April 11th, 2022
50 comments
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Doctor Who Magazine Special 60 Action Figures Essential Guide 1963-1996
Doctor Who Magazine presents a lavishly illustrated guide to action figures and other articulated toys inspired by the original run of the series. Packed with exclusive photography and behind-the-scenes details, this unique publication includes collectables inspired by the first eight Doctors, their companions and adversaries. From the earliest Dalek rarities in the 1960s to the very latest gift sets, this is the story of a merchandising phenomenon.
Action Figures: The Essential Guide 1963-1996 is on sale from Thursday 21 April at WH Smith, selected supermarkets and online from panini.co.uk priced £7.99. A digital edition is also available, priced £6.99 from pocketmags.com
Categorised under: Doctor Who Magazine, Magazine
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Demdike@CultLabs
May 5th, 2022 - 2:18pmIf anyone’s in the area, the Burnley WH Smith still have a couple of copies left. I bought one on Tuesday when i was out which left two on the shelf.
None of the local supermarkets had it.
Doctor Blu
April 30th, 2022 - 1:30pmMore photos of figures than written words in this ‘special’ magazine. More like a check list. Plus they missed the Pertwee Doctor figure variant from ‘The Monster of Peladon’.
Steve
May 1st, 2022 - 2:21pmI’m surprised they didn’t include any pictures of the Character Options classic TARDISes at all, especially as they have been such a big thing of the CO action figure line in recent years! Not one picture of one anywhere in the mag, whereas there are pictures of TARDISes from other ranges.
I guess they were keeping closely to the just including articulated action figures rule they set themselves.
Darkbill
April 21st, 2022 - 5:06pmPicked up a copy in WH Smith this morning. Largely focused on the CO Classic Series figures, and their associated stories from 1st to 8th Dr.
With Dapol, Product Ent, etc. figures thrown into the mix when relevant. And bang up to date, with the Warriors of the Deep and the most recent B&M sets included. A nice visual trawl through the Classic range to date.
It does highlight that plenty of Classic characters are still missing, and not just the companions but also the likes of Ogrons, Draconians, 80’s Master, Wirren, Silurians, Alpha Centauri, Yeti amongst others. And a few obvious repaints like ‘Hand of Fear’ Sarah Jane and non-overcoat Harry Sullivan wouldn’t go amiss.
But also striking how many Classic figures we’ve actually had, including some real left field choices.
Paul
April 20th, 2022 - 3:37pmThis is the kind of issue that the ebay sellers will be sending their minions to go around all the local supermarkets and WH Smiths to buy up all the stock and charge 4 or 5 times the amount on ebay just like the B&M sets which they do the same on day off release. When will shops learn that anyone who buys more then one of a doctor who product is not a collector but a scalpel trying to make money off the back of collectors who may not have the money on the day of release and then have to go without. It is shameless and just pure greed what these people do and shops should put a stop to it by saying one only.
booboo
April 20th, 2022 - 4:00pmUnlike the B&M sets you can buy it online so i dont see the problem.
And you cannot expect shop staff to “police” limiting numbers, they have enough trouble from aggressive customers as it is.
The Scalper Reality
April 20th, 2022 - 5:49pmWouldn’t it just be easier for the scalpers to order online and get them delivered to their door? Saves time and money and a lot of effort. The scalpers aren’t going to clear the shelves it wouldn’t seem worth it.
Anthony Fagn
April 28th, 2022 - 8:24amSadly shops do not see it that way. All they see is stock being sold. Matters not to them whether 20 copies are sold to 20 people or to one person at the end of the day they have sold 20 copies. I don’t condone scalping I am just explaining how shops work and think. The mag can be ordered direct from Panini if you are struggling to find one. It’s the same with ebay. When the figure exclusive set from CO of Warriors Of The Deep was STILL available on thier website people were buying it from ebay for 20 or 30quid more. That logic totally escapes me…
MJS
May 1st, 2022 - 4:08pmYou can apply this to literally any product. There are alternatives to obtaining this, ie website or subscription. I appreciate the disappointment not being able to get an item can be, but that’s literally just the way things go. It might not even be scalpers, just people in the right place and right time and amount of stock available. A sense of perspective is required here.
Mr Fish
April 20th, 2022 - 1:48pmPicked up a copy in WHSmith this morning! Looks a great issue
Anthony Fagn
April 14th, 2022 - 4:42pmAvailable direct from Panini. I ordered mine today.
me
April 14th, 2022 - 12:45pmthese days its random where and when i can get a copy of the main magazine or specials
James17
April 13th, 2022 - 11:13amDo these get sold in WHSmith etc or just online?
Children of davros
April 13th, 2022 - 5:31pmW h Smith’s, newsagents (if you ask them) etc
Kone112
April 13th, 2022 - 7:03pmDo tesco still do the specials ? Asda only does the monthly edition next to me and WHSmith is miles away from were I live?
