Action figures pique human imagination and offer a vehicle to escape into the unknown recesses of the mind, enabling the creation of a world that, at times, defies reason and the physical limitations of everyday living. From superheroes to super-villains, from knights in armor to dungeons and dragons, from galactic space cadets to alien troops, from warrior soldiers to ninjas, from a dizzying array of homelander action figure characters, anyone can identify with an alter-ego in a face-off with their supreme nemesis. By extension, almost every person might find themselves creating action figures fashioned, if not with their own hands, with their minds. After all, what could be more enjoyable than playing with one's own uniquely created action figure toy through which one could experience adventure and the imagined without bodily risk?

While today's action figure toys are generally manufactured in large assembly lines, it is possible to create one's own action figure toy by hand. This article describes the materials, tools and steps to take to customize your own action figures.