Toy Biz X-Men 1991 Toy Line Launch Retrospective | Toysplosion

Welcome to Toysplosion - the show all about the hobby of toy collecting and getting nostalgic about toy history!
In today’s episode, we’re jumping back to 1991 to explore the launch of the Uncanny X-Men toy line from Toy Biz! This line of Marvel Super Hero action figures would go on to be massively successful, and a staple of the toy aisles through the 1990s and early 2000’s! Learn about the beginnings of one of the post popular Marvel X-Men toy lines of all time today on Toysplosion!
Toysplosion is a Patreon supported show. Get early access to episodes and more by becoming a supporter: / pixeldan
Special thanks to Brent Scarano and BobaKhan Toys for help with this episode.
Music in today’s episode by Izioq
izioq.bandcamp.com/
/ @izioq
Sources:
The Ultimate Marvel Super Hero Toy Collector’s guide Year One by Marvel Comics
Company-Histories.com: www.company-histories.com/Toy-...
Raving Toy Maniac: www.toymania.com/archives/xmen/
SUBSCRIBE to Dan so you never miss a video!
FOLLOW Dan on Twitter at / pixeldan
LIKE Dan on Facebook at / pixeldan
VISIT Dan online at www.pixel-dan.com

[@Pixel-dan]

Nine figures. 6 Heroes (not five like I said) and 3 villains. Here's my reminder to have someone proof these video before I upload them. :-)

[@babystacks]

Please emote less in your videos. You exaggerate every word physically with your mouth and with your expressions. Its just a little too much. Be a little more natural. Drink a pint or pop a percocet before you film these. This isn't Entertainment Tonight or A Current Affair.

[@b_side8669]

Pixel Dan daaaan bro your making feel extremely old man lol talking about these old uncanny x-men toys damn lol I’m 32 I had wolverine the tan one & yellow one because he is one of my favorite superhero’s lol 😂

[@bBearyWhite]

Stop doing videos on these lol I haven’t collected the full set yet and the price is going up on them lol! I remember when these were the most hated marvel figures I’ve always loved them I have a couple of the 12 inch figures also in my collection

[@mrwest626]

Hey Dan, not sure if you read comments on old videos, but thank you for putting out such positive content. I've found other channels focus on issues and complaints. I'm loving your enthusiasm and care in these videos.

[@onyx7ven10en5]

Wait you said nine figures...man that's a lotta money I wanna see how many people get what I said

[@bigcali4life]

These figures so much to me. My grandparents would take me to Toys R Us all the time to get these X-Men, the 93 X-Men line and the 94 Spider-Man figures. They were just $5 a pop and I loved them. Even though I am an adult with kids of my own, when my grandma passed away about three years ago, I brought a Wolverine figure she bought me in my pocket to her funeral. I didn't tell my wife and kids that I did, but it was kinda my way of holding onto the past watching her being laid to rest.

[@Tobiassini]

thats a nice story.

[@nicholasdickens2801]

anthony hernandez Bless you. That’s a lovely story. Rest in Peace to your Grandmother.

[@Peppers19781978]

That is such a nice story anthony. My grandmother passed in May 2017 and she played a massive part in my toy collection as a kid. Would always take checklists to stores with her. I have a picture of her in my room on a stand with my Orko figure next to it. That figure remains a favorite as I got it for Christmas one year. It was nearly impossible to find but she found it, surprised me with it Christmas eve.

[@edwinbarrera2]

Great story. I'm sure she is happy you did that. RIP ❤

[@randymiller4978]

These action figures were my childhood. I still to this day have probably 200 comic figures ranging from marvel to image comics the old ones are opened as i was young and played with them

[@ShartimusPrime]

Whoa, one of those pieces of space junk looks like the ultimate nullifier! Great vid Dan!!

[@splatmouth9201]

Shartimus shartimeeeeeeeeesss

[@swivelman1313]

Shartimus prime:comments My brain:Sings intro

[@LordProteus]

Wolverine: "I want a custom built motorcycle." Mechanic: "OK anything special you want me to do?" Wolverine: "I want my face on the front." Mechanic: "Uhh..." Wolverine: "Got a problem bub?" *SNIKT*

[@snakes3425]

Mechanic: yeah sure anything you say just don't hurt me

[@libbycouch9923]

😡🔱🙌

[@kermitmuppet5610]

Libby Couch 😂i see what u did there

[@OpGamer56728]

Also put some claws in the front bub.

