Research into custom figures

There are now fans so dedicated to the concept of superheroes and love the genre so much that they create their own superheroes and comics, creating smaller independent companies, ever on the rise superheroes also have smaller community's. Action Figure collectors not only collect products but also use them to create their own interpretations of the characters, called 'custom figures', online users such as 'Raybot customs' have perfected this art that their work is often better than what the studio releases. With a small community sharing their work and discussing ideas, this adult figure collecting is a medium still looked down upon by society, which is why much of this only exists online, behind false names and identities, where in this community they are appreciated for their artwork. 'Forever incomplete status of identity needs to be, and tends to be, suppressed and laboriously covered up.' (Bauman, 2004, p.16)

These artists who still would be laughed at by a large portion of society do not use false presence online as many people do, but in a way use identity in the real world, where they are embarrassed to discuss their love for super-heroes and figures and instead hide that part of themselves, and release their passion online, where under a false name, their true selves can relish in what they love with other members of this online community. 'Identities are for wearing and and showing, not for stoning and keeping. (Bauman, 2004, p.89) this insecurity for identity proves difficult for fans to discuss, and is rarely talked of online, the fact that they hide their true feelings for something because they are afraid of what society may think of them is saddening, however is isn't something that should be feared. 'Indeed, 'identity' is revealed to us only as something to be invented rather than discovered' (Bauman, 2004, p.15) This online forum of superhero custom lovers is in ways what ordinary comic lovers used to be, a small embarrassed community that shares their love for something with others who are into the same thing, people who never really grew out of their love for toys, and have made 3D sculpting an art form, considering the articulation and paintwork, accessories and detail as they create these iconic characters in their own image.

Bauman, Z. (2004) ‘Identity’ Cambridge: Polity Press.

Bauman, Z. (2000) ‘Community: seeking safety in an insecure world.’, Oxford: Blackwell.

Bauman, Z. (2008) ‘Liquid Life’, Oxford: Blackwell

‘Spider-man Once upon a time the superheroes’ 2002 [DVD] ILC Prime Ltd.