Four Horsemen Studios

Four Horsemen Studios is an American collectible-figure design and manufacturing studio specializing in the sculpting, development, production, and licensing of toys and action figures. The company was established in September 1999 by Jim Preziosi, Eric Treadaway, H. Eric “Cornboy” Mayse, and Christopher Dahlberg, who had previously worked together as sculptors at McFarlane Toys. Its early business developed through contract work for Mattel, where the studio contributed figure designs and sculpts for major properties including Masters of the Universe, DC Comics, The Dark Knight, Harry Potter, Man of Steel, Young Justice, and related collector-oriented lines. The studio gradually expanded from an external design contractor into an independent creator and producer of original properties. In 2005 it introduced the Fan Ex, or Fantastic Exclusive, project, a participatory development program that allowed fans to vote on proposed fictional universes, characters, scale, articulation, accessories, and repaint concepts. Seventh Kingdom won the first competition, leading to the production of the Xetheus figure. Later Fan Ex projects supported original concepts including Gothitropolis, while subsequent crowdfunding campaigns helped finance larger releases and gave the company a direct relationship with its collector audience. Four Horsemen’s original properties include Seventh Kingdom, Magma CORPS, Gothitropolis, Symbiotech, and Mythic Legions. Mythic Legions became the studio’s most extensive and recognizable original line. Launched through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015, it is a fantasy action-figure universe populated by knights, dwarves, elves, orcs, goblins, skeletons, trolls, barbarians, and other factions. The figures emphasize detailed sculpting, extensive articulation, interchangeable parts, army-building formats, and compatibility across characters and accessories. A second major Kickstarter, Mythic Legions: Advent of Decay, followed in 2017. The company also entered the licensed collector-figure market. It worked with Mel Birnkrant on a modernized version of The Outer Space Men, originally associated with Colorforms, and acquired the Power Lords license, collaborating with designer Wayne Douglas Barlowe. These projects used or extended the Glyos-compatible interchangeability system associated with Onell Design. Four Horsemen also produced or sculpted figures for outside rights holders and manufacturers, including NECA, Toy Biz, and Mattel. Four Horsemen Studios is positioned at the specialist end of the toy industry, combining boutique studio craftsmanship with small-batch or crowdfunded production. Its audience includes adult collectors, action-figure customization enthusiasts, nostalgia-driven fans of classic properties, and army builders seeking coordinated character systems. The studio’s public identity is built around sculptural quality, creator-owned fantasy worlds, collaboration with rights holders, and direct fan participation. Christopher Dahlberg amicably left the company in 2012, while Jim Preziosi, Eric Treadaway, and H. Eric Mayse remained identified as its co-owners and principal members in the cited reference material.

