Greetings! This video showcases my modest, yet solid, Transformers collection as of August 2011. There are so many that I would like to add to my little horde, but for now, this represents my entire collection of soldiers in the trenches of war between the valiant Autobots and the ruthless Decepticons.
Click here to see more photos.
Do you collect Transformers? Which is your favorite? Is there one you always wanted but never managed to acquire? Have any pics of your Transformers collection? We'd love to see them here!!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
San Diego Comic-Con and Beyond for 2011
Well, having seen most of the new product for the remainder of the year and into Spring of 2012, it seems it will be a quiet year for several collectors.
Star Wars: Lately, there has been an incredible amount of attention to detail and a major spike in quality with Hasbro's Star Wars figures, and I LOVE the vintage theme... but to me, it only makes sense for original trilogy characters. There is also always an abundance of re-tooled or re-packaged Star Wars figures and vehicles, so they're not really going anywhere, and I'm getting to the point where Original Trilogy is all I'm gunning for. The speed Hasbro continuously puts out bigger and better products is so ridiculous, I feel like they're making a good chunk of my collection "obsolete," so it's hard to get too carried away with the line.
Transformers: Hasbro seems to be mainly focused on product from Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Transformers: Prime... I can pass on all of it. A few choice figures from the Generations line will be more than plenty to fill my needs.
G.I. Joe: Hasbro has released some nice additions that fit right along with the 25th Anniversary Line, such as the "Wolf Hound" (Snowcat), and the new Skystriker, in addition to a few new figures like the SDCC Exclusive Zarana, Sci-Fi, and Crazylegs... but not much else, save a handful of cool re-imaginings of character designs from the "Pursuit of Cobra" line. Though, "must-haves" are few and far between. As far as G.I. Joe: Renegades goes... meh... Let me see a new U.S.S. Flagg and we'll talk...
Marvel Universe: Again, we are plagued with a line of action figures of fair quality and selection, but how much will ever be enough? I have a feeling this line will end with collectors clamoring for just ONE MORE FIGURE... JUST THREE MORE FIGURES... JUST FIVE MORE FIGURES... "If they'd only made a *insert character name here* then my collection would be complete!" Who will collectors have to do without in their 3 3/4" Marvel Universe when it's all said and done? I'm thankful I'm not particularly vested in this line.
Justice League Unlimited: Mattel's initial DCU "Budget" toy line has made a remarkable streak. Some of the rarities in the line are fetching big bucks on eBay. The animated style is fantastic, and the selection is great, but the figures are just... shoddy. Not worth the price they're going for. I recently parted ways with my entire JLU collection for a steal (which shocked even me). At first I was uneasy and regretted the decision, but the more I think about it, the more I'm glad it's gone. JLU is another line that just won't ever be complete... no matter how many figures Mattel would have put out. "If only I had a *insert character name here*."
DC Universe Classics: It looks as though Mattel is pushing collectors to shell out money for an online collector club through Mattycollector.com to get the good figures. They say the regular line will continue at retail, but the "most fan-demanded characters, team builders, and collector favorites," you need to subscribe. Translation: "If you want what you came for, you'll have to pony up the dough for the exclusives... retail's going to be re-packages and fluff." There's been enough "fluff" in DCUC, and I can't see paying for a club membership, plus the cost of tons of figures I don't want just to get a Jay Garrick Flash. Sorry Mattel... Not this time.
Ghostbusters Movie Masters: Okay, this line has got me hooked. If there were one toy line in all of creation I wished had been made, it was this one... and Mattel did it! I'm still quite pleased with the line and have my Club Ecto-1 membership. The thing about this line is that since one new figure only comes out every two months, it's easy to maintain and not too costly. Also, I was more than impressed with Mattel's Prop Replica PKE Meter, so I'm really looking forward to the Ghost Trap. Bring it on, Mattel! My $$ are secure, here.
Lego: Some of the biggest toy news at SDCC this year was the announcement of Lego obtaining the licenses to the entire DC and Marvel Universes! Big news! The drawback here is that Lego costs and arm and a leg, and it typically spends limited time at retail. And boy-howdy! If you think it's expensive at retail... just wait a year or two and look for it on eBay, you'll feel otherwise. So, while this is awesome news, Lego collectors are going to have to shell out some mad money for these items.
Everything else seems to be centered on the Marvel films and Green Lantern, most of which is aimed at kids rather than collectors. With the exception of the GL Movie Masters and maybe a few Marvel Select figures from the movies, I can resist most of the urges here. (Although, if I get one more figure from Diamond, of which the wrist joint breaks immediately out of the package, it may be the straw that breaks the camel's back). Aside from a few grabbers mentioned above and a new Thundercats line and the continuation of Mattel's Masters of the Universe line... collectors don't really have an unobtainable wish list this year... at least, not this one.
But honestly, I could use a break from "Man-I-Gotta-Have-That" fever. It'll allow me a little peace of mind, time to get what I do have in order and organized (as I'm currently trying to thin out some shelf space), and several extra bones lingering around in the old wallet for a rainy day.