[@ToyBro]

One of my all time favorite toy lines for sure, quintessential 90's toys.

[@Pixel-dan]

Same! And definitely! Defined an era!

[@acewillingham]

I absolutely agree

[@PatTheNESpunk]

This first series of X-Men figures are "so bad, they're good." My favorites were Cyclops and the Storm!

[@user-ht6px9wb9x]

Make my day and say what's up to me pleazeeeyou rock, ill make my day for serious.

[@freddyvidz]

That's exactly right, but we didn't know any better in '91.

[@Amazin-ji8sn]

Pat the NES Punk all they did were have lights in them. I had them all. My night crawler broke (tail fell off) and colossus tab for his arms broke off.

[@BenderBurgers]

I hated the first wolverine and nightcrawler. Didnt get a decent nightcrawler until like 1996 or something. Cyclops and Juggernaut were my favorites

[@frankiesamo1563]

Hey bruh what you talking about

[@trashcanhands19]

Anyone else cut off Nightcrawler's suction cups (or was that just me ; )

[@splatmouth9201]

My dad tore them off

[@LScardigno28]

I don’t have the heart to, but I have been looking for one like that online

[@kurtoogle4576]

Immediately!!!

[@majorjoe23]

I did.

[@JLovrak]

I popped mine out so I could still use them when I wanted to. Same with Spider-Man.

[@Dusty_B]

These figures launched my toy addiction

[@freddyvidz]

It furthered mine

[@clintsaines9274]

I liked this series of action figures the best. The animated series helped make them so popular

[@Sword420]

That Archangel figure though. I could not withhold my laughter.

[@lastavenger8532]

christmas 1991 i got wolverine,cyclops,magneto, still have them to this day

[@random_gamer_guy82]

Similar year I got wolverine, cyclops, magneto and some type of battle car for him a purple blue thing. Strange thing my magneto didn't have a removable helmet like it showed on the box.

[@stoopiosproductions3130]

So long ago I wasn't even sperm yet.

[@paulo2322]

me too!

[@nonsense9437]

I have the news action figure with a comic and wall mountable stand from 1991 and I also have a few of those toys like I have magneto and to this day I know this may sound stupid but as the 11 year old i am I p!at with them

[@ILoooooveCamels]

"I got clawwws, I can use 'em!" It's up there with Colossus's scream from the Konami game.

[@Frankh747]

"I got claws and I can use them" god I remember playing that over and over again, gotta get mine out of storage.

[@Pegwarmers]

This was the first toy line I ever owned an entire wave of figures. That first wave was so much fun.

[@Pixel-dan]

I definitely think this line bridged the gap for many of us between being a kid playing with toys and being a toy collector. :-)

[@nicholasdickens2801]

Mine was Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1994. That got me back into toys.

[@Summertimeblues28]

Brings back great memories. Loved this line. X-Men was my fave comic as a kid & still is my all time fave team book. Thanks for such a comprehensive video

[@zombiejlt1]

I am a huge Xmen fan and when I saw these toys advertised years ago with this same commercial I had to get them. Wolverine was always my holy grail. No matter where I saw it, Walgreens, Sams Club, my mom never got it for me. I had Colossus, Apocalypse, Cable, and a few others but never got me Wolverine. Imagine how rewarded I felt when I was able to buy one as an adult, still on card. It hangs on my wall still and I dont know if I will open but it is a monument to my die hard collecting attitude. Well done Dan, great episode and trip down memory lane.

[@cancel.lgbtq.6892]

Im glad that you finally got your grail piece. For me , I was into m.a.s.k. and silverhawks but I could never be able to afford them when I was younger.

[@riseofloganxlogan4230]

i had alot of the first wave then replaced them with the later waves, they now sit proudly on my shelf among my marvel legends. Im still collecting them still till this day and they got me started collecting marvel legends. Great stroll down memory lane, thanks pixel dan!

[@c.glazercrush3994]

Funny how the magneto toy without the helmet looks a bit like ian mckellen.

[@renmysterio]

WOW!!! Ok...so, i still have all of these, unpackaged, in excellent condition! They were still being sold when I got my 2nd ever job, my dream job....TOYS R US, Chicago Brickyard mall. I was about to turn 16 and I had recently become a serious collector. Believe or not, the light-up features still work! This was my 2nd "adult collection". I'm now teary eyed lol. This totally took me down memory-lane Thank you!

