Birthplace of the sport of Okie noodling (a unique type of fishing with bare arms), Pauls Valley can now call itself home to something else: the world's first action figure museum.

The Toy and Action Figure Museum, which opened last month, plays host to everything from an extensive collection of Todd McFarlane designs to DC Comics' Batman figures, housed in their very own Batcave, to a life-sized sculpture of Spiderman.

Local artist and toy designer Kevin Stark, also a principle founder and consultant of the museum, said between the 2,000 visitors they had on their first day and the myriad of eager donors, many had the same question: Why has no one thought of this before?

"My wife and I went all over the country looking at toy museums, and it was always the same thing," Stark said. "Individual collections trapped behind glass -- we didn't want to do that."

Stark said the Toy and Action Figure Museum is highly interactive, featuring three rooms full of hands-on exhibits and costumes amid other more formal displays. The intent, he said, was to not just target collectors and toy buffs, but also those who want to explore and experience -- namely children and anyone else looking for a rush of nostalgia.

Exhibits at the museum date back to the 1960s and the advent of the modern action figure. And while most other museums specialize in offering artifacts from earlier periods, Stark said the evolution of these toys has been fascinating despite their relatively young age.

"People get 'toys,' but they don't necessarily get action figures," Stark said. "I would show them how Iron Man has gone from five points of articulation years ago to 42 points now. They've become like little sculptures."

Stark, who has designed figures ranging from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the early '90s to a European line of toys for the recently released film "The Legend of Zorro" said the museum has, in its first few weeks, attracted guests from around the country and even South America. This week, he said they've booked one senior citizen tour and another for second graders on the same day.

"It's one of the reasons we did this," Stark said. "Everyone can relate to toys."

Mark Daniel, zoology sophomore, said he fondly remembers his days of make-believe and plans on visiting the museum in the near future.

"I had a ton of action figures," Daniel said. "They always helped me escape from the daunting reality of everyday life."

Thomas Hornbeek, psychology junior, said although collecting action figures was more of a childhood hobby, vestiges of the practice still linger. Covering the top of his computer desk, he said, is a modest collection of various plasticized "Simpsons" characters posed heroically.

His reasoning behind the display is simple: "I just like the Simpsons," he said.

Stark's collection, however, encompasses a much wider scope of taste, featuring over 7,000 figures, many of them on display in the museum. He said it was important not to stop there, though.

"We've wanted to get more prototypes and artist's renderings. And right now, we're working on getting a '66 Batmobile," Stark said.

He said his final vision for the museum would encompass all of downtown Pauls Valley, with life-sized action figures posed in iconic comic battles.

"It'll be great," Stark said. "You'll turn a street corner, and there'll be the Fantastic Four battling Super Skrull."
hello there & you too