How many "Mannix" figure lines are there?

[muckmonster87]

never really liked any Mannix stuff besides the Mighty Sharks figures, but i would love some of those 9 inch Monster Warriors

[waywardmonk]

Came across yet another "Mannix" line with the 3rd style body: Mystic Rings.



Same pig man from the Heroes of Empire line. This one looks like a LOTR theme.

[10incher]

Cool card art and these.

[waywardmonk]

I've updated the original post to try and make it clearer and easier to read.

I've also realized that the Vikings figures were in the smaller 5" scale.

Since there were 9" versions of all the other 5" lines, I wonder if there isn't a 9" Viking floating around too?

[dwitefry]

wait... do we think that the wizard in Mystic Rings could be this buff wizard fellow:



the one between the Volton Lion and the Imperial King Kong? cos that'd solve a major mystery in my toy boxes!

(Can I even post this sort of post in this thread? if not, please delete)

[drekkus]

Feb 28, 2014 11:18:53 GMT -6 dwitefry said:

wait... do we think that the wizard in Mystic Rings could be this buff wizard fellow:



the one between the Volton Lion and the Imperial King Kong? cos that'd solve a major mystery in my toy boxes!

(Can I even post this sort of post in this thread? if not, please delete)

Yes thats a Mystics Rings figure

[dwitefry]

sweetness! thanks a bunch

[harlocktoys]

some of my figures mannix!

[drekkus]

Mar 7, 2014 21:57:57 GMT -6 harlocktoys said:

View Attachment some of my figures mannix!

Welcome Willy most impressive

I bought some sweet stuff from you in the past, always watching your store

You'll like it here

[harlocktoys]

hello! thank you very much.
I really liked the site
by little I'll upload photos of figures mannix
regards
willy

[waywardmonk]

Welcome Willy!



Here's one of the 3 variants I've seen for the Skeleton Fighter line. This one has the 4 figures depicted on the card front and the same skeletons as Drekkus' Movable Figure. Note the V-shaped hip and the slightly different head sculpt (or is it just painted better?). The pictures of the figures on the card are different. The back of the card is blank. I'd like to have a full set of these.

[waywardmonk]

  Thanks to Moonchild666 for the use of his Vikings pic!

Here is a comparison of the feet of the 5" lines.

Top: Top Warrior/OverTop Man and Monster Warriors have "MCT 1993" and peg holes

Middle: "Two Face Monsters" (5") only have peg holes

Bottom: "Vikings" have neither

[waywardmonk]

I've been trying to figure out a reasonable chronology for the various "Mannix" lines. Here is what I have come up with so far and my reasoning. A lot of assumption, but there's not much to go on. 

First, I think it's unfortunate these figures will likely continue to be called "Mannix" figures until no one cares about them anymore. MCT actually appears to be responsible for releasing these bizarre and beautiful creations into the world. I feel it's insulting to the creative geniuses that obviously put a great deal of effort into making these unique and detailed designs that their figures should be cursed with the name of the company responsible for the most ordinary and thoughtless of the lot, the straight-up bootleg IWC figures. In fact...

I don't think the first few lines put out by MCT were knock-offs at all. At least I can't figure out what they are supposed to be copying. It seems to me they are 100% original, weird and totally awesome discount store action figures. MCT was a discount store distributor for regional stores like Jackpot and Roses. They mostly had the same kind of junk toys you can find at dollar stores today. Their action figures were not so typical. The first few 5" scale figure lines were produced like regular action figure lines with date stamps. card art on the front and back of the cardbacks, unique accessories, and even trading cards! They probably had higher production runs and better distribution which would explain why they are the most common. It's very possible some lines may have been on the shelves for several years after their initial release. "Two Face Monster" and "Vikings" lost the MCT 1993 stamp and the Vikings lost the peg holes on the feet. These probably had shorter production runs and limited distribution being at the tail end of this manufacturing cycle.

5" OverTop Man              1992         The earliest official date. Package states 1992 (figures stamped MCT 1993, peg holes on feet)            
5" Top Warrior                1993          Figures and cards stamped MCT 1993, peg holes on feet
5" Monster Warriors        1993          Figures and cards stamped MCT 1993, peg holes on feet
5" "Two Face Monster"    1993+       Have not seen these carded; figures not stamped MCT 1993 anymore, but peg holes still on feet.   
5" "Vikings"                    1993+       Have not seen these carded; figures no longer stamped MCT 1993 and no more peg holes.

The 9" figures lack the MCT date stamp and were possibly released later than their 5" counterparts. Perhaps they were made in response to Toy Biz' 10" figures released in the mid-90's. They have similar window-box packaging.

The 5.5" introduced all new, but very similar body molds. While dubious artistic licencse is taken, these are the real knock-offs. The Mannix wrestlers appear to be among first produced and were knocking off Hasbro's big WWF franchise. They probably had high production numbers and better distribution than the other 5.5" which would explain why they are the most common. (There is a small manufacturing difference in the 5.5": All have screwholes in the back except Mighty Sharks and possibly the Dinos)

5.5" Two Face Monster     1994+      Likely knock-off of the 5" "Two Face Monster" and must have come later.
5.5" IWC wrestling et al     1994+      The Hasbro figures that Mannix bootlegged were released in 1994. These had to come after them.
5.5" Mighty Sharks           1995+       Likely knock-offs of the Street Sharks figures released in 1995
5.5" "Dinos Attacks"         1996+       Likely knock-offs of Extreme Dinsosaurs released in 1996          
5.5" Monsters Maniacs     1998+       Likely knock-offs of McFarlanes Movie Maniacs
5.5" Apes Attacks ver 1     2001+      Likely knock-offs of the Planet of the Apes remake movie released in 2001
5.5" Apes Attacks ver 2     2001+      
5.5" Master of the Fighters 2002+      Likely knock-offs of the MOTU 200x figs released in 2002 (and read on another forum they were seen together)

The 6" figures seem to be the last ones made, but likely overlap the 5.5" lines at their end. These continue the knock-offs, but may have some original lines as well. 

