McFarlane Toys Page Punchers - How to Open Packaging and Keep Presentable
I rarely open figure boxes. Most of the time, if a figure comes in a nice display package, I leave it alone, put it on the shelf, and enjoy it as-is. But McFarlane Toys’ new Page Punchers release with Batman #1 and a complete reprint of that iconic first issue was different. I had to open it. I wanted the figure, sure, but I really wanted to sit down and read the comic.
That creates the collector’s problem: how do you open sealed plastic packaging without making it look completely destroyed?
The good news is that you can open this style of package in a way that still looks clean on display. It does involve cutting the plastic, which will make some mint-in-box collectors twitch, but the result can be surprisingly presentable if you take your time.
Why this package is worth opening
The Page Punchers line has a fun hook. You get a figure and a comic together, and in this case, Batman #1 is the real temptation. Even if it is a reprint, having a readable copy packed with the figure makes the box feel less like a sealed tomb and more like something meant to be enjoyed.
That is where the McFarlane Toys Page Punchers Batman #1 release hits differently. A lot of boxed figures look great sealed, but this one includes something you actually want to remove, hold, and read. Leaving it sealed means the comic is visible, but not really usable.
For loose collectors, opening it is easy. Cut, pull, toss the plastic.
For mint-in-box collectors, it is harder. The packaging is part of the collectible. The clean edges, the sealed look, the untouched tape or plastic, that all matters. If you hate cutting tape, cutting into the package itself will feel even worse.
Still, if you want access to the comic and figure while keeping the packaging display-friendly, this method works.
What you need before you start
Do not use a dull blade. A dull blade drags, slips, and leaves jagged cuts. A fresh sharp blade gives you control.
You will need:
A box cutter or X-Acto knife with a fresh blade
A clean, flat work surface
A cutting mat or thick cardboard underneath
Good lighting
A little patience
The patience part matters most. The trick is not to force the plastic open. You are creating a flap in the back of the package, not hacking the whole thing apart.
Where to cut the plastic
Turn the package over and look at the back. You want to cut along the inner rim of the plastic, not down the middle and not through the front-facing display area.
The basic idea is simple:
Cut down one side of the back inner rim.
Cut across the bottom inner rim.
Cut up the other side of the back inner rim.
Leave the top attached so the back opens like a flap.
That top uncut edge acts like a hinge. Once the two sides and bottom are sliced, the back panel can open enough to remove the figure, comic, stand, card, or any included pieces. When you are done, the flap can close again and usually stays shut nicely because the plastic still has its original shape.
This is much cleaner than cutting around all four sides. If you cut all the way around, the back panel becomes a loose piece. If you leave the top attached, it behaves more like a door.
How to open it step by step
Work slowly. Plastic packaging can crack if you bend it too hard, and a blade can wander if you rush.
1. Place the package face down
Lay the package on a cutting mat with the back facing up. Make sure it does not rock or slide around. If the package has raised plastic areas, adjust your angle so the section you are cutting is supported.
Do not press so hard that you crush the blister.
2. Start on one side
Place the blade along the back inner rim on one side. Use light pressure and make a controlled slice. You do not need to cut deeply on the first pass. A few light passes are better than one heavy pass. On the second pass, you can even pull the cut part up as you go to keep and make that first cut the one you end up with.
Keep the blade pointed away from your hand. Rotate the package when needed instead of twisting your wrist into an awkward angle.
3. Cut along the bottom
Once one side is open, move to the bottom edge. Follow the same inner seam. This is the cut that lets the flap swing open, so try to keep it neat.
If the plastic feels thicker in one area, slow down and make another pass.
4. Cut the second side
Now cut the opposite side, again following the back inner rim. Once this side is cut, the flap should begin to loosen.
Do not yank it open. Gently test it. If part of the plastic is still attached, touch it up with the blade rather than pulling and tearing it.
Removing the contents without wrecking the look
After the three cuts are finished, lift the flap slowly. The plastic should flex open enough to remove the contents from the back.
Take out the comic first if it is easiest to access. Slide it out without bending the corners. Then remove the figure and accessories. Keep any cardboard inserts flat and set them aside in the same order they came out.
If you plan to put the package back together for display, do not throw anything away. The insert and tray help the package keep its original shape.
Once everything is out, you can read the Batman #1 reprint without feeling like you destroyed the whole presentation. When you are done, slide the comic and figure back in, close the flap, and gently press the plastic back into place.
The cut edges will still exist. This is not a “sealed” package anymore. But from the front, and even from many side angles, it can still look very clean on the shelf.
The mint-in-box dilemma
Let’s be honest: if you are a strict MIB collector, this method may still feel wrong.
Mint in box usually means untouched. No cuts. No opened seams. No altered packaging. Even a careful flap cut changes the condition. If your collecting style is built around keeping everything factory sealed, this is not a loophole. It is an opening method.
That said, collecting should still be enjoyable. If the comic is part of the appeal, there is a strong case for opening one. The Page Punchers concept is built around the figure and the comic together, and Batman #1 is the kind of issue many fans will want to actually read.
The clean-flap method gives you a middle ground. You get access to the contents without shredding the plastic or tossing the packaging.
And if the idea still bothers you, there is the classic collector solution: buy two.
One to open.
One to keep MIB.
It is not always the cheapest route, but it solves the emotional conflict fast.
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