[@Heavymetalrille]

The X-men figures never where big here in Sweden but the comics sure had it's followers and fans, however i still enjoy seeing them and listening to the history of the toys and such. Well done Dan, great work! I found it very interesting, i wonder what will come next :)

[@graemegoodwin9814]

Great Video Again, with great content. I consider watching your video's part of my toy collecting hobby. Going slightly off topic i still remember my first Pixel Dan video was your review of King Grayskull which kick-started my Classics collection over 10 years ago. I've always kept my Storm and Cyclops from this line, watching this has made me want to complete the set!

[@Dudewitdaplan22]

I owned all of these ToyBiz figures and all the ones that came after this first wave. Even had the Danger Room play sets and the Blackbird vehicle that fit those figures. By today’s standards, I agree that the figures look pretty bad but boy were they great back in the day. This video brings back all the nostalgic good feels. Keep up the great work, man. Hope you do more educational type videos in the future like Glenn Webb did. God, I miss those. R.I.P. Glenn.

[@proolio]

Dan you are just nailing it with this series. I love seeing all the toys I grew up playing with.

[@Grail640]

Great job Dan! I love this show, it reminds me of the things that Glen Webb use to do. Action Figure Evolution and such like that. I miss that stuff very much and this definitely scratches that itch. Keep it up!!

[@Pixel-dan]

I'm so glad you enjoy! Glen's stuff was amazing, for sure.

[@DrGonzoOBoogie]

I miss Glen Webb, he was great

[@libbycouch9923]

Rip

[@t-rex4622]

Yeah he was great it makes me so sad whenever I think about it. But it makes me really sad he died around the time that marvel legends really got good and now we will never know what he thinks or get to see him enjoy them.

[@NerdNewsToday]

Super informative, I never knew that tidbit about Storm and female characters - kind of amazing when you think about how many X-Women there are and how few figures they got in the first five years.

[@sXeblues]

The production quality of this video is fantastic! And I really love the trip down memory lane, as I’m sure I had all of these initial Toy Biz X-Men figures!

[@OakCityGamers]

I found a Magneto and Apocalypse in a thrift store recently... had both when I was a kid, had to dig through the old bins... couldn’t find any of these. I did find my Gambit, Weapon X, Cable, all from later lines. Awesome video! We love pixel dan vids! Thanks for doing what you do!

[@Pixel-dan]

I'm so glad you enjoyed! Thank you!!

[@JeffTheFutureJaros]

Man Dan, these are so well done, I have loved every episode that you have put together so far, great stuff, the Uncanny X-Men Line from Toy Biz was a great line, I remember having a few of these as a kid myself.

[@cowwcho]

Thank for posting these Dan! I really never knew if I had these as a kid,but right when I saw Wolverines action with his claws in that retractable J shape and the bike with the "other" I really remembered that I had them! I also remember magnetos vehicle with the red discs. I dont remember having magneto but I'm sure I did as both magneto and wolverine are my 2 fave characters from the show. Thank you so much!

[@JustACommonFan]

Dan, this video was awesome. It was also a little emotional for me as I remember having a lot of these toys as a kid and them being stolen from me. Thanks for this emotional trip down memory lane. Love these type of videos!

[@cancel.lgbtq.6892]

These brought back so many memories. Shopping at toys r us on saturday after watching morning cartoons. Today toys just arent the same. These are nostalgic and timeless.

[@BevanBoychuk]

These toys are just a couple of years before my time with action figures, but I had no idea how AWESOME these really were!! Thanks Dan

[@DevonPalmer98]

Definitely the best episode so far. You explain the history pretty well and do a great job demonstrating the figures. Keep it up dan

[@muisverriet]

Great video! These figures might not seem like much today, but back then they were amazing. I'd love to own some of these.

[@geekspeakmadechic4003]

Jarmo Verriet I still have most of them

[@1978pq]

I remember ordering a bunch of these from the Sears Wish Book that year. It was my last real action figure haul until I grew out of figures. At least until I got older and became a toy collector as an adult.

[@froggy7570]

Awe... such wonderful fun nostalgic memories, before the dark times, before the RISE OF THE SCALPERS: THE PHANTOM GREED!!! When KB Toy's and Toy's R' Us' shelves were always overflowingly stocked with these precious gems. Gotta go back in time!

[@Ballpython77]

ah the memories! nostalgia slapped me in the face. :) thanks Dan.

[@Pixel-dan]

Awesome! Exactly what I was going for. :-D Thanks for watching!!

