According to a 2005 study in Sweden, action figures which display traditional masculine traits primarily target boys.

[1] While most commonly marketed as a child's toy, the action figure has gained widespread acceptance as collector item for adults.

In such a case, the item may be produced and designed on the assumption it will be bought solely for display as a collectible and not played with like a child's toy.

Many types of articulated figures date to the early modern period, including the artists' mannequin[2] and the Japanese ichimatsu doll.

As industry and demand advanced, so did production methods, with hollow casting first being utilized in the 1890s[4] and polyethylene figures becoming common by the 1950s.

[5] The toy soldier market, ubiquitous thanks to its history and mass-production methods, would therefore become a natural home for the military-themed action figure.

Joe figure to boys who refused to play with "dolls", a term primarily associated as a girl's toy.

(A similar toy named Johnny Hero was introduced by Rosko Industries for Sears in 1965, but was known as a "Boy's Doll" since the term action figure had not gained widespread usage at that point.)

In a move that would create global popularity for this type of toy, Hasbro also licensed the product to companies in other markets.

[8] The widespread success of Kenner's Star Wars 3+3⁄4-inch (95 mm) toy line made the newer, smaller size figure with molded-on clothing the industry standard.

Led by Star Wars-themed sales, collectible action figures quickly became a multimillion-dollar secondary business for movie studios.

The 1980s spawned all sorts of popular action figure lines, many based on cartoon series, which were one of the largest marketing tools for toy companies.

As the '80s were ending, more and more collectors started to surface, buying up the toys to keep in their original packaging for display purposes and for future collectability.

Beginning in 1997, ToyFare magazine would become a popular read for mature collectors in providing news and embracing nostalgia with a comedic twist.

And with the gaining popularity of the Internet, websites such as Toy News International would soon offer information on upcoming collectible figures and merchandise.

[9] The adult collector market for action figures expanded with companies such as McFarlane Toys, Palisades, and NECA.

Child-oriented lines such as the Masters of the Universe revival and Justice League Unlimited, however, still evoke adult collector followings as well.

Examples of companies that produce comic figures and merchandise almost exclusively include Toy Biz and DC Direct.

After the general body shape is complete, the sculptor adds the finer details, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth that give the figure its lifelike expression.

Joe: A Real American Hero and Masters of the Universe, contrasted one another greatly in articulation; the former included several points in their small, 3+3⁄4-inch (95 mm) scale while the bulkier latter remained minimal.

In the 2000s, Toy Biz's popular Marvel Legends line became known for its high rate of articulation, even boasting points at the abdomen, toes, and fingers.

[17] While not all action figures include accessories, the additional items often prove essential to characters and their effectiveness as interactive toys.

Missile launchers are also commonplace in military and comic book figure lines and usually involve a spring-loaded mechanism.

Figures intended to appeal to the collector market commonly include a display base[19] and/or pack-in comic book.

The front of the package is a different piece of PVC plastic that is molded to include a bubble that will house the action figure and all of its accessories.

Figures of the original Masters of the Universe line included many unique "action features": Battle Armor He-Man and Skeletor had rotating chest plates to represent varying degrees of damage;[20] Leech featured suction cup limbs; Mantenna's eyes would pop out using a lever on his back; and Thunder Punch He-Man would thrust a punch and emit a loud bang from the ring cap in his backpack.

Other features emphasized aesthetic rather than action, such as the flocked bodies of Grizzlor and Moss Man as well as the unique scents of the latter and Stinkor.

Glow-in-the-dark paint and plastic have been utilized in various figure collections, particularly those of the early '90s including Ninja Turtles, Swamp Thing, and Toxic Crusaders.

Examples include Kenner's Sky Escape Joker[21] and Camouflage Swamp Thing, as well as Hasbro's Desert-Camo Sgt.

[22] The majority of figures in Kenner's Super Powers Collection toted a punching action upon the squeezing together of their legs.