I Love That He’s An Everyman — Discussing Crowdfunding ‘Kolchak: The Night Stalker’ Action Figures

by Tom Smithyman

The television series Kolchak: The Night Stalker debuted in 1974, following a pair of made-for-TV movies. While the original series lasted only one season, the show and characters have earned a loyal cult following in the decades since. The story follows wire service reporter Carl Kolchak (played by Darren McGavin) who investigated paranormal activities ranging from werewolves to ghosts to zombies. For the first time, Kolchak and his vampire nemesis Janos Skorzeny will be available as 6-inch action figures, thanks to a crowdfunding campaign run by Wandering Planet Toys. Comicon.com discussed the campaign and Kolchak’s ongoing legacy with Wandering Planet cofounders Chris “Doc” Wyatt and Gavin Hignight.

Tom Smithyman: Why do you think we’re still talking about Carl Kolchak more than 50 years after he hit television screens?

Gavin Hignight: He’s just such an iconic character, isn’t he? Quirky, stubborn, hard drinking, cynical, guarded, inquisitive. I love that he’s an everyman. He wins because he refuses to give up. I also like that he always does the right thing, even though he never gets credit for saving the day. It’s relatable to people I think, a grounded flawed hero like Kolchak. Also, the grounded approach to the supernatural is so appealing.

Chris “Doc” Wyatt: So many supernatural stories at the time delved into pure fantasy, which is cool, but Kolchak’s approach was more grounded, much grittier. Carl was more like a film noir detective than a campy Van Helsing-style globetrotting monster hunter. He worked in the streets and the back alleys, and he had as much trouble from his editor as he ever got from monsters.

Smithyman: Given that, why did it take so long for action figures to debut? After all, there have been multiple TV movies, a series revival in 2005, and different comic book adaptations.

Hignight: Kolchak is definitely a cult hero, a cult series, and intellectual property. For companies in the past, they had to spend tons of money, developing toys really aimed first at the kids market. No one was ever gonna make a Kolchak that would sit on the shelf at a Target or Toys R Us. He’s cult, he’s counterculture in a way, and can’t command those big box retail numbers.

But now we are in a new era where crowdfunding allows fans like us to all band together and crowdfund figures that would have never been made before in the old business model. Crowdfunding and the online fan communities are really why we are able to make figures like this now. How cool is that? Also, it demonstrates how important the support from backers is, for us to be able to afford to make these niche figures.

Wyatt: The original Kolchak novel and TV movies came out in the early ’70s, before the golden age of action figures in the ’80s, and it was a harsher, more violent IP that wasn’t considered for kids. And back then all toy offerings were for kids; the collector’s market didn’t really exist in the way it does now. So it just kind of got missed at the time. That 2005 revival didn’t really help get action figures on shelves.

Smithyman: Are there any particularly difficult challenges in creating action figures for The Night Stalker?

Hignight: I would not say the Night Stalker specifically, I would just say in general, it’s a very lengthy, detailed process that uses every bit of both sides of our brains and tons of help from many other talented people we work with. It really takes a village to bring any figure line to life. Design, manufacturing, package design, test printing, prototype painting, engineering before and during. Also, coming up with the crowdfund campaign, working with a reliable and effective press team, freight logistics, dealing with tariffs and unforeseen crazy circumstances, reaching out and managing your backer community, working with a reliable fulfillment team … LOL.

The more I write this, the more I think I should speak with a therapist about our toy creation … ha ha ha. But it’s worth it when we all get these figures we’ve always wanted.

Wyatt: Also, we had to beware of werewolves, vampires, and other monsters. They seem to follow Carl Kolchak around!

Smithyman: That sounds…challenging. What are some of the options that backers will have to choose from?

Hignight: We’ve made a really simple straightforward campaign this time. We have:

Boxed standard Kolchak
Boxed blood-splattered Kolchak versus Skorzeny the vampire
Black-light edition cardback packaged figures set of Kolchak and Skorzeny
Add-on retro style tin lunchbox

Smithyman: You are including Kolchak’s camera and tape recorder, along with the figure. Please tell me there’s an option for his yellow Mustang convertible!

Hignight: Lol. I wish! We are making his typewriter too! And if you like cool cars for action figures … keep an eye on our Prisoner line.

Wyatt: I’d just wish I had that Mustang in real life!

Smithyman: Well, it’s good to dream! Good luck with the campaign!