McFarlane Toys

McFarlane Toys

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Toy manufacturing
Founded	1994
Founder	Todd McFarlane
Headquarters	Tempe, Arizona , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Model action figures based on movies, comics, music, video games, sports, and more
Parent	Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc.

McFarlane Toys is a United States-based enterprise established by comic book artist Todd McFarlane that specializes in crafting intricately detailed model action figures representing characters from movies, comics, music, video games, and sports. Operating as a subsidiary of Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc., its main office is located in Tempe, Arizona.

By 2021, McFarlane had secured licenses for merchandise linked to prominent franchises such as DC Comics, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Bleach, Warhammer, Mortal Kombat, Disney, The Princess Bride, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Overview

Established in 1994 by Todd McFarlane, the company originated following McFarlane's departure from Mattel due to disagreements over the creative direction of action figures based on his comic creations. Initially operating under the name "Todd Toys," it was renamed McFarlane Toys in 1995 because of trademark issues.

Early production centered on figures derived from McFarlane’s own Spawn series before expanding to licensed collections such as The Simpsons and the "Movie Maniacs" line, which showcased legendary horror icons like the Terminator, Freddy Krueger, and Jason Voorhees. The portfolio also includes representations of sports legends from basketball, hockey, and baseball, alongside characters from video games like Soulcalibur, Onimusha, and Metal Gear Solid. Additionally, adaptations encompass literary figures from stories such as Where the Wild Things Are.

McFarlane Toys has introduced original series that reinterpret classic fairy tales like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and portray historical personalities. Partnerships with notable artists including Clive Barker (creator of Tortured Souls) and H. R. Giger have contributed unique offerings, strengthening the company’s position within the collectible action figure industry.

Spawn figures

The inaugural collection of Spawn figures debuted in 1994 with six characters: Spawn, Medieval Spawn, Tremor, along with villains Violator, Overt-Kill, and Clown. This launch was accompanied by accessories such as the Spawn Alley Playset, Spawnmobile, and Violator Monster Rig. These figures were distinguished by their meticulous sculpting and hand-painted details—elements like spikes and claws received individual paint applications. Encased in rigid plastic packaging, they were designed primarily for collectors rather than general toy consumers. Each figure was bundled with a comic book tailored to its character, enhancing its appeal.

Later series revisited foundational characters through releases like Series 10, 20, and 30, which honored staples including Domina, Overtkill, Violator, and Spawn himself—strengthening brand loyalty and maintaining market relevance.

Although prototypes for Series 35 and 36 were revealed in 2008, these lines were ultimately discontinued; however, some Series 36 designs were later issued as statues under the "Robot Wars" theme. This introduced a futuristic narrative featuring a villainous Mechanoid Army to diversify the product range.

In 2024, McFarlane Toys broadened its offerings with the launch of a 1:8 scale Spawn Wings of Redemption statue inspired by the cover art of Spawn #77. Celebrating Todd McFarlane’s three decades in business, the company released a new collection comprising four Spawn figures—including fresh designs, returning favorites, and a figure depicting McFarlane himself—highlighting ongoing growth and strategic revitalization of the brand.

Anime figures

McFarlane Toys has developed officially licensed figures representing prominent Japanese anime and manga franchises such as Akira, Tenchi Muyo!, Tokyo Ghoul, Attack on Titan, and Naruto Shippuden. In 2019, the company broadened its catalog by obtaining licenses for One-Punch Man and My Hero Academia. On May 22, 2024, McFarlane unveiled a new action figure collection inspired by the Bleach: The Thousand Year Blood War series, underscoring its ongoing commitment to leading anime properties.

Horror figures

Todd McFarlane, driven by his enthusiasm for horror, introduced the "Todd McFarlane's Monsters Playsets" in 1997, offering a fresh perspective on traditional monster characters. The firm continued to innovate with the 2003 "Twisted Land of Oz" collection, which reimagined L. Frank Baum’s figures with a darker twist. The 2004 "6 Faces of Madness" series showcased notorious historical personalities including Attila the Hun, Billy the Kid, Rasputin, Jack the Ripper, Elizabeth Bathory, and Vlad the Impaler, demonstrating McFarlane’s skill in merging historical themes with collectible artistry.

