Posted in: Comics, IDW, Marvel Comics, Titan | Tagged: action figure, Comics, covers, entertainment, john taylor christopher, variant

John Tyler Christopher Credited For Others' Action Figure Variants

John Tyler Christopher Credited For Other People's Action Figure Variant Covers

Published Tue, 08 Mar 2016 10:00:45 -0600

by Rich Johnston

Last updated Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:57:07 -0600

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Article Summary

John Tyler Christopher popularized action figure variant comic covers, but did not invent the concept.
Christopher’s Star Wars #1 action figure cover sparked massive demand across comic and toy fandoms.
Other publishers now release their own action figure variant covers not created by Christopher.
Titan Comics credited John Tyler Christopher for action figure variant covers done by different artists.

John Tyler Christopher may not have been the inventor of a comic book cover that looks like an action figure toy, packaged in its blister pack. Hell, I still have a copy of the first that I can remember, Scud The Disposable Assassin, from the nineties, but odds are there are ones before that.

John Tyler Christopher Credited For Other People's Action Figure Variant Covers — Scud The Disposable Assassin #9 by John Tyler Christopher

But last year, the artist John Tyler Christopher created an action figure variant for Star Wars #1. And demand amongst comic fans, toy collectors, and Star Wars fans converged, creating unprecedented demand.

That then spread to Taylor, creating covers for the X-Men and across the Marvel titles.

: Uncanny X-Men by John Tyler Christopher

: Secret Secret Wars: Deadpool by John Tyler Christopher

Christopher was also targeted for retailer exclusive variant covers – and he created his own licensed cover with Boba Fett that he sold on-line and at shows.

And now other publishers are running their own action figure variant covers, not by Christopher.

: Zombie Tramp

: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

But Titan Comics has gone a step further, running their own action figure cover variants not by John Tyler Christopher, but giving him credit.

"Inspired By", indeed…

John Tyler Christopher is based in Lafayette, Indiana and best known for his highly detailed variant covers for major comic publishers, particularly Marvel Comics. His work has appeared on Marvel's Star Wars, Spider-Man, Venom, Avengers, New Mutants, and more, as well as on Disney's Figment, Witchblade, and Voodoo. His work extends beyond comics into table-top games, video games, film, and television concept art or illustrations. He also creates and sells prints of his artwork, such as negative space character designs through his official site.

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