Children of davros
April 16th, 2022 - 11:47amA Tesco’s local to me does them, it might be worthwhile asking if they can order it in for you
Jay
April 12th, 2022 - 1:45pmGot to get a copy of this one!
me
April 12th, 2022 - 9:34aminstead of merchandise about doctor who its merchandise about merchandise about doctor who
David Smith
April 14th, 2022 - 9:46pmCan you say that again I did quite catch that
Chris Howarth
April 12th, 2022 - 8:31amHmm, a guide to stuff in my house. Great!… I think.
Jon
April 12th, 2022 - 2:14amThis looks to be brilliant, can’t wait. It’s already sending my OCD into overdrive!
Djs
April 11th, 2022 - 6:38pmI’m still waiting for news on the next Chronicles Special. I really hope it’s classic series focused or 1993.
…
April 12th, 2022 - 12:53pm1993 would be a very short special
Jay
April 12th, 2022 - 1:44pmI have a feeling it might be 2013. 50th anniversary year for the next one.
Anthonyfagn
April 11th, 2022 - 5:16pmGood timing right before Easter weekend. Most places won’t get deliveries because of Good Friday. Probably won’t see this until a week Thursday…
MB
April 11th, 2022 - 5:27pmThis is out the week after Easter, Thursday the 21st
AntF
April 11th, 2022 - 5:13pmGood timing right before Easter weekend. Most places won’t get deliveries because of Good Friday. Probably won’t see this until a week Thursday…
John
April 12th, 2022 - 9:26amIt’s not due our until a week Thursday!
Jamie
April 11th, 2022 - 4:18pmAre there any discount codes for the panini website? Thank you
James DoGoode
April 15th, 2022 - 1:22pmThere are no discount codes on the Panini website
daz
April 15th, 2022 - 5:41pmJamie.
You can Sign up as new customer to get 10% off.
Jamie
April 11th, 2022 - 3:19pmThis will be the first issue I have bought for a long time!
Dalek Eye Stalk
April 11th, 2022 - 7:27pmSame here!
Who Knows
April 11th, 2022 - 2:59pmHow many pages will this guide contain please?
Book collector
April 11th, 2022 - 3:56pmThey normally run to 100-114 pages
Jamie
April 11th, 2022 - 2:31pmThis is awesome! I’m really looking forward to this one. Let’s hope we get a 2005- present version next.
The Flying Shark
April 11th, 2022 - 2:21pmI’m aware there’ll probably be a second volume, but it is a bit annoying this isn’t just one special covering all the figures. Can’t really see how there’d be enough content for two, not to mention it basically doubles the price
Julie Whitfield
April 11th, 2022 - 2:35pmI hope there will be some acknowledgement of my lovely partner, David Boyle, founder of DAPOL.
Dave
April 11th, 2022 - 3:01pmI agree, especially as the second volume will have a smaller pool to fish in, with only Character Options producing toys during that period (except for one thirteenth Doctor I think). What is there really to say about them in the sort of depth that fills up a full magazine?
(Unless it’s a checklist type release, in which case I wouldn’t really be interested in either volume)
…
April 11th, 2022 - 3:58pmThat “smaller pool” is seventeen years worth of merchandise!
John
April 12th, 2022 - 9:29amPlenty of post 1996 stuff from product enterprise to include!
booboo
April 12th, 2022 - 9:52amThey only did “classic” items so if anything they should be in this one
Adam
April 15th, 2022 - 1:02pmDepends what they count as ‘action figures’. There has been a LOT of merch for the new series (now 17 years in), including Big Chief, Titans, Funko, Lego minifigures, Bif Bang Pow etc. And even for Character Options, they could cover the 5 inch range, 12 and 10 inch figures, 3.75 inch line, character building, time squad etc. So definitely lots that could be covered in a second issue.
Silver Dalek
April 11th, 2022 - 1:27pmLove this, although if its 1963-1996, why are there Character Options on the cover?
booboo
April 11th, 2022 - 1:31pmits action figures representing Doctors, Characters and Monsters from broadcast episodes between 1963-1996 so no “new series” figures in this one.
Dave
April 11th, 2022 - 1:31pmI’m guessing it’s characters 1963-96, rather than releases? So it’s all action figures of characters from the classic series rather than all the figures released during that period.
Dav McKenzie
April 11th, 2022 - 1:40pmAnd why’s there a Night of the Doctor (2013) figure of Paul McGann?
booboo
April 11th, 2022 - 1:46pmpresumably because the episode was set pre new series so they have included it in this one otherwise it would be in no mans land
Coleman
April 12th, 2022 - 11:10amYes, always interested in something connected to Collecting.
Ken
April 11th, 2022 - 1:26pmAwesome