For years I’ve had the same dream. It is night and I am alone inside of a closed convenience store. Since I have the run of the place, I decide to help myself to a chocolate bar. To my amazement, the snack aisle is stocked from top to bottom with an assortment of candy I have never seen before. Brightly colored packages with strange names and odd art compete for my attention, their appeal resting solely on aesthetic and novelty. And while I never actually managed to eat any of that dream-candy, the idea of going into a store and seeing an entirely new and different selection of something I love remains with me.
When ToyBiz launched its Legendary Heroes line, I got a small sense of that fantasy come to life. An entire series of off-the-wall comic book characters could suddenly be found on the pegs alongside the tried and true red-and-blue spandex crowd. Granted, I had heard of many of those characters before seeing them as action figures, but the idea of an outside-the-box product suddenly being an option was an immensely appealing one. And while Legendary Heroes only managed to last for two series, the concept of an action figure line made up of less-recognizable but still visually exciting characters remains with us today. Check out Fresh Monkey Fiction’s Amazing Heroes line. The company has taken public domain characters like the Black Terror and Stardust, dusted them off, and released them as a series of affordable “retro-styled” figures. It’s a nice approach to characters with a more niche appeal, and few characters are more niche than those of Atlas Comics.
I spoke at length about Atlas Comics here. In a nutshell, the company was launched in 1974 with the intention of overtaking Marvel Comics, but it didn’t quite work out that way. In spite of the company’s commercial failure, it was the home of some truly interesting comics properties that have lain fallow since Atlas’s demise in the summer of 1975. Here are seven that would make amazing action figures.
7. Tiger-Man
Working out of his ramshackle Zambian clinic, Dr. Lancaster Hill formulates an experimental serum derived from tiger chromosomes. Forced to inject himself with the serum, Hill is endowed with the strength, speed, and keen senses of a tiger. Motivated by personal loss, Hill uses his newfound abilities as New York’s newest superhero, Tiger Man. Created by Gabe Levy and Ernie Colon, Tiger Man has a very generalized power set, but that is balanced out by his visually arresting look. The bright colors and freakish mask would make a compelling action figure design.
6. Man-Monster
Paul Sanders encounters a mysterious bacteria while swimming in the ocean. The bacteria attacks and then bonds with Sanders on a cellular level, transforming him into “a hideous creature — half man — half monster — a MAN-MONSTER!” His quick-thinking companions shove him into the shower, which restores him to human form before Mister Furley catches them before Sanders can do any harm. Unfortunately, Sanders’ old pal Hellblazer shows up and shoots him, leaving readers with a cliffhanger that would never be resolved. Man-Monster was designed by long-time comics creator Rich Buckler and has a powerful and distinctive look that would work well in toy form. Think Creature from the Black Lagoon after five minutes in the lobster-pot.
5. Devilina
Satan’s mother escapes from Hell, taking her infant daughter with her. Satan is pretty pissed about losing his kid sister and hunts the two of them through time and space. Cut to the present (well, 1974 — our old Present) and Devilina is living in a Dark Shadows-y-type mansion that protects the secret entrance to Hell. Nothing beats hiding in plain sight, huh? Eventually her brother tracks Devilina down and kills her prom date, spurring the demonic lass to declare war on Satan and all his minions. No, it’s not high art, but neither are cosmic rays or radioactive spiders. Devilina dresses the part of Devil’s daughter in a cape, thigh-high leather boots, and demon-studded bikini bottoms, preceding the “Bad Girl’ craze of the 1990s by two decades.
4. Demon Hunter
Meet Gideon Cross, soldier, telepath, and “Harvester of Eyes.” A Vietnam vet struggling to find purpose in a post-war world, Cross was indoctrinated into the Harvester of Night Cult. Assigned to protect various members of said cult, Cross is given special occult weapons and equipment to perform his task. Eventually Cross discovers the cult is actually plotting something called “XenoGenesis,” the rebirth of demonic forces in man’s world. Using the weapons provided to him by the cult, Cross now battles against the forces of the Harvesters and XenoGenesis as Demon Hunter. While his book only lasted a single issue, Hunter may feature one of the most toyetic costume designs. With his two-toned “shadow cloak,” a head-condom adorned with an eyeball and some wicked-looking weapons, he’s tailor-made for an action figure.
3. The Grim Ghost
Sent to Hell for his crimes, the spirit of infamous highwayman Matthew Dunsinane is reincarnated in the 20th century to collect souls for Satan’s collection. As the Grim Ghost, Dunsinane hunts villains on his night-black steed, dispatching the criminal element with a supernatural flourish. One of the characters in 2011’s ill-fated Atlas Comics relaunch, Grim Ghost is a fun concept that just can’t seem to stick — he’s Adam Ant meets Bruce Wayne meets Ghost Rider, a pretty winning combination both visually and narratively. Designed by industry pro Ernie Colon, the Ghost’s antiquated gear and uniform would translate nicely into the toy format.
2. Ironjaw
Want to publish Conan but don’t have the rights? Just mutilate him as a child and then stick him in a post-apocalyptic future! The man known as Ironjaw began life as a sweetly swinging boy minstrel. Invoking the wrath of the malevolent Dektor, the boy’s miraculous voice is taken from him when chin and lower jaw are viciously cut away. The boy is saved by a benevolent wizard, who provides him with his cast-iron namesake. Created by Michael Fleisher, Ironjaw was exactly the sort of overly violent misogynistic jerkstore-type character today’s Internet crusaders rail about, which is hilarious. He rides a unicorn, folks — he’s not meant to be taken seriously. That said, the covers by the legendary Neal Adams makes Ironjaw look at least as, if not slightly cooler than, a scowling certain Cimmerian. That screams “action figure” through a rusty hinged jaw to me.
1. John Targitt, Manstalker!
F.B.I. agent John Targitt changes too quickly to ever end up in an enemy’s sights. Targitt’s Punisher-esque origin segues into a spy thriller where he becomes a masked vigilante who receives super-powers after being exposed to an experimental nerve toxin created by deformed mad scientist bent on planetary genocide. Got all that? The schizophrenic nature of the comic was less by design than interference from a publisher who insisted his books be “more like Marvel’s,” which hurt sales but provided dollar-box scroungers like myself with entertaining reading over the years. The Manstalker’s target-based design may seem derivative of Marvel’s Bullseye, but Targitt beat him to press by two years — the irony is not lost. Targitt is an exciting character with a great look and a truly terrifying villain. Who could say no to this face?
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