Four Horsemen Studios was founded in September 1999 by Jim Preziosi, Eric Treadaway, H. Eric “Cornboy” Mayse, and Christopher Dahlberg. The four founders had met while working as figure sculptors at McFarlane Toys. Their initial business focused on contract design and sculpting, especially for Mattel. During this period, the studio worked on figures connected to Masters of the Universe, DC Comics, The Dark Knight, Harry Potter, Man of Steel, Young Justice, and other licensed properties. This work established the company as a specialist supplier of character sculpture and action-figure development. In 2005, the studio began moving beyond commissioned work by developing original properties and producing figures to support them. Its first major original concept to reach production was Seventh Kingdom. The property was selected through the company’s Fan Ex project, a structured voting process that invited fans to choose the direction of a new figure line. Xetheus, a minotaur-like champion, became the first winning character. The program subsequently allowed fans to influence additional character concepts, figure variants, articulation, accessories, scale, and color treatments. Magma CORPS followed as another original property, with the Argus vinyl figure entering production in 2006. Gothitropolis became a further original universe, including characters such as Scarabus and the Time Keepers, as well as the Raven Flocks. Parts of the Gothitropolis program were financed through crowdfunding, and production was affected by rising manufacturing costs and delays. Symbiotech, another concept shown through the Fan Ex process, depicted paired humanoid and beast forms designed to interact or combine, but it remained unreleased in the cited material. The company entered the licensed retro-collector market in the early 2010s. In 2010 it secured a license for The Outer Space Men from creator Mel Birnkrant and developed updated figures based on the earlier science-fiction toy concept. The project used interchangeable parts associated with the Glyos system developed by Onell Design. Four Horsemen later acquired the Power Lords license, working with original designer Wayne Douglas Barlowe and again using an expanded compatible-joint approach. These releases reflected the studio’s interest in combining classic properties with modern collector-oriented engineering. Mythic Legions became the studio’s most substantial original line. The first Kickstarter campaign took place in 2015. Although the concept was initially considered for a smaller scale, the produced line adopted a larger collector scale while retaining a strong emphasis on interchangeability. Mythic Legions developed an expansive fantasy setting with heroic and villainous factions, including knights, dwarves, elves, orcs, goblins, skeletons, trolls, barbarians, vampires, and other creatures. The range included individual characters, generic legion builders, deluxe sets, weapons packs, exclusives, and army-building formats. A follow-up campaign, Mythic Legions: Advent of Decay, was successfully launched in 2017 and added another major wave of characters and accessories. Four Horsemen continued to perform commissioned work for companies such as NECA and Toy Biz, while also providing extensive sculpting support for Mattel. Its Mattel work included Masters of the Universe, DC Universe Classics, The Dark Knight Rises, Thundercats, Man of Steel, Young Justice, and overseas Max Steel figures. The studio’s work on Masters of the Universe included the 2000s reimagining and later collector-focused Masters of the Universe Classics releases. The company’s development model combines professional contract services, creator-owned intellectual property, licensing, limited production, crowdfunding, and direct collector communication. Its awards and recognition cited in the reference material include multiple Poppies Toy Industry Awards for figures and lines associated with DC Universe Classics, Masters of the Universe Classics, and other projects, as well as inclusion in the inaugural 2008 ToyFare Hall of Fame class. Christopher Dahlberg left the company amicably in 2012. The cited reference identifies Preziosi, Treadaway, and Mayse as the continuing co-owners and principal members.

• 2017

  Advent of Decay expands Mythic Legions

  [1]Four Horsemen Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  A second successful Kickstarter campaign funds a substantial new Mythic Legions wave.

• 2015

  Mythic Legions launches

  [1]Four Horsemen Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The fantasy action-figure property is successfully funded through Kickstarter.

• 2012

  Christopher Dahlberg departs

  [1]Four Horsemen Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Founding member Christopher Dahlberg leaves the company amicably.

• 2010

  The Outer Space Men license begins

  [1]Four Horsemen Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The studio develops a modern collector line based on Mel Birnkrant’s classic science-fiction property.

• 2008

  ToyFare Hall of Fame recognition

  [1]Four Horsemen Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Four Horsemen Studios is included in the inaugural ToyFare Hall of Fame class.

• 2006

  Magma CORPS figure is produced

  [1]Four Horsemen Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Argus, a character associated with the Mercury City police force, becomes the second original property to reach production.

• 2005

  The Fan Ex project begins

  [1]Four Horsemen Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The studio creates a fan-participation program for selecting and shaping original action-figure properties.

• 2005

  Seventh Kingdom enters production

  [1]Four Horsemen Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  The first Fan Ex winner, Xetheus, is produced as part of the Seventh Kingdom property.

• 1999

  Four Horsemen Studios is founded

  [1]Four Horsemen Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Jim Preziosi, Eric Treadaway, H. Eric Mayse, and Christopher Dahlberg establish the studio after working together as sculptors at McFarlane Toys.

A specialist collectible-figure studio combining high-detail sculpting, original fantasy world-building, licensed retro-property development, interchangeable figure systems, and direct engagement with adult collectors.

• Original fantasy action-figure line · 2015

  Mythic Legions

  Four Horsemen Studios’ large-scale fantasy collector line features an expanding fictional world populated by knights, dwarves, elves, orcs, goblins, skeletons, trolls, barbarians, vampires, and other factions. The range is designed around detailed sculpture, articulation, interchangeable parts, army-building, character releases, generic Legion Builders, deluxe sets, weapons packs, and exclusive figures. It began with a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015 and received a major second campaign, Advent of Decay, in 2017.

• Licensed science-fiction action figures · 2010

  The Outer Space Men

  A modern collectible interpretation of Mel Birnkrant’s classic science-fiction toy concept. Four Horsemen Studios developed the line under license and used interchangeable-part technology associated with Onell Design’s Glyos system, allowing collectors to combine components across figures.