Star Wars: Lately, there has been an incredible amount of attention to detail and a major spike in quality with Hasbro's Star Wars figures, and I LOVE the vintage theme... but to me, it only makes sense for original trilogy characters. There is also always an abundance of re-tooled or re-packaged Star Wars figures and vehicles, so they're not really going anywhere, and I'm getting to the point where Original Trilogy is all I'm gunning for. The speed Hasbro continuously puts out bigger and better products is so ridiculous, I feel like they're making a good chunk of my collection "obsolete," so it's hard to get too carried away with the line.
Transformers: Hasbro seems to be mainly focused on product from Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Transformers: Prime... I can pass on all of it. A few choice figures from the Generations line will be more than plenty to fill my needs.
G.I. Joe: Hasbro has released some nice additions that fit right along with the 25th Anniversary Line, such as the "Wolf Hound" (Snowcat), and the new Skystriker, in addition to a few new figures like the SDCC Exclusive Zarana, Sci-Fi, and Crazylegs... but not much else, save a handful of cool re-imaginings of character designs from the "Pursuit of Cobra" line. Though, "must-haves" are few and far between. As far as G.I. Joe: Renegades goes... meh... Let me see a new U.S.S. Flagg and we'll talk...
Marvel Universe: Again, we are plagued with a line of action figures of fair quality and selection, but how much will ever be enough? I have a feeling this line will end with collectors clamoring for just ONE MORE FIGURE... JUST THREE MORE FIGURES... JUST FIVE MORE FIGURES... "If they'd only made a *insert character name here* then my collection would be complete!" Who will collectors have to do without in their 3 3/4" Marvel Universe when it's all said and done? I'm thankful I'm not particularly vested in this line.
Justice League Unlimited: Mattel's initial DCU "Budget" toy line has made a remarkable streak. Some of the rarities in the line are fetching big bucks on eBay. The animated style is fantastic, and the selection is great, but the figures are just... shoddy. Not worth the price they're going for. I recently parted ways with my entire JLU collection for a steal (which shocked even me). At first I was uneasy and regretted the decision, but the more I think about it, the more I'm glad it's gone. JLU is another line that just won't ever be complete... no matter how many figures Mattel would have put out. "If only I had a *insert character name here*."
DC Universe Classics: It looks as though Mattel is pushing collectors to shell out money for an online collector club through Mattycollector.com to get the good figures. They say the regular line will continue at retail, but the "most fan-demanded characters, team builders, and collector favorites," you need to subscribe. Translation: "If you want what you came for, you'll have to pony up the dough for the exclusives... retail's going to be re-packages and fluff." There's been enough "fluff" in DCUC, and I can't see paying for a club membership, plus the cost of tons of figures I don't want just to get a Jay Garrick Flash. Sorry Mattel... Not this time.
Ghostbusters Movie Masters: Okay, this line has got me hooked. If there were one toy line in all of creation I wished had been made, it was this one... and Mattel did it! I'm still quite pleased with the line and have my Club Ecto-1 membership. The thing about this line is that since one new figure only comes out every two months, it's easy to maintain and not too costly. Also, I was more than impressed with Mattel's Prop Replica PKE Meter, so I'm really looking forward to the Ghost Trap. Bring it on, Mattel! My $$ are secure, here.
Lego: Some of the biggest toy news at SDCC this year was the announcement of Lego obtaining the licenses to the entire DC and Marvel Universes! Big news! The drawback here is that Lego costs and arm and a leg, and it typically spends limited time at retail. And boy-howdy! If you think it's expensive at retail... just wait a year or two and look for it on eBay, you'll feel otherwise. So, while this is awesome news, Lego collectors are going to have to shell out some mad money for these items.
Everything else seems to be centered on the Marvel films and Green Lantern, most of which is aimed at kids rather than collectors. With the exception of the GL Movie Masters and maybe a few Marvel Select figures from the movies, I can resist most of the urges here. (Although, if I get one more figure from Diamond, of which the wrist joint breaks immediately out of the package, it may be the straw that breaks the camel's back). Aside from a few grabbers mentioned above and a new Thundercats line and the continuation of Mattel's Masters of the Universe line... collectors don't really have an unobtainable wish list this year... at least, not this one.
But honestly, I could use a break from "Man-I-Gotta-Have-That" fever. It'll allow me a little peace of mind, time to get what I do have in order and organized (as I'm currently trying to thin out some shelf space), and several extra bones lingering around in the old wallet for a rainy day.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Why We Collect: Part II - The Macrocosm of Identity
I own more than 2,500 action figures, vehicles, accessories and playsets. Does this make me one of those people? You bet your derriere! Well, at least, as far as the average person is concerned. Toy and action figure collecting is like anything else not fully understood by its host culture; it’s perceived as a little bit outlandish. To the average person, action figure collecting is nothing more than grown-ups desperately trying to live in a perpetual fantasy-world, or at the very least an inability to mature enough in order to leave their youth behind.
The average person couldn’t be more wrong...