[@replicatedmartyr]

Dan I gotta tell ya, I’m loving these toysplosion episodes. Great companion pieces to people who enjoy Toys That Made Us

[@maximpact24]

Wish I had these guys growing up, would see them all the time in toy aisles. But what a great episode Dan, hope to see some of the later line on another episode.

[@TheBorderGeek]

Ah, yes. A battering ram for the living wrecking ball and a giant BIC pen for a character with infinite powers lol! Loved these though, and really, who didn't? I'd love to see a follow-up video to see just how crazy deep this line went!

[@pious83]

Well done Dan, that's a hit to the nostalgia! I had practically all of these (except for Nightcrawler, who didn't seem to exist at the time) but a couple were redecos. I had X-Factor Cyclops and the default Blue with yellow boots and gloves although the figure still had the embossed 'X' running across the uniform. I had Storm, but in a white costume. It also had a plastic version of her cape too. Weapon X was my first Wolverine and he was great, with the helmet, harness and tubes. I also had what must have been version two of Magneto. He had some kind of light up gimmick in his chest, no removable helmet or magnets and a hard plastic cape. Bizarrely he also came with a gun??? Fortunately, Toy Biz would go on to make several upgrades to that original Apocalypse figure and his weird jewel staff thing...

[@kryten09]

Awe man... The memories of being 7 years old. My allowance went to toybiz for years after these came out. Always a fun time hunting for figures I didn't have/wanted at "toys r us" in the 90's.

[@bccooper2418]

Great review! I love the X-Men and I have many of these figures from Toy Biz. After the first couple of waves where I opened the box, I started to leave them in the box, hoping they would become more valuable. I still have my entire set today. I was able to get most of the action figures back when they was in the shelf. Thank you for this review. You got both a like and subscribe from me because of it :)

[@CuteFluff8]

Awesome work team! I loved this feature and series! :D

[@e.spanto154]

Great vid! I can’t believe that it was 1991 when these were released lol! I had thought maybe 93-94 yowch time flies!

[@wiibrockster]

I just got back from The Hospital for a Pre Operative Appointment and this was what I needed to make me feel better. Great Job Dan!!

[@chiefchimp2789]

Great retrospective, dude! I love that you mention that lesser known characters were made into figures, as they were some of my favorites. Random (which you featured) and Black Tom Cassidy were my two jams. Unfortunately, I remember most of them as peg warmers at Toys R Us, eventually getting put into clearance bins. Gideon and G.W. Bridge figures for 1.98 that had cardbacks so beat up that they didn't even look like they should be sold at retail. Those were the days...

[@roh247]

Really enjoyed this. Awesome job Dan.

[@emiratexaaron6144]

I love the video, it brings back a lot of good memories from my childhood, thanks for uploading it!!!

[@Rustyjamesman]

remember having some of these as a kid! always thought they were really cool

[@redi275]

Great video! Thanks Pixel Dan!

[@Drinkabeerandplayagameofficial]

I had so many of these. My friend had the light up storm and I was always so jealous. These toys were my childhood

[@invincigaz4067]

Really look forward to these Dan keep it up mate!

[@alexfreese8100]

Great vid, thanks for making it!!!

[@impossiblepie]

These are great I don't think I ever owned a figure growing up. Awesome video Dan!!

[@CulturePoppa]

Oh man! So awesome. Takes me back.

[@Caitlyns_Crafts_Collectibles]

Absolutely love these old x-men figures!

[@carlosarjon7189]

I’m so happy to see this!! I know it’s along shot but anyways to see a toysplosion on TMNT? I know technically you’ve done it in the past but I’d love to see it in this shows style!! Great vid anyway Dan!

[@xtianDESTROYER]

..this line started my love for colossus and i still have him after all these years..so much fun ❤👊

[@moskalks6447]

Love your enthusiasm.

[@kryptikus29]

Oh my god, I loved these so much

[@thecollector616]

Man these bring back soo many memories

[@thedude2897]

I had all of these,but my holy grail was when the next set came out with Iceman. I could never find him until one day I went to my usual TRU and searched through an end cap with tons of figures. Found the only one way up top in the back. I was so happy.

[@rickeydoesit]

What an amazing series! Keep them coming! Love to see another MOTU episode, or maybe MUSCLE!!!

[@tadeuferreira4059]

The playsets altough simple on it's visuals, are AWESOME on its gimmicks, such an neat and creative idea to play with the figures!

[@gmx5051]

Thanks bro! Great vid.

