Top 10 CONTROVERSIAL Action Figures!

[@violagreene4643]

I actually DID use a metal lunch box as a weapon. But only in self-defense. An older kid on the bus was constantly bullying me, so one day I just ..... WHAAAAMMMM! My parents were proud of me for standing up for myself.

[@TimHayes]

I did that once too since it was the only way to get another kid to quit making fun of me. We both got in trouble, but after that we didn't have any problems with each other. Then more and more kids had the plastic lunchboxes at school.

[@alanbird]

I wonder could I still use that tactic at work…? Asking for a friend

[@TimHayes]

@@alanbird Nope.

[@alanbird]

Damn

[@phayroent9742]

plastic lunchboxes can still be used as weapons, and the plastic is denser than the metal. It may take a little more effort, but the damage can be done all the same.

[@JUN-fy5eo]

Wow. The Punisher's groin gadget and his facial expression are amazing. Just amazing.

[@paulharries9558]

He is called the Punisher...

[@Pedalpunk57]

I actually own the toy I had it since 2008 I found it at a Flea Market!

[@bladestar2322]

A metal lunchbox probably saved my life! I had just left my house to walk to school, when a well known vicious neighbor dog, a large German Shepherd, got out and charged at me! I made a terrified wild swing with my lunchbox, catching the dog right on the nose and sending it running back home. I was only 7 and could have in no way defended myself from that dog without that wild lucky swing.

[@DarkAlex1978]

Kudos for your quick thinking. I had german shepherds for the first half of my life: it needs a very full fledged incompetent asshole of owner to ruin that kind of dog to the point of behaving like you described. (I don't exclude the chance of the dog having some mental issue, but the incompetent owner is the far far more common cause).

[@bladestar2322]

This dog definitely had issues and had bitten the teenage paper boy prior to this. Neither the dog or the owners were ever punished to my knowledge.

[@traleid3755]

Had similar experience except I bodyslammed my bike on the dog it took off when that happened, I hated riding my bike or walking past that one corner that dog was evil.

[@iamnostalgic9567]

Let's here it for the Metal Lunchbox!...👏 👍 It definitely was a lifesaver in the day.

[@pezzz182]

What year was this ?

[@J-T-A]

Secret 11th controversial action figure: Dessert Rat, due mostly to a spelling mistake on his packaging causing several people to misunderstand this wholesome sugary snack loving character!

[@MatthewOfLondon]

Ratatoutille's first appearance? 😃

[@davidrichter9164]

Like KZbin comments section, people misspell a word or wrong punctuation, people go nuts to correct it like it would cause a world ending holocaust or something.

[@Ascension-Angel]

The punisher and Tarzan toys cracked me up with laughter. Especially your commentary on them. I was just balling my eyes out LMAO

[@hgc7000]

That Punisher figure… the designers 100% knew what they were doing. “Cooock Roockeeeet!!!”

[@FREKKI]

I definitely have that Punisher figure and he will always be displayed at full mast.

[@brixbattler5338]

When analog toys posts a video, you know it’s going to be a good day

[@geraldlaboone9741]

Wow. Very interesting video. I didn’t remember ever hearing about the Zartan controversy. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work.

[@jasonr.3173]

"Pumping the shaft",you really went with that line Tony,good one.😅😅😅

[@BrappyHour]

That Alien figure looks awesome. Would make a great villain for smaller figures to fight.

[@redboone1509]

Please tell me you purposely transitioned from Tarzan to Zartan. That's just too perfect

[@Willpower-74205]

Anagram by Analog. I like it! 😁👍

[@bttfdmc1984]

an honorable mention is a little mermaid Ariel doll from the early 2000s that would sing/talk and if you pressed the button at right speed, it would make her say "I'm a $lut". When I worked at a K Mart I had found the doll and tested it out and sure enough it indeed would say "I'm a $lut". Also the early education toys of the 2000's that would sound out letters that had to be re-called and re-issued so if you tried to get it to say a bad word it would laugh or not work so the word wouldn't be sounded out.

