I don’t think it would be a stretch–at all–to say that Agent Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. was one of the biggest break-out stars of last year’s blockbuster “The Avengers” movie. Everybody knew who Iron Man and Hulk and Thor were going into “The Avengers”, but fans left theaters talking about the previously D-List character SHIELD Agent Coulson. That’s why it wasn’t all that shocking when Hot Toys announced an Avengers Hot Toys Agent Coulson sixth-scale figure last summer. And finally, after the usual lengthy wait for a spectacular Hot Toys 1/6th scale figure, Agent Coulson arrived overseas this week…

It’s not just fans who were surprised by Agent Phil Coulson’s popularity in “The Avengers”–toy companies seemed to be equally taken aback! Hasbro didn’t make an Agent Coulson figure, and Diamond Select Toys didn’t even produce a Phil Coulson Minimates figure (although both companies produced Maria Hill toys).

To date, the Avengers Hot Toys Agent Phil Coulson figure is the only action figure of Phil Coulson announced by any company. And to be honest, having seen these photos of the finished Hot Toys Agent Coulson 1/6th scale figure, I doubt any company will ever be able to make a Coulson figure that compares now. These aren’t prototype photographs–all these photos are of the actual finished product 1/6 Agent Coulson and were shared by Hot Toys today.

I know some collectors were skeptical about the sales viability of a Hot Toys figure of a guy with no powers wearing a suit, but with the announcement of the upcoming Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV Series by Joss Whedon starring Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, I don’t think I need to tell anybody how unbelievably hot and popular this particular figure is going to be. And this Agent Coulson Hot Toys figure is decked out with everything you could ever imagine, from sunglasses to briefcase to walkie talkie to guns–even his infamous Captain America Trading Cards are included!

If you’re the type who purchases figures for future resale value, you might want to invest in an extra Hot Toys Phil Coulson–I have a hunch the Hot Toys Avengers Agent Phil Coulson sixth-scale figure is going to end up being one of the most valuable Hot Toys Marvel figures around a year from now. That Agents of SHIELD series is going to be a huge hit, and make this Hot Toys Phil Coulson 1:6 figure an even bigger deal than anyone imagined.

If you want the Hot Toys Phil Coulson figure and you live in the United States, you’ll need to purchase him from Sideshow Collectibles, the exclusive distributor for the Avengers Hot Toys Coulson in the United States. The Hot Toys Avengers Agent Phil Coulson 1/6 scale figure was just released in Asia this week, and should arrive in America and start shipping out in early June 2013.