[@super9248]

Toysplosion is great! Keep 'em coming, cant wait for the next one. A Toysplosion on Kenner would awesome!

[@TheOtakuMike]

Man I had all of these when I was a kid! Awesome video love it

[@shaneoid361]

After this vid I immediately hit Ebay for that Colossus figure! Great show Dan, thanks so much!

[@jasonmoore8765]

Awesome video man. Keep up the good work.

[@chrisfrost5646]

Thanks Dan. Excellent video. Very informative.

[@erniebanks5931]

Excellent video, can't wait for the next series

[@culeroconnor1686]

Doodle I had most of them in the 90's thanks for being not just an amazing collector but also a humble and nice human being greetings from Mexico hope you come back soon

[@Pixel-dan]

Thank you! I'd love to come back!! :-)

[@masterofthewicked89]

I had them all when I was a kid. I use to have this like sci-fi battle station fort that I would use for my X-Men to use. Never had the Blackbird till the first movie came out, by then my X-Men figures were severely damaged by rough play. I really miss those figures, great memories.

[@Charles-jj2su]

Ah I remember the X-men cartoon! Cyclops was probably my favorite hero and Apocalypse my favorite villain.

[@leevaughn436]

Love these figures, I grew up with these and I think still have them all.

[@Transfixed]

This was great. I'd love to see the later Toy Biz 6" Legends get covered too.

[@2uitdoesntmatter]

Great video! Love this content and your execution. Random note, I never found the storm figure as a kid. Nor did any of my friends I remember. I never even saw one In person till about 15 years ago. Crazy for how popular these were, they didn’t maintain any value.

[@DrGonzoOBoogie]

Awesome just grabbed the new Marvel Legends Magneto today, must be an X-Men kinda day.

[@CPBuff22]

I still have these in a box someplace in the basement. I loved them as a child.

[@50TBRD]

Loved this video. My brother and I had so many X-Men figures. We were very lucky.

[@TheVileOne]

Love these retrospectives

[@dknightwalker7269]

Wow! Great episode Dan. Nostalgia toy hahaha 90's

[@nickmuaythaiandfitness]

I have so many of these toys still in packages! I love to look at them from time to time

[@nickmuaythaiandfitness]

@Choua Lor Amazon and eBay have so many! It’s such a fun hobby.

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

Awesome review cool figures, really liked the Sauron figure at the end

[@robertdanker6193]

I had a few of these figures at the time. Thought they were pretty ok for figures of that time. Great video!!

[@girardgarcia2530]

Great feature video! I love a good history lesson.

[@Saintbow]

I still have all of them! My younger brother tried to get me to sell them on ebay. I still have first edition action figures of all of them. Even have Deadpool and Cable! I traded many lunch money to get these bad boys.

[@brycevo]

These X-Men figures were seriously cool

[@metalwill1118]

This is my childhood in one video. I remember owning every figure in this video.

[@jamesberryjr5300]

I enjoy the new releases of the new action figures but, toy biz was to me the best figures made. They were made to play with and able to survive the rough play that kids gave. Toysplosion episodes are amazing. Thank you Pixel Dan.

[@Pixel-dan]

I'm so glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching!!

[@2uitdoesntmatter]

Totally agree. Figures today are so delicate. The joints are awful. These hold up so well.

That first wave was pretty fragile tbh. Not all, but apocalypse and magneto have some problems with the metal rivet joints.

[@R3troZone]

I was heavily into collecting comics in the early 90s and X-Men was my favorite title. So I had all of these figures.

[@kevsil616]

"I've got claws, I can use them!" I remember playing with those talking figures at the stores when I would go. Never picked them up though because of those stubby claws on wolverine and I thought those voice boxes were permanently fixed to the backs of the figures and thought it was just ugly.

[@JonLikesToys]

These were a cornerstone of my childhood

[@timotheusbruchtal2306]

Fantastic, give us more like this

[@TheVileOne]

Awesome!

[@danielhance1467]

These were hands down the action figures that defined my childhood. Well, these and Nina turtles, and the marvel masterpiece comic card series as well.

[@forshootsandgiggles]

Had the whole wave as a kid! Archangel was my fav out of the bunch!

[@EdsRetroGeekOut]

Love these!

[@amazingkylieshowaks9070]

Love your channel! Great content! Subbed!!!

[@skabcat242]

I used to have all these figures. The first X-Men figures toybiz did back then were very simple but they got better over the years.

[@steelcurtain187]

Great video. I hope you do more on the x men lines!