[@ALIEN-DUDE]

There was this robot guy who would say "this is bullshït" if you pressed his back fast enough. His name is big guy and his sidekick was rusty the boy robot.

[@teddarkclaw]

Oh man, how did I miss that Punisher figure when I was growing up?? Great video, Tony! Also, Alien figures still scare the crap out of me!

[@wilhelmtoyandhobby]

Great top 10! I knew about some of these but like usual I learned something new watching your videos.

[@ReynoldsReviews]

Love learning new info, really cool countdown, and a few I’ve not heard of in there too. Great watch Tony 👌👍

[@ScottCrusher]

This was awesome Tony, what a great top ten. Definitely a few here that I wasn't familiar with, I'll be keeping an eye out at the toy fairs!

[@LaserPants]

I really regret not buying that Punisher figure.

[@michaelmeyer4682]

I just found one last weekat the flea market for a dollar. Missing the missle though

[@karryjohnson3261]

😂

[@metalmugen]

Same , I saw it a bunch of times at Toys R Us

[@largoslair42]

A very cool and unique list of unusual toys. Thanks, Tony

[@ColonelBandit]

Very informative and entertaining video - great job, well done and thanks

[@samsvintagerepairs867]

Some top notch toys! The JIS and Colditz sets are some of the best sets of the Joe/Vam range. I've got the German Camp kommandant and the German century, but haven't picked up the guard booth or escape officer yet. Great video man, Keep it up!

[@MichaelJShaffer]

Another great list and video, Tony.

[@violagreene4643]

When you said that Palitoy objected to the Imperial Japanese soldier, I immediately thought of the Fawlty Towers "don't mention the war" episode.

[@dhenderson1810]

German tourist:- "Stop mentioning the war". Basil Fawlty: "You started it". German tourist: "No, we didn't" Basil Fawlty: "Yes you did. You invaded Poland".

[@Ascension-Angel]

@@dhenderson1810 LMAO

[@loftlegacy]

My cousin in Canada sent me in the UK a Zartan when I was 10. I was more annoyed that his armour didn’t stay on than what was on the card back.

[@RA10H56]

My little brother got the punisher action figure. And I of course stumbled onto the alternate mode and felt the need to show mom!!

[@danriley5848]

Great video as always Tony and the metal lunchbox segment at the end really hit home for me. I remember in third grade being in line for our chocolate milk at lunchtime a punk in front of me relentlessly picked on me for having a Hair Bair Bunch lunchbox and I ended up smashing his face with it breaking his nose.

[@sithcritic8906]

Solid list and cool premise.

[@robertsinfiniterealms1308]

Another awesome video, I actually had the Zartan filecard at one point.

[@RAMENTOY]

Very educational. Thank you Tony

[@MyNameGoesRightHere]

That Tarzan (and its packaging) is hilarious. Almost as much as the Toy Biz Gothmog action figure from Lord Of The Rings. There is a small but significant amount of figures with almost close fists and vertical action features out there! hahahaha

[@georgetrapp6666]

I remember it still being in stores while the controversy was occurring, and I was able to to demonstrate it on my own, to believe it. His forearm did have a swivel that made the gesture more convincing.

[@rustyblades2566]

Awesome video Tony. My Freddy Maxx Fx figure remains mint and opened to this day...I unfortunately didn't keep the box. I wish they released the Jason Maxx Fx, like featured in their commercial.

[@jsmith3946]

If it's open then it's not mint I don't think you know what mint means

[@uphilliceskater]

​@@jsmith3946 There is loose mint, and there is mint-in-box.

[@oliverqueen2805]

I have this Freddy and he looks awesome still with all his accessories!

[@jsmith3946]

@@uphilliceskater it's mot even that they threw out the box

[@luisgarcia-km4se]

Excelente video como siempre! Un abrazo de la familia Garcia-Cortes desde Querétaro, México 🇲🇽

[@standepain]

My neighbor had the Alien figure when we were kids but it had no head and for the longest time I thought it was Hector from Saturn 3.

