Reviewing the Marilyn Manson Action Figures

In January of 2002, shock rocker Marilyn Manson entered the homes of disgruntled youths worldwide in a whole different fashion - he was made into a series of fully moveable, highly detailed action figures. Designed by Yasushi Nirasawa and sculpted by Yoshihiro Saito, there would be four figures comprising the entire set, and each would be released one by one over a period of several years. According to Todd MacFarlane, creator of the Spawn line of comic books and action figures, as well as the creator of numerous other horror-themed action figures was originally slated to produce the set of Marilyn Manson figures, as well. However, as MacFarlane later stated in an interview, "Before we could put the ideas in the oven, Manson isolated himself for the creation of the Mechanical Animals album and the plans were later turned down."

The first figure released was title "Holywood", making its worldwide debut in 2002. This figure features Marilyn Manson with a skull that is half peeled-back, and a gunshot wound through the chest that reveals a totally empty cavity. In this depiction Marilyn Manson's legs end in a tree-like mass of alien tentacles, and he holds a shotgun in one arm and a two headed lamb in the other.

"Mechanical Animals" was the second figure released, which depicts Marilyn Manson with his breast implants and a body that can be taken apart, or dissected if you will. Like all figures, this one features two different interchangeable heads.

Third in the series is "The Beautiful People" which is modeled after none other than the Beautiful People music video and Marilyn Manson's Antichrist Superstar tour. Complete with towering stilts and arm braces to match, this is the tallest and perhaps most intimidating of all four figures in the series.

Last in the series is the "Disposable Teens" action figure. Dressed in a black leather corset, and includes a sleeve of fur on its left arm. The figure features a removable, prosthetic arm and leg, and is also accompanied with a black monkey wearing a crown of thorns and carrying a cross on its back.

There were also limited edition versions available of each figure, as well. The "Holywood", "Beautiful People", and "Disposable Teens" action figures were released in grey stone-colored renditions, while the "Mechanical Animals" action figure was released in an all pink version, to go along with the glam-rock theme of that particular album. Each figure has a retail price of $16.95, and these four figures are a must have in any serious Marilyn Manson fan's collection.