The Netflix original series Stranger Things blew up (in a good way) last year, mining a combination of 1980s nostalgia and excellent performances — even from preteens in lead roles — to become one of the service’s signature shows seemingly overnight. Everyone was talking about the show, with many lauding the captivating blend of horror, science fiction, and coming-of-age themes that made the series so appealing.
In advance of the mysterious second season, which will premiere this Halloween, toy company Funko has revealed that it will produce a line of action figures based upon the show that depict popular characters in the classic “G.I. Joe” style. Funko is known primarily for its POP! line of vinyl figurines, depicting characters from several prominent media franchises.
The action figures, which will arrive this August — Funko has not released any details regarding price — will be bundled in packs of three. Pack 1 includes Mike, Lucas, and Eleven, while Pack 2 will feature Will, Dustin, and the Demogorgon. Each figure is 3.75 inches tall and fully articulated, and some even include the characters’ trademark accessories (for example, Lucas comes with a pair of binoculars and a slingshot, while Eleven is humorously equipped with a box of Eggo toaster waffles).
The toys’ design is a clear callback to the action figures that reached peak popularity in the 1980s, and were based upon franchises like Thundercats. This is fitting, given that Stranger Things often feels like one big tribute to famous films from the era, including Alien, The Goonies, and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.
Funko has not yet announced any plans to bring other popular characters into the fold, so it appears Nancy, Steve, Chief Hopper, and everyone else will have to wait. If you’re a collector or a nostalgia buff, the figures will be hard to pass up. Apart from a few unfortunate characters, nearly everyone who appeared in the series’ first season is set to return this October, and after hearing that Season 2 will only be darker, scarier, and more action-packed, we expect that the pool of available Stranger Things merchandise will only continue to grow.