• Licensed science-fiction action figures · 2013

  Power Lords

  Four Horsemen’s collector-oriented continuation of the Power Lords property was developed with original designer Wayne Douglas Barlowe. The figures added new characters and extended the property’s interchangeable Glyos-compatible design language.

• Original gothic fantasy action-figure line · 2007

  Gothitropolis

  Gothitropolis is an original setting featuring characters such as Scarabus, the Time Keepers, and the Raven Flocks. The property reached collectors through limited releases and crowdfunding, including campaigns connected with Scarabus and other characters.

• Original fantasy action-figure line · 2005

  Seventh Kingdom

  The first original Four Horsemen property to reach production, Seventh Kingdom emerged from the 2005 Fan Ex vote. Its early releases included Xetheus, a champion of Mynothecea, and later Fan Ex-selected character concepts and variants.

• Original science-fiction action-figure line · 2006

  Magma CORPS

  Magma CORPS is an original property involving the Mercury City police force. Argus, identified as one of its leaders, was produced as a vinyl figure in 2006.

• Unreleased original action-figure concept

  Symbiotech

  Symbiotech presents paired humanoid and beast characters designed to interact or combine. The concept performed well in Fan Ex voting and was announced for production, but the cited material states that it was later placed on hold while licensed projects received priority.

• 2017Mythic Legions: Advent of Decay Kickstarter

  International collector community

  A follow-up crowdfunding campaign expanded the Mythic Legions setting with additional fantasy factions, characters, builders, and accessories.

  Outcome. The campaign was successful and supported a second major wave of releases.

  Source
• 2015Mythic Legions Kickstarter

  International collector community

  The studio used Kickstarter to fund the first major Mythic Legions wave, presenting a fantasy universe designed around interchangeable collector figures and army-building.

  Outcome. The campaign succeeded and established Mythic Legions as a major Four Horsemen original line.

  Source
• 2007Gothitropolis Fan Ex development

  International collector community

  Gothitropolis won a later stage of the Fan Ex process, shifting attention toward the Scarabus character and a gothic fantasy setting.

  Outcome. The property received multiple limited figure releases, although production and cost pressures delayed some sales until 2010.

  Source
• 2005Fan Ex Project

  International collector community

  Four Horsemen Studios invited fans to select original properties and then participate in decisions about characters, scale, articulation, accessories, and repaints. The initiative made collector participation a central part of the studio’s product-development model.

  Outcome. Seventh Kingdom won the first competition and produced Xetheus.

  Source

• 2017

  Expand Mythic Legions with Advent of DecayGeneration change

  Background

  The first Mythic Legions campaign had established demand for a larger fantasy ecosystem.

  Action taken

  Four Horsemen funded a second major wave through the Advent of Decay Kickstarter campaign.

  Aftermath

  The line gained additional factions, character types, army builders, deluxe releases, and accessories.

  Source

• 2015

  Launch Mythic LegionsProduct launch

  Background

  The studio wanted an original fantasy property that could support a broad cast and interchangeable figure system.

  Action taken

  It launched Mythic Legions through Kickstarter and adapted the design toward a larger collector scale while preserving interchangeability.

  Aftermath

  Mythic Legions became the company’s most extensive original range, with further waves and a second major crowdfunding campaign.

  Source

• 2013

  Develop Power Lords figuresProduct launch

  Background

  Four Horsemen pursued another classic science-fiction property after its work on The Outer Space Men.

  Action taken

  The studio developed new Power Lords figures with designer Wayne Douglas Barlowe and incorporated an expanded Glyos-compatible system.

  Aftermath

  The project reinforced the studio’s position in nostalgia-driven adult collector toys.

  Source

• 2010

  Enter licensed collector figuresStrategy

  Background

  The studio’s earlier work had largely involved design and sculpting services for other companies.

  Action taken

  Four Horsemen secured a license for The Outer Space Men and began developing finished licensed figures.

  Aftermath

  The studio expanded into creator-led reinterpretations of established retro properties.

  Source

• 2005

  Move from contract sculpting into original propertiesStrategy

  Background

  After several years of commissioned work, the studio sought to create and manufacture intellectual property of its own.

  Action taken

  It developed original lines including Seventh Kingdom, Magma CORPS, Gothitropolis, Symbiotech, and later Mythic Legions.

  Aftermath

  The company diversified its business and built a direct collector audience through limited releases and crowdfunding.

  Source

1. 1Four Horsemen Studiosen.wikipedia.org