[@dougvanminnen7537]

That Maxx FX action figure line looked cool., too bad it was cancelled. I guess they should have started with the Frankenstein Monster.

[@QT5656]

Wow! I remember desperately wanting that Zartan figure but don't remember the controversy.

[@dantooine4279]

Great video! I recently got an axe wielding 5" figure (not sure of the line?) who has a very dubious 'axe walking' arm action!

[@georgetrapp6666]

Last Action Hero has a villain with an axe, that you can remove from his hands, and has that handhold, empty, in front of his crotch.

[@dantooine4279]

@@georgetrapp6666 YES! that's the one - Thanks for jogging my memory

[@hillbillyharper4008]

Sir you're a true master. I don't know how you held it together on the Punisher figuer 😂

[@Lordrixson5489]

I received the the Kenner Alien for Christmas as an 8 year old in 1980. I still have it to this day, but not the box

[@TimHayes]

Great video Tony!

[@bobahicks]

I'd love to get the big Kenner Alien. Great list 🎉👍

[@patrickbirt9034]

Tony, great video. I just don’t know how you are able to keep a straight face through some of descriptions, like the Punisher transformer. If you have recorded out takes or bloopers, I’m sure your viewers would love to see them. 😂

[@LabRatWarfare]

😱🤣🤣 I had no clue about that Punisher!!!!! 🤣🤣🐀

[@brianartillery]

Great video. At various times, I have owned every figure on this list, except the Japanese soldier. Colditz was big in the 1970's - the BBC TV show was must see TV; the boardgame based on that was a joy to play. I could never understand how, or why, toy lines were made from movies not aimed at children - Rambo, Alien, Robocop, Terminator, even Police Academy. I know that old Universal horror movie characters have been toys for decades, but they are not really scary or unpleasant - rather charming, nowadays, to be honest. All comes down to money, I expect.

[@behindthescenesphotos5133]

After watching a special about the "curse" of King Tut's tomb, I was afraid to sleep with my Imperial mummy figure in the room, I put it under the bathroom sink, and forgot it was there for close to a year. The only time a monster toy scared me.

[@joshuafletcher598]

⁠@@behindthescenesphotos5133I used to have a my buddy doll when I was a kid after watching little bits of the movie Childs play I never went near it again

[@garrycowan4394]

Had that action man escape from colditz can't believe it's nearly 50 years ago

[@It-Figures]

Wow terrific video Tony! I wasn't sure what to expect before watching but this really really good. At least half of these ive never heard of despite many other channels doing a top ten toy line of a similar theme. But as always you went above and beyond all of the rest out there. I truly learned a lot all whole being thoroughly entertained, so thank you very much!!

[@akaiseigo]

Excellent list,had a great laugh at Tarzan action figure.

[@PureRageFitness]

I still have my Nomad with all his accessories. I never knew the controversy around him till now.

[@wimvanderstraeten6521]

Those Tarzan and Punisher action figure are pretty hilarious. Did really nobody think "Hmm, this might look a bit weird" when they were being designed?

[@johnlatella674]

Oh my goodness That Tarzan toy is too funny Great content, thanks Tony

[@skabcat242]

OMG that Punisher figure. To quote Michael from Retroblasting, "What were they thinking?!"

[@jamespope7669]

To quote Punisher from 90s Spider-Man animated series episode called Enter the punisher lol "I punish those who prey on the innocent" 😂

[@augustusmilligan9244]

I had the original Zartan (didn't come with a vehicle) that changed color in sunlight. I wonder if the card had that description.

