Action Figure Resource Magazine July 2016 | Page 4

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THE

SURVIVORS

GUIDE TO COLLECTING

WHAT IS A VARIANT FIGURE?
A Regular Figure

In the good old days all figures were created equal,
but not so today!!
The modern day collector needs to be aware of the
different levels and rarity of figures and the different terms used to describe them.
It is becoming increasing difficult, and frustrating,
to know what is available and to make matters
more difficult most manufacturers are very secretive about exactly what is available and how many
have been made.
But even if you’re a casual collector it’s important
to know the different terms so that you can recognize an important or valuable figure when you see
it or just as importantly that you don’t get duped
with an overpriced figure.
Here are the five basic levels:

ACTION FIGURE RESOURCE MAGAZINE

A regular figure is just that. It is the most common
figure in a set or series. It is your bog basic standard
figure.
This will be the same as the figure pictured on the
box, shown in magazines or seen on the TV ads.
They are the mass produced figures that are sold
in your local Wal-mart, Toys R Us or Target stores.
Generally the quantities made are unknown and
often new “runs” will be produced if they sell out
and demand is sufficient.

A Limited Figure or Series
A limited figure or Series is one that has been produced to a limited quantity or production run. A
limited release series of figures may have both regular and chase figures available within the production run but the availability and quantities is generally known.
Often the manufacturer will number the individual
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