Hmmmm...
I wasn't really that into action figrues as a child. I loved my train set! I had an Inspector Gadget doll, the one with all the different head attachments. He was usually accompanied by Day to Night Barbie...when I could sneak her out of my sisters room.
It might have been the Batman Returns line that got me to buy action figures with an Arctic Batman, Catwoman & the crappy looking Penguin figure (which really baffled me when I was young...much like the 'Aliens' figure packaging). Then I saw an awesome more movie like Penguin from Batman the animated series, & started collecting that line & watching the show.
1993 (age 12) is when the madness started. When I saw the Playmates Star Trek Next Generation figures. I hadn't seen the shown but I wanted the toys! First was maroon Deanna Troi, followed by Picard & Guinan. I could never find Beverly Crusher. I became quite a bit Trekker after that.