[@gredinmcconnell]

“Pumping the shaft” is the best thing I’ve ever heard

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Loved learning about old toys

[@kingbrahma5005]

That Tarzan one was hilarious lol

[@digipure]

Another excelent video! As a kid liked more the Rambo cartoon (and toys) than the movies XD

[@davebozarth8633]

This was an incredible idea. Lol. Thank you, I enjoyed this.❤

[@noelhernandez363]

AWSOME video!! Those Tarzan and punisher figures 🤣🤣🤣👍

[@trainedbyuk]

Hey, Tony! Have you ever decided to take on another physical training program like the one where you became The Desert Rat? I found great inspiration in seeing you go rucking in the Australian dunes. I got after it right away and your videos kept me going. Anyways. Hope all is good. Take care.

[@AnalogToys]

Season 2 of Becoming Desert Rat is only available via our Patreon this year.

[@trainedbyuk]

@@AnalogToys Copy that! I'll be signing up.

[@AnalogToys]

There are 3 episodes already uploaded to that platform.

[@trainedbyuk]

@@AnalogToys Brilliant!!! 😁💯

[@aaronbarndollar]

In kindergarten a girl swung her plastic My Little Pony lunchbox at me. I deflected it with my metal Return of the Jedi lunchbox. Her lunchbox broke. An elegant lunchbox for a more civilized age.

[@werefiveintokyo1002]

Nice videos! Have you made one about the KISS (rock band) merchandise (especially the action figures) ?

[@KensToys74]

Informative! Rambo always catches heat from the man.

[@nike80nl]

Another lovable video 👌

[@teslasuperdestinations]

kids may never know the joy of spring loaded, toy missiles that can launch clear across the room.

[@PowerChordEPS]

I remember the Shape Shafters Punish-her, whoops, I mean Shape Shifters Punisher. I guess Frank Castle got a little too much inspiration from Megatron. It's kind of funny how back in the 70s/80s toys based on Nightmare on Elm Street and Alien were controversial but nowadays you can find them at any Walmart or Target in America.

[@MsLoquendo20]

While i really like the concept of the Maxx Fx toys series, i believe that even if that one controversy hasn't happened, they still should have done a better selection for their first toy in the series, i mean, a freddy kruger toy for kids ? isn't the character not only a sick murderer, but also a predator ? (atleast in the original script)

[@jslaughterofthesoul4939]

Kids weren't p#ssies back then

[@petefischer3820]

Thank you, Tony!

[@superstarthomas]

The Alien one is interesting seeing that they would make several action figures of them a few years later. I guess that's when they were becoming more popular after the sequels.

[@jodyswallow1008]

Back in the late 80’s early 90’s nobody was bothered with movie gore/violence. I used to go to the video shop and pick out what ever horror movie I wanted, no question asked. I would have loved those action figures, the Punisher one was tongue in cheek, cool A.F.

[@timmys10againtoysandmore]

new sub here. great video. you had me laughing a few times!

[@tarallocaballo]

Wow what memories. I remember wishing as a kid so bad that Boba Fetts rocket would launch

[@phayroent9742]

That Tarzan figure sounded like it was having a great time.

[@JJDBaca]

I got that Alien figure, with the trigger inner jaws on the back of the head, for Christmas when I was a boy. The very same thing that happened with the boy and clown on Poltergeist happened to me (without it attacking me). I put it by the bedroom door, so I could watch it. Sometime during the night, I woke up and it was gone. I started crying and my parents came in and found the thing under my bed. They aren't the pranking type of parents, and to this day -I have no idea what happened. Of course, they got rid of the toy. I sure wish I had it today though.

[@metalbeast83]

I had the Alien toy and my dad took me to see the movie when it came out, i was about 5 at the time. So i pretty much grew up on monster/ sifi movies.

[@balthazarasquith]

The Escape from Colditz action man set sounds amazing 😂

[@richardmark9161]

Padme Amidala from the Star Wars Unleashed line if you ever do another list.

[@dhenderson1810]

What was controversial about it?

[@richardmark9161]

@@dhenderson1810 same thing that was controversial about the Batman suits from the Joel Schumaker movies if you get my understanding 😂

[@richardmark9161]

@@dhenderson1810 the sculptor, obviously imagined Padme out in particular chilly weather.

