It Figures Special: Lady Liberty Playset

Ah, the playset. A classic part of any action figure line in the past, we are seeing less and less of them now. And as time marches on, the more iconic seem to be rising steadily in value. However, I seem to have found one that has sank to obscurity over time- the Lady Liberty playset from the 1999 X-Men action figure line. And while the reasons are understandable, I believe now is a perfect time to shine a light on it.

The interior is filled with gimmickry designed to emulate the climax of the first  X-Men film, and particularly the powers of Magneto- it has a springing trap of the statue's internal frame as well as a section of warping rubber girders. But the real star of the show is the facade- a perfectly sculpted and detailed replication of the famous lady of New York's harbors. It looks great, with the only real toyish aspect being the nameplate that adorns the front of the piece.

The main issue of this playset is that, in the line it was designed for, it was grossly out of scale. It was designed for a line of 6" figures and barely hits a foot tall without the crown.  However- 6" is no longer the dominant scale of the action figure market. Most lines now work in a 3 3/4" scale. And while still a good degree undersized  in terms of true scale, it makes for a much very fun piece for them, as there is much more to be done with the facade, which is close enough to  be taken as minor artistic license. The top of the lady is level enough to decently stand a figure on, and with figures that have modern level articulation, it's no trouble to pose a team of heroes standing all over it!

Perhaps the best part is, this is a rare playset that won't break your budget in the finding! Lady Liberty averages $10 to $15 on the aftermarket, and is definitely well worth the money if you're a Marvel fan- almost any Marvel hero you can think of is based in New York, and it makes a very nice display piece with any 3 3/4"  superhero figures.