Mezco released a range of Breaking Bad action figures in early 2013, and then subsequently produced limited editions and convention exclusives shortly after. They hit the headlines when a concerned Florida mom complained about the figures being sold in Toys R Us prompting the figures to be removed from sale after a petition gained 8,000 signatures! At the time both Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul publicly criticised the decision with posts on their social media.
Florida mom petitions against Toys ‘R’ Us over Breaking Bad action figures.’ I’m so mad, I’m burning my Florida Mom action figure in protest
Bryan Cranston via Twitter
Wait, so @ToysRUs pulled all of the Breaking Bad figures from their shelves and still sells Barbie? Hmmmm…I wonder what is more damaging?
And what about all of the violent video games you sell @ToysRUs ? Do you still sell those? Florida mom really messed it up for everyone.
Aaron Paul via Twitter
Fans of Breaking Bad at the time set up a counter petition to reinstate the toys which garnered 30,000 signatures, far more than the original but sadly the ban remained in place.
Today the figures can be found on Ebay from $10 – $60+ depending on the card/box, the ban likely did effect the availability but you should be able to pick up a handful of these figures for a reasonable price to add to your collection today. Some of these are harder to find that others, the prototype rarely comes up, and the Vamonos black suit version of Walt and Jesse have been quite pricey, sometimes going into three figures but lately the Walter White version has been much more affordable.
I was lucky to pick up a near complete collection back in 2020, only having to fill in a few gaps that I managed to do by 2021. Whilst it’s frustrating that the ‘ban’ likely stopped more characters being produced, these figures are pretty standard one ‘look’ per character (bar Gus – dead or alive) and lack a great deal of posability. The likeness just about passes, but I hope that in our future a ‘retro’ edition of figures may be produced that gives us ‘street clothes Jesse’, Mike, Hank, Skyler and definately a Tuco or Hector! Not forgetting a Skinny Pete and Badger! I will add the one thing I absolutely love about this collection is the business cards they included with Saul Goodman, totally makes collecting his figure worth it if nothing else!
My collection, which I beleive is complete, is below. The star of this collection is my hand signed Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fring) prototype figure, he remarked that he hadn’t seen that figure before at the time of signing, so a prized possession.
Breaking Bad Action Figures
Produced by Mezco – 2013-2015
Gustavo Fring Prototype Signed
White Card Prototype Limited Edition Con Exclusive 2014
Signed by Giancarlo Esposito 2023
Prototype figure of Gus Fring, partially painted, main figure is the original colour plastic, depicting the ‘dead’ Gus Fring and a chicken bucket accessory.
Gustavo Fring (Alive)
Carded figure with chicken bucket
Gustavo Fring Action Figure – Standard ‘not dead’ edition
Gustavo Fring Dead
Boxed with clear sleeve artwork Limited Edition Con Exclusive 2014
The artwork on this is stunning – a full face picture of Gus Fring on a clear sleeve, that removing reveals an equally cool artwork on Gus’s half face box, the figure inside depicts Gus’s last moments, straigtening his tie.
Heisenberg (Blue Shirt)
Carded figure with money bag and gun
Heisenberg Action Figure wearing the hat, with gun and money bag, this version he’s wearing a blue shirt and beige jacket.
Heisenberg (Red Shirt)
Carded figure with money bag and gun
Heisenberg Action Figure wearing the hat, with gun and money bag, this version he’s wearing a red shirt and black jacket.
Heisenberg (Green Shirt)
Carded figure with money bag and gun
Heisenberg Action Figure wearing the hat, with gun and money bag, this version he’s wearing a green shirt and black jacket.
Walter White (Beige Shirt)
2014 Mezco Toyz Con Exclusive
Carded figure with money bag and gun
Walter White Action Figure wearing the hat, with gun and money bag, this version he’s wearing a beige shirt and beige jacket.
Walter White (Red Shirt)
PX Previews Exclusive
Carded figure with money bag and gun
Walter White Action Figure wearing the hat, with gun and money bag, this version he’s wearing a red shirt and black jacket.
Walter White (White Hazmat)
Carded figure with facemask and lab accesssories
Walter White Action Figure wearing the white hazmat suit.
Jesse Pinkman (White Hazmat)
Carded figure with facemask and lab accesssories
Jesse Pinkman Action Figure wearing the white hazmat suit.
Walter White (Yellow Hazmat)
Carded figure with facemask and lab accesssories
Walter White Action Figure wearing the yellow hazmat suit.
Jesse Pinkman (Yellow Hazmat)
Carded figure with facemask and lab accesssories
Jesse Pinkman Action Figure wearing the yellow hazmat suit.
Walter White (Green Hazmat)
Carded figure with lab accesssories
Walter White Action Figure wearing the green hazmat suit.
Jesse Pinkman (Green Hazmat)
PX Previews Exclusive
Carded figure with Facemask and lab accesssories
Jesse Pinkman Action Figure wearing the green hazmat suit.
Walter White (Green Hazmat)
2013 Mezco Toys Con Exclusive
Boxed figure with white barrel and lab accesssories
Walter White Action Figure wearing the green hazmat suit.
Walter White (Orange Hazmat)
Vamonos Slip Sleeve
Boxed figure with white barrel and lab accesssories
Walter White Action Figure wearing the orange hazmat suit.
Jesse Pinkman (Orange Hazmat)
Vamonos Slip Sleeve
Boxed figure with blue crystal crate and lab accesssories
Jesse Pinkman Action Figure wearing the orange hazmat suit.
Walter White (Black Vamonos Hazmat)
Vamonos Slip Sleeve – 2014 Mezco Direct Exclusive
Boxed figure with black barrel and lab accesssories
Walter White Action Figure wearing the black vamonos hazmat suit.
Jesse Pinkman (Black Vamonos Hazmat)
Vamonos Slip Sleeve – 2014 Mezco Direct Exclusive
Boxed figure with blue crystal crate and lab accesssories
Jesse Pinkman Action Figure wearing the black vamonos hazmat suit.
Saul Goodman (Bright Blue Shirt)
Carded figure with Better Call Saul Business Card
Saul Goodman Action Figure wearing a blue shirt and yellow tie.
Saul Goodman (Green Shirt)
PX Previews Exclusive
Carded figure with Warrant out for your arrest? Business Card
Saul Goodman Action Figure wearing a green shirt and orange tie.
Saul Goodman (Light Blue Shirt)
PX Previews Exclusive with white Better Call Saul sleeve
Boxed figure with Cheating Problems? Business Card & bag of money
Saul Goodman Action Figure wearing a light blue shirt and stripey orange tie.
Saul Goodman (Light Yellow Shirt)
Yellow ad graphics Better Call Saul sleeve
Boxed figure with Mike Ehrmantraut Business Card & bag of money
Saul Goodman Action Figure wearing a Light Yellow shirt and stripey brown tie.
Saul Goodman (Red Shirt)
Yellow ad graphics Better Call Saul sleeve – 2015 Mezco Toyz Con Exclusive
Boxed figure with Drug Problem Business Card & bag of money
Saul Goodman Action Figure wearing a Red shirt and Stripey Purple tie.
