Aug 19 2007
Patrick Bateman Action Figure
I saw this Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) action figure in the clearance bin at a Videotron video rental store. Accessories included an axe, a couple of knives, a nail gun, a Walkman, and a few other things.
Toys like this are obscene and repulsive. The manufacturers should be ashamed of themselves.
The only reason I didn’t buy it was the look that Martine gave me when I held it up and put that “DO WANT!” look on my face.
16 Comments on “Patrick Bateman Action Figure”
I agree with you that specifically this “toy” is disgusting, however you could have bought it and turned around and sold it on eBay (”unopened!”) to some fanboy for like 25$. But better not to invite that kind of karma into your life, I guess.
And this is ‘more’ disgusting than, say, anything from the Todd McFarlane Spawn series or any other line of ‘grown-up collectors’ items’ based on violent action movie franchises?
Of which you can see a sampling here…
Granted, it’s a little odd, but remember that the movie was VERY different from the book; it actually toned DOWN the violence in favour of the satire, making Bateman a symbol for 1980s American capitalism; by the end of the movie it’s implied that all of those violent scenes (intentionally shot in a campy, 80s-slasher-film style) were just figments of his own imagination — even he knew he was an interchangeable cipher and he wanted to exert power, ‘be somebody’.
If anyone wanted to own this, I imagine it would be as a piece of ironic pop culture ephemera, not some endorsement of Bateman’s actions, much as owning a Dracula statuette doesn’t endorse the practice of vampirism….
I think owning a Jesus action figure is more obscene.
OK, a Mohammed action figure would be worse, and good for some serious hate crime against you.
(What Videotron store was it?)
I just had a problem with the adult man and “any” action figure. Sorry guys. Time to sell your junk on eBay (just like in the 40 year-old virgin).
Feh… you say action figure, I say art
and links don’t work. http://www.kidrobot.com
Ha, Cameron, these are different!
Yeah, I suppose… the whole movie action figure thing is a bit odd…
I’d be about as interested in this as I would be in the twin-pak “Justine & Justin Bateman” action-figure set.
“American Psycho” was Paul Bernardo’s favorite book.
“I just had a problem with the adult man and “any” action figure”
Uhm, what about adult women and action figures? Not that I have any. No, not me…
More than the manufacturers, the buyers at Videotron and Toys ‘R Us should be ashamed of themselves. These “toys” clearly aren’t intended for children - they’re collectables for an adult market - and should never be stocked where they can be confused with legitimate toys. Leave ‘em in the specialty shops or online.
@Marmy: I have a Playmobil scooter girl on my desk, so I guess I should shut up. ;-)
Or maybe I’ll buy the Kurt Cobain 18-Inch Electronic Action Figure:
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NC43239#top
Steve or maybe the parents of the kids could, you know, parent.
Woah “obscene and repulsive”? What the hell? Is Abe Simpson guest writing for your blog again? It’s not a toy meant for kids, it’s an adult’s collectible! And it’s awesome! I want one! Patrick Bateman is one of my very favourite horror characters.
As for protecting kiddies from such toys in toy stores, I’d say toy stores aren’t for children, they’re for grown ups buying toys for children. And only idiots take a younger child to a toy store, where they could be ’scarred for life’ by the sight of a plastic Patrick Bateman or inevitably pitch a fit on the floor crying and screaming because they can’t have everything they see.
Jebus H. Christ, doesn’t anyone uderstand satire anymore?
I wanted it too, precisely BECAUSE it is obscene and replulsive!
:-P