[@trainedbyuk]

Here we go!!! 😁 The night just got awesome.

[@koigaming406]

I remember Aliens action figures in the 90s I had the scorpion alien and press a button on its back and it exploded. My older brother had a lot more of the figures .

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

I feel sorry for the creators tho all That hard work to get rejected.

[@eltenda]

All of them are awesome! But I love my shape shifter punisher I own the blue variant

[@superbubsymariobobcat1097]

I wish the Kenner alien was easier to find. That figure is amazing

[@erictallant4965]

I’d heard about the Zartan controversies. The Freddy figure was just several years ahead of its time. There’s a large amount of horror icon figures produced, and available at big box retailers. Thanks for the video!

[@thebilldozer7970]

Im sitting here with my Neca collection remembering the dark times when I couldnt get cool horror figures

[@behindthescenesphotos5133]

@@thebilldozer7970 Almost take it for granted now, The Leprechaun is probably the biggest icon still missing. We have so many horror figures now, we get stressed by not having a Chief Brody or Part VIII Jason Voorhees. On that note... we need good 7in versions of Chop Top, The Nun, Maniac Cop, and the Graveyard Zombie from Night of the Living Dead.

[@georgetrapp6666]

Wish I still had my filecards. I had the original Zartan that mentioned multiple personality disorder. I remember seeing the ones later with a sticker over that paragraph, and even later ones printed without it.

[@Objectorbit]

Yeah, you can just buy FNAF and Bendy's figures at any toy store lmao.

[@pmadi323]

Love the new Black Widow figure. I ended up swapping over the head from the grey suit version because I just think that looks so amazing.

[@gobucs3146]

I had the Rambo lunchbox. Man I wish I still had it.

[@ScarysReviews]

some other CONTROVERSIAL toys, Al Snow, he came with his mannequin head, called Head. parents complained about it, as, they thought the crazy al was carrying a decapitated woman's head. A stephanie McMahon figure, wearing a dress/skirt. and no paint on her nether region (there's videos, discussions) the Oreo Barbie, a slave leia that came with a chain (and this figure in many forms has been altered, changed throughout) MR GOLD from the minifigure collectable series.. MEGATRON, when he transformed into the gun.

[@Evaunit98]

Arguably Generation 1 Megatron was one of the most controversial figures, Megatron’s controversy stemmed from the fact that he transformed into a life like Walther P38 pistol, Johnny law didn’t take too well to this and I believe he’s still banned in a couple of places, since then only 3 official megs toys have turned into a gun and the classics version turned into a nerf gun, other than that only the two masterpieces have turned into guns and both had to include a “good morning officer” orange cap

[@thedeadpoolwhochuckles.6852]

There's a smaller legends class megs that turns into a gun. also with an orange cap just in case.

[@Evaunit98]

@@thedeadpoolwhochuckles.6852 I’d forgotten about RTS megs, thanks for reminding me

[@georgetrapp6666]

When I was in 8th grade, one of my classmate friends had Megatron, and was caught waving his Walther P38 form in front of kindergartners (not to be taken as an innuendo) who thought it was a real gun, and Megatron was confiscated by the principal. This was in 1984 or 1985 before orange capped weapon toys. Incidentally, he never received Megatron back at the end of the school year, 8th grade graduation, either.

[@MrStatistx]

That Max FX idea sounds rad. wouldn't mind a movie or show with that idea

[@coreymasoy7034]

Interesting episode ❗💯🔥😃👍

[@scottharkonnen]

Proud to say I have a Maxx Fx Freddy and Kenner Alien lurking in my collection 😅

[@georgetrapp6666]

My neighbor across the street when I was a kid, had the Alien, his younger brothers were terrified of it, and his dad made him keep it in a closet when they were around.

[@dhenderson1810]

With the Punisher toy. That is a gun in his pocket AND he is pleased to see you.

