Many of us have been introduced to action figures from a young age. At first, maybe we only got to play with our friends’ toys, but eventually there came a time when we liked a character so much that we teased our parents about it. The interesting fact that I have noticed these days is that much of what is created for television is based on numerous characters that must then be collected by children. It’s marketing from day one and therefore some of the plot lines don’t make any sense.
When American comic book heroes were really strong on the airwaves, Dragon Ball Z came along. It quickly gained a loyal following as it was different and also had a non-ending story in every episode. It was a very long and well thought out concept and kept many glued to it for years. One of my friends from grad school would run home to watch the new episode and it always made me laugh. In Japan, this anime has been around for much longer and was already extremely popular there, especially among anime fans. Many figures and other products have been created around the brand and have sold quite well. Many of the older Dragon Ball Z action figures, as well as Godzilla action figures, are selling for very high prices these days.
The only thing I would be careful about is buying the Chinese copies that are being sold as originals. It’s a complete waste of money as they are worth nothing but can command high prices online. This has always been an issue in the collectibles industry, but is now very prevalent when it comes to action figures.
The research you do now will save you a lot in the long run.
Your kids will probably want their own copies, so be prepared to buy a second one. I have done this for years with comics as one is for the collection and the other is for reading. It can be tough if you’re looking for an item worth a few thousand, but that can be a time when you just buy it and put it away.
If you can, try to find other collectors in your area. Others with the same interest may be able to give you good advice or even facilitate beneficial exchanges. I have been very lucky as I got great deals on my Dragon Ball Z action figures before they were in demand. Some of the items I bought in multiples and now I have three or four of each in my collection. Hopefully this will pay off even more in the long run and you’ve already paid for quite a few vacations. It’s definitely a great idea to buy some of these action figures and enjoy them even if they don’t make you rich.