Following these were lines such as "Twisted Fairy Tales," which portrayed distorted versions of beloved children’s stories like Hansel & Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood through a blend of horror and dark satire. The fifth installment, "Twisted Christmas," presented eerie reinterpretations of holiday motifs, featuring a sinister Santa Claus figure adorned with horror-inspired details. These collections have helped McFarlane Toys establish a strong foothold in specialized collectible segments by emphasizing unique design and thematic creativity.

Movie Maniacs

The Movie Maniacs series debuted in 1998 with static figures primarily centered on horror and sci-fi licenses from popular franchises like A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Friday the 13th.

The second wave expanded into cult classics and action films with characters such as Eric Draven from The Crow. The third series further diversified by including fantasy icons like Edward Scissorhands, action heroes like Shaft, and cult sci-fi titles such as Escape from L.A..

In February 2024, McFarlane announced upcoming Movie Maniacs figures based on NBCUniversal movies, featuring characters like Andy Stitzer from The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The Dude from The Big Lebowski, and Jake Blues from The Blues Brothers.

By March 2024, four figures inspired by the Fallout video game series were released, including the famed Vault Boy mascot. April 2024 saw the launch of a new line drawing inspiration from The Matrix, further diversifying McFarlane’s licensed product offerings.

Music figures

Expanding beyond Todd McFarlane’s own creations, McFarlane Toys ventured into music collectibles by introducing figures of legendary rock artists beginning with KISS in 1997. The company acquired licensing rights for numerous prominent music icons such as the Beatles, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Slash, Iron Maiden’s mascot Eddie, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie Mercury, and Elvis Presley.

KISS

In 1997, McFarlane Toys collaborated with the rock group KISS to create action figures and comic books inspired by their album Psycho Circus. This partnership produced new KISS merchandise continuously until 2007.

The Beatles

McFarlane issued figures depicting The Beatles as their animated personas from the 1968 movie Yellow Submarine and the 1965 ABC cartoon series. Although several series based on these animated versions were released, no figures representing the actual band members have been created.

Music Maniacs

In March 2024, McFarlane introduced the Music Maniacs: Metal collection, which includes figures of Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne.

Sports figures

Driven by Todd McFarlane's enthusiasm for sports, McFarlane Toys has been producing officially licensed figures from all five major North American sports—baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and stock car racing—under the McFarlane Sports Picks label since 2001.

In 2023, the company launched NFL action figures featuring Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, George Kittle, and Joe Burrow.

Television figures

In January 2007, McFarlane Toys revealed a line of action figures based on the TV show 24. Additional licensed collections include characters from Lost and The Walking Dead. In 2015, construction sets themed around HBO's Game of Thrones were introduced, followed by 6-inch action figures in 2019. The company also manufactures figures from Netflix's Stranger Things.

The McKenzie Brothers

Released in September 2000, these figures represent SCTV characters Bob and Doug McKenzie, originally played by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas. Each figure was sold individually and included a portion of a diorama from the Great White North set, along with sound chips featuring memorable quotes.

The Simpsons

In 2005, McFarlane acquired the license from Playmates Toys to produce action figures based on Fox’s well-known show The Simpsons.

Star Trek

McFarlane Toys secured rights in 2017 to manufacture action figures and role-playing accessories based on the Star Trek franchise. A planned release of a Star Trek: Discovery phaser toy was cancelled due to conflicts over safety regulations in the U.S. The initial wave of figures—including James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard—debuted in early 2019, with additional characters such as Michael Burnham and Spock announced but yet to be released.

Video game figures

McFarlane Toys has produced figures for prominent video game franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Halo, Five Nights at Freddy's, Call of Duty, and Assassin's Creed. In 2018, they launched a highly poseable Fortnite figure line featuring a minimum of 18 articulation points—signaling a departure from their usual statue-like designs. This enhanced articulation became standard for later lines such as Mortal Kombat 11, increasing their appeal among collectors.

