Indie Spotlight

Indie Spotlight is a theoretical action figure line based on the characters of independent comics proposed by Shocker Toys. This line is intended to be in the 6-inch scale hoping to compete with Marvel Legends and .

History

Shocker Toys was founded by Geoff Beckett and Lance Buttiglieri in 2000. The concept of the Indie Spotlight Series was developed in 2005, and was first unveiled in May of 2006. From that date, Shocker Toys was the license holder of the rights to produce 6" and mini action figures based upon independent comic book characters ranging over 75 comic properties .

The designs for the products were developed in consultation with the artists of the comics from which they were drawn, and as of early 2007 plans were in place to produce two series of the figures. The first would feature ShadowHawk by Jim Valentino, Kabuki by David Mack, Scud the Disposable Assassin by Rob Schrab, and Katchoo by Terry Moore. There were also plans for a fifth character - although the details were left unannounced at the time,

Originally, the Indie Spotlight line intended to emulate the Marvel Legends' sales concept of including a comic book with each figure, but currently there are no plans to include comic books with any of the Series 1 figures, despite earlier announcements by Shocker Toys. .

Numerous problems, such as factory issues and idea theft, have been said to be the reasons for the delays of Series 1 . December 2008 is the latest proposed date that Indie Spotlight Series 1 is said to be shipping through Diamond comics and other toy distribution channels .

Mega Figure
In 2007, Shocker Toys introduced the idea of the "Mega Figure" to the Indie Spotlight line to be included with series 1. Each Mega figure will be packaged alone and sold along side the main figure assortment of each proposed series. This idea was proposed in reaction to the "Build-A-Figure concept" by ToyBiz allowing the customer to get a larger figure in the series without having to purchase every figure in the assortment. Other toy lines also do this, but do not brand the concept and usually do not charge more for the larger figures.

Indie Spotlight

Series 1 (Finished but not shipped)
SCUD (with Rob Schrab's SCUD the disposable assassin)

SOL (Variant version of the character 'SOL' from SCUD the disposable assassin)

ShadowHawk (Jim Valentino's ShadowHawk)

ShadowHawk (Variant version of Jim Valentino's ShadowHawk with a new character in a new costume version)

Kabuki (David Mack's Kabuki) (Now printed by Marvel Comics)

Katchoo (Terry Moore's character from Strangers in Paradise)

The Maxx (Mega figure) (Created by Sam Kieth) (MTV's The Maxx from the Maxx Liquid TV series)

Mr. Gone (Mail away figure for Series1) (Mr. Gone is the enemy of The Maxx sending his evil Isz army after him)

NOTE: The idea of a chase figure with this series has been floated.

Series 2 (prototypes shown)
Dick Tracy (Chester Gould's Dick Tracy)

Jack Staff (Paul Grist's Jack Staff)

Ignacia (Todd Nauck's WildGuard)

Zombie King (Deadworld's Zombie King)

The Tick (Mega figure) (Ben Edland's The Tick)

Arthur (Mail away figure for Series2)

Series 3 (proposed)
The Phantom

Grendel Prime (Matt Wagner's Grendel)

Nira-X (Bill Maus's Nira-X)

Fist Of Justice (Mike Imboden's Fist of Justice featured on Digital Webbing)

Two-Packs (proposed)

Series 1 (Proposed)
Nexus and Dr. Solar (Steve Rude's Nexus and Classic Media's Dr. Solar face off in this two pack)

Line Controversy
Despite numerous announcements, proposed release dates, and promises that they are coming soon , no figure in the proposed Indie Spotlight line has been released to date but two tangentially related products under the Indie Spotlight flag were released, one at NYCC 2008, an unarticulated Scud statue and one at SDCC 2008, a 3" vinyl The Maxx figure. The latest announced release date for the actual line of action figures, and presumably last for this year, is December 2008.

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See Also

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