Rock stars and action figures are a natural combination.
The modern-day practice of mass-produced plastic deification appeals to the performer’s ego, while the outrageous clothing and larger-than-life personas translate seamlessly to the world of fantasy toys. In 2015, it seems everyone from the Beatles to the Beastie Boys have received the action figure treatment. Well, everyone except the one man who could headline his own entire line. The MainMan, of course — the one and only David Bowie.
And before we go any further, yes, I know there was a Jareth figure from Labyrinth. In fact, I have one around here, somewhere. This article focuses on Bowie the performer, not Bowie the actor, so if you’re looking to re-create the kissing scene from Merry Christmas, Mister Lawrence, you’re out of luck.
The most notable constant in Bowie’s career is change. Like a creature of myth, he has spent decades shedding one dazzling skin only to reveal another. And while these transformations may have slowed in recent years, there are literally dozens of incarnations to choose from when it comes to representation in action figure form. From early comic-spawned personas like the Starman and Ziggy Stardust to his later Phillip K Dick-inspired futurism, Bowie has provided action figure manufacturers entire worlds of possibility.
Using mime, modern dance, makeup, and costuming, Bowie made himself a canvas on which to project personas born of his own music. Were these merely reflections of a faceless man, or a cunning ploy to keep the world at bay? Both. Neither. It all depends of which Bowie you happen to ask: the wide-eyed dreamer of ’69, the black-and-white nihilist of ’76, or the peroxide-blonde crooner of ’83. Each will give you a different answer, This inconsistency, unforgivable from another public persona, only enriches the mystery that surrounds Bowie.
A line based on Bowie the performer is obviously not a mainstream retail venture. As much as I’d like to see a figure of “Dog Bowie” on the pegs of my local Walmart, I know that isn’t going to happen. Thankfully, the world of action figures is wider and deeper than the big-box retailers. Niche toy companies spring up every day to fill the needs of next-level collectors who are willing to spend a little more to get the product they want. Having been someone’s favorite performer since the moment he warbled The Laughing Gnome, Bowie has an audience reaching back 50 years. If I were a toy company, I’d prick up my ears: you can’t buy that level of product recognition. Well, unless you’re Disney. Think they’d want a piece of this?:
Like the artist himself, a Bowie action figure line should innovate and take chances. Many rock star action figures are little more than statues with articulation cut in after the sculpt is finished, but Bowie’s background in mime and stagecraft means his figures would need to move. He was striking a pose long before Madonna was born, and the figure needs to be able to hold that pose for display. Speaking of display, Bowie the performer loved props, so the figures would have to be well-stocked with them. I’m talking giant hands, glass spiders, and the ubiquitous skull of the Diamond Dogs and Serious Moonlight tours.
By now, those of you who are still reading are obviously thinking, “Soft goods or plastic?” Personally, I’d prefer the latter. It’s hard to beat the level of detail a full sculpt provides, but I’ll concede that in this case fabrics are probably the way to go. With Bowie, any look is going to provide a challenge: overly-buff hero physiques and misshapen monsters can hide a lot of anatomical anomalies, but getting a 5’10” man of slender build right is more of a trick. It may require a bit of experimentation of the parent company’s part, but fortunately there are no shortage of Bowies to choose from.
With judicious use of a dedicated base body and some well-crafted heads, an army of Bowies could soon be storming collector’s shelves. Imagine your Hot Toys Avengers rubbing shoulders with the Thin White Duke, or Aladdin Sane confounding your vintage G.I. Joes with his androgynistic allure. Bowie’s legacy is hardly dependent on an action figure line, but in a strange way it’s the next logical step. You can listen to his music, you can enjoy his videos and concert performances, but 3D representations of Bowie are a form of history we are still in the process of imagining. Who better to imagine it for?
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