DC Multiverse

After Mattel lost the rights to produce DC Universe figures to Spin Master at the end of 2018, McFarlane Toys secured the license in February 2019 to manufacture collector figures ranging from 6 to 12 inches, covering characters from DC comics, films, television series, and video games. Aimed primarily at adult collectors, McFarlane’s revamped DC Multiverse collection serves as a direct competitor to Mattel’s former products and Hasbro’s Marvel Legends line, incorporating the sophisticated articulation system first seen in their Fortnite figures.

In 2023, McFarlane introduced a Superman figure within its Collector Edition series, highlighting the character’s distinctive mullet hairstyle from The Death of Superman storyline and including Krypto the Superdog as an accessory. This collection also presented Green Lantern Batman and Captain Carrot figures, each equipped with multiple accessories and display stands. A preview released in December 2023 showcased upcoming action figures for 2024, such as Bizarro, Batzarro, Nightwing, Superman, and a Jokerized Red Robin under the Gold label.

Also in December 2023, McFarlane announced a collaboration with Hasbro through a multi-brand licensing agreement aimed at expanding the Page Punchers series—combining action figures with full-length comic books. Early 2024 will see releases featuring G.I. Joe and Transformers editions, followed by a March launch inspired by Superman: Ghosts of Krypton.

January 2024 brought announcements for a new figure line based on Crisis on Infinite Earth and additional Batman Adventures figures, along with pre-orders opening for a Cassandra Cain Batgirl figure.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Batman Forever, McFarlane launched a themed action figure line including characters such as Val Kilmer’s Batman and Jim Carrey’s Riddler.

In July 2024, plans were revealed for a Batman Beyond figure celebrating Batman’s 85th anniversary, depicting Terry McGinnis in his iconic red-and-black suit complete with wings from the 1999 animated series. September 2024 announcements featured new Batman cowl replicas representing legendary eras like Batman: Knightfall, the 1966 film, and Tim Burton's 1989 movie.

McFarlane's Dragons

Debuting in 2005 under McFarlane Toys’ "Horror, Fantasy and Sci-Fi Action Figures" category, McFarlane's Dragons are intricately crafted six-inch action figures released twice yearly. The initial five series showcased clans including Eternal, Fire, Komodo, Sorcerer's, Water, and Berserker. Series Six expanded the lineup with new clans such as Fossil, Hunter, Ice, Scavenger, and Warrior. Each release incorporated storytelling elements that enriched the dragons’ mythology, increasing their appeal among collectors and enthusiasts.

McFarlane's Military

In 2005, McFarlane Toys ventured into military-themed collectibles with the launch of "McFarlane's Military." This line features figures representing military roles like "Army Ranger" and "Navy SEAL," outfitted with highly detailed weaponry and gear modeled after authentic equipment. The series is designed for collectors who value realism and precision in military figure reproductions.

Where the Wild Things Are

In 2000, McFarlane Toys introduced a series of figures inspired by Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, featuring Max alongside other characters crafted in Sendak’s signature crosshatch artistic technique. This officially licensed collection marked McFarlane’s expansion into collectibles rooted in classic children’s literature.

DC Direct license

On July 27, 2021, McFarlane Toys took over management of the remaining DC Direct inventory and pledged to continue producing statues, busts, and collectible items originally from DC Direct’s lineup. The company announced plans for new product launches beginning in 2022, aiming to enhance its footprint within the superhero collectibles sector.

Controversies

Certain McFarlane figures have generated controversy, influencing public perception of the brand. For instance, the Death Row Marv figure from Sin City included an electric chair with a switch that mimicked electrocution, which attracted criticism due to its sensitive nature. Moreover, the Austin Powers action figure was met with disapproval over suggestive language embedded in its sound chips and packaging. These incidents underscore the difficulties in balancing artistic creativity with consumer and societal sensitivities.

External links

• Stashmatic.com Tracker for Movie Maniacs collection (includes images)
• Four Horsemen Toy Designs’ site – founded by former McFarlane Toys staff