Have you ever met someone who doesn’t have any real interests? Their hobbies never seem to surpass the standard party line of watching movies, reading, listening to music, going out with friends, or spending hours glued to reality television. These robots, disguised as humans, have no definitive taste or anything that represents an essence of their identity. While some people don’t understand action figure and pop-culture collecting, I fail to understand the infatuation with the mundane. Dr. Robert M. Price, Professor of biblical criticism for the Council for Secular Humanism’s Center for Inquiry Institute, among other preoccupations, is also an avid action figure collector. In his 1998 sermon, “Action Figure Addiction,” Dr. Price notes, “I believe that your environment is a macrocosm of the microcosm inside you.” What might this sentiment imply about our illustrious Robot population?
A friend of mine once told me she didn’t understand the psychology of collecting, and she thought it was "weird," as I browsed her multiple shelves containing several hundred literary works. The problem here lies in perception. It’s often difficult, if not impossible, to see what’s right in front of you, if you aren’t attuned to it. If Zach spends thousands of dollars restoring classic cars in his garage, nobody bats an eye. If Kayla amasses a wall-sized DVD collection to go along with her home theatre, it’s “awesome.” Even if Marty goes out drinking four nights a week (or more), spending all his money on booze, it’s still seen as fitting in with the status quo. However, if Anna, an adult, collects toys… now, we’re talking “out there.” Why? Because the average person just doesn’t get it, therefore it is not accepted as “normal.” There is a large community of toy and action figure collectors, not only in the United States, but also all over the world, ranging from all ages and socioeconomic statuses. Those not overly familiar with this culture tend to reject it.
Dr. Price eloquently sums up action figure collecting, stating, “…For me to be able to rejoice at the sight of my superhero action figures is to live in a shrine of fictive meaning festooned with idols and icons of the gods of imagination. They are the tokens, the clutchable talismans of my fictive faith.” That said, if people don’t become more willing to embrace the culture of action figures, they’ll simply get left behind, and while the Robots of socity waste away, merely going through the motions and watching the latest episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County, a select few of us will be left playing with our toys… and unlocking the secrets of the universe.
Read the sermon, "Action Figure Addiction," and check out more awesomeness from Dr. Robert M. Price here:
"Action Figure Addiction"
Hero Worship Column
The average person couldn’t be more wrong...
Have you ever met someone who doesn’t have any real interests? Their hobbies never seem to surpass the standard party line of watching movies, reading, listening to music, going out with friends, or spending hours glued to reality television. These robots, disguised as humans, have no definitive taste or anything that represents an essence of their identity. While some people don’t understand action figure and pop-culture collecting, I fail to understand the infatuation with the mundane. Dr. Robert M. Price, Professor of biblical criticism for the Council for Secular Humanism’s Center for Inquiry Institute, among other preoccupations, is also an avid action figure collector. In his 1998 sermon, “Action Figure Addiction,” Dr. Price notes, “I believe that your environment is a macrocosm of the microcosm inside you.” What might this sentiment imply about our illustrious Robot population?
A friend of mine once told me she didn’t understand the psychology of collecting, and she thought it was "weird," as I browsed her multiple shelves containing several hundred literary works. The problem here lies in perception. It’s often difficult, if not impossible, to see what’s right in front of you, if you aren’t attuned to it. If Zach spends thousands of dollars restoring classic cars in his garage, nobody bats an eye. If Kayla amasses a wall-sized DVD collection to go along with her home theatre, it’s “awesome.” Even if Marty goes out drinking four nights a week (or more), spending all his money on booze, it’s still seen as fitting in with the status quo. However, if Anna, an adult, collects toys… now, we’re talking “out there.” Why? Because the average person just doesn’t get it, therefore it is not accepted as “normal.” There is a large community of toy and action figure collectors, not only in the United States, but also all over the world, ranging from all ages and socioeconomic statuses. Those not overly familiar with this culture tend to reject it.
Dr. Price eloquently sums up action figure collecting, stating, “…For me to be able to rejoice at the sight of my superhero action figures is to live in a shrine of fictive meaning festooned with idols and icons of the gods of imagination. They are the tokens, the clutchable talismans of my fictive faith.” That said, if people don’t become more willing to embrace the culture of action figures, they’ll simply get left behind, and while the Robots of socity waste away, merely going through the motions and watching the latest episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County, a select few of us will be left playing with our toys… and unlocking the secrets of the universe.
Read the sermon, "Action Figure Addiction," and check out more awesomeness from Dr. Robert M. Price here:
"Action Figure Addiction"
Hero Worship Column
Friday, February 25, 2011
Hiatus
Hello Everyone!
My apologies for falling behind with the blog. Although, I'm sure the half-dozen or so of you will be able to move on with your lives without too much remorse caused by my stint of not posting.
Life as both a full-time student and full-time parent is frequently... time consuming. I will be posting "Why We Collect: Part 2" later this week.
Thanks for your patience and hanging in there with me!
Cheers!
-J
My apologies for falling behind with the blog. Although, I'm sure the half-dozen or so of you will be able to move on with your lives without too much remorse caused by my stint of not posting.
Life as both a full-time student and full-time parent is frequently... time consuming. I will be posting "Why We Collect: Part 2" later this week.
Thanks for your patience and hanging in there with me!
Cheers!
-J
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