in 1980 with the Perez/Wolfman New Teen Titans book. So I was primed and ready as an adolescent for the explosion of quality Independent comic books that burst forth in the 1980s.
As an avid action-figure collector, I look at my shelves packed with hundreds of Marvel and DC characters, and even a handful of Indie figures from the late ’90s and 2000s, but I pine for quality articulated figures of some of my favorite indie books of my youth.
So for that reason I’ve drafted a list of the Top-5 indie comics characters I need figures of now.
5. Grimjack
First appearing in 1983 as a back-up feature in First Comics’ Starslayer book, Grimjack was a gritty story about a guy who fought his way out of the slums and the gladiator arena to become a soldier, assassin, policeman, and mercenary in the pan-dimensional city of Cynosure. John Ostrander took full advantage of the independent comic medium to explore more mature themes of violence, revenge, and corruption. For a kid raised on more wholesome superhero fare, Grimjack was an eye-opening and mind-expanding experience, and a Grimjack figure would look perfect teaming up with Judge Dredd in my indie display.
4. Dreadstar
Vanth Dreadstar discovered a mystical sword that granted him fantastic powers. He ultimately unwittingly aids in the destruction of the Milky Way Galaxy. Eventually he is transported to the far future where he heads up a crew of space-faring buccaneers who fight on the side of the Monarchy against the evil Lord High Papal. While, technically, Dreadstar was first published by an imprint of Marvel Comics (Epic), it was creator-owned by Jim Starlin and eventually moved over to First Comics for an extended run. Dreadstar told stories of galactic conflict between two opposing factions not uncommon in the post-Star Wars world, but the books were both fun and thought provoking.
As an action figure, Dreadstar would look fantastic and would be easy to render thanks to a very simple design. While I would be satisfied with a figure of just Vanth, I’d happily add figures of the crew: Syzygy Darklock, Oedi, and Willow. Man, they would look great in my display.
3. Badger
Badger first appeared in 1983, and while it was a superhero book, it was unlike any superhero book I had ever experienced. Norbert Sykes — a war veteran who suffered an unbearably brutal and traumatic childhood — was mystically granted super powers, but also suffered from multiple personality disorder. The book was frequently laugh-out-loud funny, though dark and unflinchingly violent. Nevertheless, Badger showed me what happens when the typical boundaries for a superhero comic are ignored. The character design is classic, almost iconic, and a figure is essential for my indie comics display.
2. Elementals
One of my very favorite comics going in the ’80s, The Elementals from Comico took the superhero-team concept in directions I had never really seen before. With all of the main characters achieving their powers by dying, it was a unique start. The book also pushed boundaries by including nudity and adult themes. The four main characters — Morningstar, Vortex, Fathom and Monolith — represented earthly avatars of the four elements: fire, air, water and earth. The character designs were classic and simple, though elegant and attractive. They would make an amazing team of action figures and are among my most desperate toy wants. I wouldn’t turn up my nose at figures of Lord Saker or Ratboy either… but the four main team members would sate the need.
1. Nexus
Like Badger, Nexus was a Mike Baron creation published first at Capitol Comics before being revived at First Comics. Nexus was the first Independent comic book I ever purchased and read. Nexus was an interstellar hero granted powers by a mystical being, and he endeavored to maintain peace and balance throughout the universe. The design is simple, but eye-catching and unforgettable. It would make a fantastic action figure design. Nexus was a new kind of hero with new kinds of problems, and to a kid entering adolescence in 1981, the comic was the perfect departure from the ordinary with the rebelliousness of an upstart independent. I want my Nexus figure so bad I can taste it.
Now I just need some enterprising toy company to pick up the standard and deliver the goods!
Some very good independent comics from that era did not make the list because they aren’t quite as toyetic — like Cerebus and American Flagg — or because they’ve previously received action figure attention — like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Miracleman, and Grendel — or because they came later — like Valiant and Malibu — but make no mistake, I’d take all of those too.
So that’s my list. Which books go on yours?