[@jamespope7669]

Just I imagine if he was a talk toy with lines like Duke Nukem Come get some, you want some of this, I'll blow you a new whole 😂

[@kurtbarlow9402]

I wanted an Alien so much when I was a kid. I was sold just on the head design, that translucent dome wit the human skull visible in the front. When I eventually saw the film, I was disappointed that the skull is only visible at the end, in the scene where Parker is killed

[@kingerikthegreatest.ofall.7860]

Genuine question, why was the German soldier ok for the GI joe line, but the Japanese one wasn’t ?

[@CellHeart]

Probably because of Pearl Harbour and Nagasaki and Hiroshima, which all had a more direct connection to America than what the Germans did in Europe, as well as the matter of the Japanese-American internment issue.

[@bobblehat6603]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. During WWII the British fought the Japanese in Malaya, Singapore, Burma and India. Palitoy included German soldiers so why not Japanese? It makes no sense whatsoever.

[@thrashmetaldave]

​@bobblehat6603 possibly to avoid offending or upsetting the POW's who survived the brutality of the Japanese camps

[@dennissmith5807]

I still have my Kenner Alien in the box. Mom got him for me at JC Penney fro $19.99

[@ren1819]

Maybe someone mentioned this one... how about the Heath Ledger (R.I.P) Joker from the Dark Knight in the late 2000's? I remember store shelves pulling them off... I managed to get one from a comic store... either way cool video... keep up the good job

[@georgetrapp6666]

I don't think those got pulled from shelves, as much as they sold out wildly after the death of Heath Ledger. I hate to admit it, but finding two of them in the store after Ledger's death may have been what made me plunk down money. (I have a loose one on display with some minor customizations added, I made him the thumb-hook wire and three grenades inside his jacket, and I made him a pencil.)

[@OscillatorCollective]

Good list, and nice trip down memory lane…

[@newwavepop]

i have that C.B. Mchaul figure LOL. i have a few of them. i will NEVER believe that Punisher figure wasnt done intentionally by someone. i did not know about the Japanese figure, its odd because they were making the German figures. i had the Freddie doll to about 30 years ago, but i got rid of it wheni decided i was ONLY going to focus on 4" figures.

[@Paulafan5]

There's a Transformer that did the exact same thing as the Punisher. I wonder if they just used that design and didn't realize that most kids would put the nose cone of the jet in the front when making it a robot (from a jet).

[@kingtron1]

Was surprised not to see the figure of Al Snow, a professional wrestler who had a gimmick of carrying a mannequin's head that he would talk to as if it was a real person. The figure caused controversy because it was said the figure looked like he was carrying around a decapitated woman's head.

[@josephconnelly7939]

By sheer luck I was in a store when they got the word to pull it. It sits on a shelf next to my Col Klink and Stg Shultz bobble heads.

[@kingtron1]

I wasn't really a collector, we would just buy figures of wrestlers we liked so we can play with them. I don't think I have anything remaining of those figures from that time and I didn't even find out it was controversial until much later.

[@Christopherianmatt]

I had Steve the Tramp. The Dick Tracy figures were awesome.

[@a_world_made_of_cardboard]

EXCELLENT LIST. I had the first release Zartan. As a kid. I honestly didn't think anything of it. But later I found out about of the controversy. I cannot understand the amount of misfired, boardroom decisions that made that Punisher figure a reality. "Hey this will be cool!" Uuuuuhhhh.....

[@miaouew]

nowadays the controversy would be the skin color part of his card. "Cultural appropriation". Nowadays mentally ill people are celebrated and everyone wants to be just like them

[@simonslee73]

My original Kenner alien (in box) is one of my most prized possessions

[@scottishdude9682]

That sounds kind of sad.

[@JaxFPrime81]

I remember getting that Freddy doll as a birthday gift when I was a kid. I wish I still kept it.

[@Troy-McClure81]

I had the Megatron G1 and that thing was as close to gun I could wave around as a kid and definitely wouldn't fly nowadays.