2026 Action Figure Pre-Orders: Upcoming Star Wars, Marvel Legends & DC Figures
By Richard A. Williams, President, RAWSTARWARS
Quick Answer: Pre-ordering lets you reserve upcoming Star Wars, Marvel Legends, and DC figures before release, and condition matters most. At RAWSTARWARS, figures carry a Collector's Grade Mint Guarantee, and you should place pre-orders separately from in-stock items so your other figures ship on time.
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Want to hear the strangest pre-order in collecting history? Pull up a chair. It involves an empty box, a mail-in card, and a whole lot of waiting.
The First Star Wars Figures Were Sold as an Empty Box
I've been a Star Wars collector since 1977, so this story is close to my heart.
That Christmas, Kenner had a problem. Star Wars was a phenomenon, but the figures weren't ready. Instead of missing the holiday, Kenner sold the promise. The Early Bird Certificate Package was a box holding a Space Club membership card, a cardboard display stand showing twelve characters, a few stickers, and a certificate to mail in. The first Star Wars action figures started arriving in January 1978, and most reached collectors by March: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and R2-D2.
Think about that for a second. A kid opened an empty box on Christmas morning and was thrilled anyway. Action figure pre-orders aren't new. They're how this hobby started.
Why We've Always Been Willing to Wait
So why would anyone get excited about an empty box? Because the wait is part of the fun. You see a figure announced and you start picturing it on your shelf. You rearrange the display in your head. By the time it shows up, it already feels like yours.
Nothing about that has changed. Every time a new wave of Star Wars collectibles gets announced, collectors start talking, and chances are you've got a figure on your own wish list right now.
There's a reason the figures that get collectors talking are often the ones you can't hold yet. Anticipation makes a figure matter before it ever leaves the box, and I think that's a big part of what keeps this hobby alive after all these years.
But waiting has a catch, and it's the same one those 1977 collectors had: you're trusting somebody else to deliver. I take that part seriously. It's a big reason I started RAWSTARWARS, and I'll walk you through how it works.
What Happens Between "Pre-Order" and "Open the Box"
No fluff here, just how pre-orders work at RAWSTARWARS and what I'd tell a friend standing next to me.
Mint Isn't a Mood, It's a Standard
When we say Guaranteed Mint Action Figures, we mean something specific. Our Collector's Grade Mint Guarantee means a figure is estimated at AFA 8.0 to 10.0, and modern items typically grade 8.5 or higher. Anything lower gets marked Non-Mint, so you're never guessing. I'd rather tell you the truth up front than have you open a box and feel let down. Shipping is a flat $7, and a 30-day return policy backs up every order.
Keep Pre-Orders on Their Own Order
Here's a tip that will save you a headache. Place your pre-orders separately from your in-stock orders. If you mix them, the whole order waits until every item is in stock. I'd rather you have your in-stock figures in your hands now and let the pre-order catch up later.
Where the Wait Pays Off: Star Wars First, Then Marvel and DC
Star Wars: Old Favorites, New Waves
Star Wars is where RAWSTARWARS started, so it's where I'll start too. Black Series figures are 6-inch scale, and the Vintage Collection is 3.75-inch, the same size as those first Kenner figures. Right now you can reserve the Star Wars Vintage Collection Obi-Wan Kenobi VC417 or the Star Wars Black Series Darth Malgus #24 Deluxe. Put them side by side, and you'll see how different the two lines feel on a shelf. Whether you display them in a row or keep one in its package, they both reward a little patience.
Marvel Legends and DC Fans Get to Wait Too
You don't have to be a Star Wars fan to join in. Marvel Legends collectors can look ahead to the Avengers Doomsday Marvel Legends Doctor Doom, and DC collectors can expect McFarlane figures as well. There's more in our Pre-Orders section than I can list here, and new figures keep getting added. If a Marvel or DC figure is on your list, check back often.
Pre-Order Habits for a Happier Shelf
After years of doing this, here's the advice I'd give you with my arm over your shoulder:
Reserve the figures you'd truly regret missing, and let the maybes go.
Decide how much shelf space you have before you click, not after.
Check the listing for the release window, because manufacturer dates can move.
Keep your pre-orders and in-stock orders separate so nothing sits waiting.
And if a figure sells out before you commit, don't beat yourself up. Every collector has one that got away. I've missed a few myself, and they're the ones I still talk about.
None of that is complicated. It just keeps collecting fun instead of stressful, which is how it should be.
Ready to Reserve Your Next Figure?
Those 1977 collectors waited months for four figures and a handful of stickers. You can reserve your next addition in a few clicks, and it will show up in the condition you expect. Browse everything on the way in our Pre-Orders section and lock in the ones you don't want to miss.
While you're there, join the RAW REWARDS Program and Earn Credits & Get Huge Discounts on the figures you love.
Pre-Order Questions Collectors Actually Ask
Q1. Is it worth pre-ordering action figures?
A. If it's a figure you know you want, yes. You lock it in now instead of hunting for it later. If you're on the fence, wait and see. Nobody says you have to grab everything.
Q2. Can I add a pre-order to an in-stock order?
A. You can, but I don't recommend it. Everything ships together once all the items are in stock. Place them separately, and your in-stock figures go out now.
Q3. How long until my pre-order arrives?
A. It depends on the manufacturer's release date, and those dates can shift. Check the listing, and if you have questions, reach out and ask me.
Q4. What does "mint" actually mean for action figures?
A. For us, Collectors Grade Mint means an estimated AFA grade of 8.0 to 10.0, and modern items typically come in at 8.5 or higher. Anything lower is marked Non-Mint.
Q5. What's the difference between Star Wars Black Series and Vintage Collection figures?
A. Size, mostly. Black Series figures are 6-inch scale, while Vintage Collection figures are 3.75-inch, like the original Kenner figures. Pick whichever fits your shelf.
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