An Introduction to TEEN TITANS GO! Action Figures
Teen Titans,unlike it'spredecessors like the Justice League and Batman, seems to be aimed at younger viewers. Younger kids and teens can relate to them. The cartoon Teen Titans hang out in the Titan Tower (which is shaped like a giant T), watch TV, play video games and go to the pizza parlor. Sound like any teens you know? Oh, they also battle some seriously great Super Villains like Slade. They have all the high tech gadgets and gizmos that help them protect their un-named city from evil.
There is an air of playfulness in the Teen Titans show that begins with the catchy theme song performed by none other than Puffy Ami Umi!The banter between the characters is quick and often humorous. The core characters display the loyalty and bravery you expect from super heroes but with a bit of Japanese anime inspired whimsy and humor. Each of the main character's personalities is clearly defined and they rarely act out of character!
The Core Teen Titan Characters are Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire and Raven
Robin:Robin is the leader of the group and was trained by none other than the Batman himself. His single-mindedness in catching the bad guys often leads him into situations where his team mates have to help him out. He is patient with his new friend, Starfire, who has little knowledge of all things earth. His weapon of choice is the Bo Staff along with his fully equipped utility belt...he WAS trained by Batman after all.
Cyborg:Cyborg is part man, part robot and all big kid who loves video games and pizza. He is loyal and brave and LOVES to eat. He is equipped with arm canons and all sorts of robotic weaponry and serves as a veritable super Swiss-army knife for the team.
Beast Boy: Beast Boy is the class clown of the team. He has the unusual ability to morph into any animal that he chooses, even extinct varieties such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex. The lighthearted jokester of the group, Beast Boy's cheerful outlook on life gebined with his silly humor help to lighten up the atmosphere when things get grim around the Tower.
Starfire:Starfire is a powerful extraterrestrial being from the planet Tamaran and is the innocent newgeer to the group. Although she is still learning about the strange habits and foreign customs on the planet Earth, she remains a fierce fighter capable of firing extremely powerful energy blasts from her hands and flight. She is very sweet on Robin.
Raven:With a mystical power over inanimate objects, Raven is the most mysterious of the Teen Titans. Under her grim and sarcastic demeanor this puzzling Titans member is of invaluable aid to the team. While not grim to the point of depressing, her more passive nature provides balance to a team of lively and often hyperactive members. Her interesting back-story provides for some of the best episodes of the show.
Bandai produced the action figures for the Teen Titans show. They came in several sizes including an unique geic book style of "deformed" Japanese anime style 1.5" figures packaged together with a geic book style story often in 3-4 parts.
The most collectible of the figures are the standard 3.5" size. They gee mostly as two-packs but Cyborg is so big he is usually packaged alone. The Raven figure is always the most sought after and I believe Bandai deliberately makes fewer of her and always short packs her figures in a case.
This Raven White Variant Package can gemand $40.00.
They tried a 5 inch action figure style but had limited success. There are 5" styles available in most characters, including the bad guys like Slade, but no Raven.
Badai also produced a short run of 10" figures which included Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Speedy and Aqualad (of Teen Titans East). No 10" Raven has been spotted. The Starfire, Cyborg and Speedy are the most difficult to find. Robin appears to be everywhere.
Last but not least, Bandai produced a series of hard plush with plastic figures called "Super Deformed Plush". They are about six inches high, have tightly stuffed small bodies and huge plastic heads. Robin, Beast Boy, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, Speedy and Aqualad were produced in this series with Raven, Cyborg and Speedy being the most difficult to find.
When the cartoon show ended after 5 successful seasons in 2006, Bandai quit producing the action figures. But not before they released re-packs in new Blue Card packaging. There were only 4 packs of the Blue Carded 3.5" figures produced and the 4.99 retail figures are fetching between 10.00-40.00 each in the secondary market.
The playsets and vehicles that were produced to extend actual play with the figures have not appreciated as much in value as the figures themselves, but that could change quickly as they are also now out of production.
Teen Titans Go! Action Figures are a solid investment, particularly now since Bandai has ceased production. Look for prices to skyrocket on the secondary market!
Toy-Xpress
All photos are either stock or from my personal collection. Kathleen's Collectibles was the forerunner to Toy-Xpress.
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