6" Heroes of Empire             2000+       Possible connection to Gladiator movie released in 2000
6" The Dungeons                 2000+       May be original line. Assume to be released around same time as other 6" figures.
6" The Last Frighter             2000+       May be original line. Assume to be released around same time as other 6" figures.
6" Combo Knight                  2000+
6" Apes Attacks                  2001+       Likely knock-offs of the Planet of the Apes remake movie released in 2001
6" Mystic Rings                   2001+       Likley knock-offs of the Lord of the Rings movies which began in 2001
6" Krieger/Ritter                   2002+       Euro price tag dates it ** thanks Alfi! **

The 6" skeletons are not so clear. They are obviously knock-offs of Playmates Skeleton Warriors line which was originally released in 1994. This line was rereleased in 2002 however by RePlay. There have been at least 7 distinct releases of the skeleton figures with accessory variations spanning all the "Mannix" lines. Some skeletons may be regional variations, but it's likely the various lines span many years and could have been released anywhere between 1994 and 2002+...

The Galaxy Warriors/Fighters-style Two Faces Devil I thought may predate these lines, but the card art looks the same as the mid-late 90's figures.
The metallic "Shark Warriors" have Devil Warriors bodies which I've read came out in 1997, so they probably came out after that.

Any insights or corrections are greatly appreciated.


         

[waywardmonk]

I finally got hold of some of the 6" figures. I was referring to them as "skinny", because they seemed skinnier than the smaller figures in photos. Now that I have them in hand I can see they are not. 

I don't know which 6" series these belong to, but there are at least two different series here. Note the loincloth on the upper right figure is the same as on the Vikings. It is removable. 



Even though these are very similar, there is a manufacturing difference that indicates at least two different lines. Three figures have swivel waists with two screwholes in the back, while the other three have stationary waists with three screwholes in the back.

[waywardmonk]

Got a new skeleton fighter. This one is from Spain per the writing on the back. 



Here's a comparison of the two completely different molds that were used in different Skeleton Fighter lines.



The one on the left has 6 points of articulation, but I can't get the neck and legs to move. The one on the right does not swivel at the waist.

[waywardmonk]

Here's a side by side comparison of the 3 different lines of Skeleton Fighter I've found. Each one is of the same viking skeleton character.



Note the first two come with the same accessories as the 5" Vikings and Two Face Monsters. These are probably earlier releases from the 90's. 
Note the change in cardback on the third skeleton. This line came with the same accessories as the 6" figures and is probably a later release from 2000's.

[waywardmonk]

Mighty Sharks loose set



Big, big thanks to Skullbooska for the trade!!

[waywardmonk]

"Shark Warriors" (Mighty Sharks heads on Devil Warriors bodies). I'm convinced now that these metallic sharks are legitimate bootlegs and not some custom jobs. I've seen all 4 Mighty Sharks heads on them with several different eye colors. I'd love to see a carded version!



Thanks to Skullbooska & Collectively Speaking for use of their pics!

[waywardmonk]

Finally completed my loose Monster Warriors set! I picked up most of these from Rocklord when he sold off his Mannix stuff, but someone else must have gotten his Troll Monster. I found the scythe about a year ago and recently acquired a Troll monster (Big thanks to Harlock Toys!). The Troll Monster's shield is not the right paint scheme because I got if from one of the 6" figures I just picked up, but the black looks cool anyway

[harlocktoys]

that cute collection of "Monster Warriors"!
thank you

[harlocktoys]

I just got this Skeleton warriors, not if the line belongs to Mannix
anyone have any information?
the figure is 8"inch tall

[Ebessan]

Apr 27, 2014 21:18:47 GMT -6 harlocktoys said:

I just got this Skeleton warriors, not if the line belongs to Mannix
anyone have any information?
the figure is 8"inch tall

View Attachment

Hi Willie, this line is from a name I don't know (possibly European). There are 3 skeletons (purple hair, knight & the 1 you have)

Great figure! Shame about the right hand

[waywardmonk]

Apr 27, 2014 21:18:47 GMT -6 harlocktoys said:

I just got this Skeleton warriors, not if the line belongs to Mannix
anyone have any information?
the figure is 8"inch tall

Here's a thread with some more of those skeletons: actionfiguresca.proboards.com/thread/12927/big-skeleton-figure

Yours would look great with a custom pirate hook on his right arm!

[harlocktoys]

if it is a shame that his arm is missing
thanks for the info!

[waywardmonk]

Picked up a few more 6" figures. I like how the knight has straight legs instead of the standard straddle pose most of these figures has.

[waywardmonk]

Here's some more assembly variation that may or may not indicate different "Mannix" lines

[waywardmonk]

Just updated the main post with links to individual threads. I couldn't find the original Apes Attacks thread though. Did it drop out of the system?

[drekkus]

As coincedence wants it i also picked up some new figures recently

[waywardmonk]

Wow, look at all the variations! Great score!

[figurecollector]

Jun 24, 2014 9:21:41 GMT -6 waywardmonk said:

Just updated the main post with links to individual threads. I couldn't find the original Apes Attacks thread though. Did it drop out of the system?

Try this:

actionfiguresca.proboards.com/thread/7230/apes-attacks-series-rare-knockoffs