Even grown-ups like to project their fantasies on to warrior figures
IT'S TRUE that boys don't like to play with dolls. At least not the likes of Barbies and Sindys. No. We boys like action men!
Ever since Star Wars was released in 1977, action figures have become increasingly popular with boys (and men) in the Western world. The young Hong Kong male population has not been immune from the craze either.
At one point Darth Vader, C3PO, R2D2 and the Stormtroopers were the must-buy for boys, and, err, their fathers. Then came He-Man, G.I. Joe, the Transformers, and, of course, the Gundams from Japan.
Unlike other fads that came and went - think Tamagotchi, Afro perms and bizarre diet methods - these action figures never really went away. In fact, they are as popular and sought-after as ever.
What has changed is the general attitude towards the products, as people begin to treat them seriously as collectables rather than just toys.
Also a lot more attention is now being paid to details such as the figures' facial features, clothing and accessories.
As a self-confessed action figure fan, I could not be happier.
After years of being a closet collector (people used to think it was weird for a boy to play with 'dolls'), I can finally stand up and present my treasures to others with pride.
Indeed, over the last couple of years, the local showbiz industry was quick to realise the market potential of the products.
Action figures based on movie characters portrayed by stars such as Jackie Chan, Aaron Kwok Fu-shing, Andy Lau Tak-wah, Ekin Cheng Yi-kin and Alex To Tak-wai have been released. Recent series include the character played by Lau in his latest action thriller Full-Time Killer as well as characters played by Cheng and Cecilia Cheung Pak-chi in Tsui Hark's The Legend Of Zu.
Did you know that the mainland is one of the biggest producers of highly popular 12-inch action figures? And Hong Kong is like an action figure paradise because you can always find the latest models here.
Some familiar brands include Dragon and Hot Toys, which specialise in military figures. Elite Force and MediCom are also popular.
Of course, there are also Ultimate Soldier and Cotswold, which are American and tend to be more expensive ($400 to $600).
According to several store owners, action figures these days are mainly targeted at working males aged 20 or above, because the toys cost $300 or more a piece and most students just cannot afford them.
Many collectors start off with Dragon because its products are more affordable and there is a wide variety of accessories such as extra weapons, uniforms and helmets to choose from.
Recent best-sellers, according to retailers, include Hot Toys' Field Marshal Rommel the 'Desert Fox' of World War II; Dragon's US Army Rangers series; officers of the French Counter-Terrorist Unit from MediCom and fighter pilots of the Japanese Imperial Navy from Elite Force.
The figures are especially popular among collectors because of their detail and fine craftsmanship. But interest in Japanese pilot figures was mainly generated by the Hollywood blockbuster Pearl Harbor.
My obsession with these toys helps to fulfil my childhood ambition - or at least a make-believe one.
Every boy at one point in his life must have dreamed of being a great soldier, a courageous general, a special agent, a police officer or even an assassin.
When we realise we will never be able to become one in real life, we often seek comfort in our imagination and project our fantasies on to these figures.
We boys, after all, love to day-dream.
