Sexy Geek? Maybe It Should Be Old, Picky Geek

Every New Years that passes, I think about another year that passes and how much closer to the grave I am. There's a lot I want to accomplish and still hope to in my life. I would like to see if my writing can take me anywhere aside from my blogs. I would also like to do a podcast with one of my very good friends. When the two of us are together, we crack each other up and I think we could have a great podcast. We have discussed it and hopefully it will come to fruition. It's really my fault for the delay as I don't have a microphone on my laptop and I would like to have a better laptop as well. Hopefully soon. Most of all, when I do think about things, I do think about my collection and what direction I'd like it to go.

I know I have discussed this topic in previous blog posts, but as of late, I have been really considering downsizing it and concentrating on what I really like to collect. I feel as of late I have been stagnate when it comes to my collection. I haven't really been adding to it, not because I'm out of work, although that does come into play. I just haven't found really anything I've wanted to add. A lot of the stuff that comes out these days are not things I have been quick to open my wallet for. In my opinion, the stuff that comes out is too expensive and your really not getting the best bang for your buck.

There have been stuff that I have been excited for on paper, yet when I saw the finished product I was like, ehhhhhhhhhh. Like the 1966 Batman figures. I only got the Batman and Surf's Up Batman in my collection and I'm fine with that. I wasn't really impressed with the quality of the figures and the likenesses of them. Plus, I was a bit ticked that Robin was only released in a box set and is supposed to be released in another box set with Batman and Batgirl. When that will be released, I don't know. Also, at $22 bucks, these were pretty expensive figures. I'm sure I will get the rest at some point, but not anytime soon.

Don't get me wrong, I know that stuff is expensive these days. It's part of the hobby and if I want to have a sweet collection, I will have to spend, spend spend. I'm just not going to spend anymore on every Spider-Man or Batman item that comes out. I think it's time to concentrate on specific characters or things or people I m passionate about.

1-Batman Pre 1989

I enjoy the Christopher Nolan movies. I really think those are the best Batman movies ever made, aside from the 1966 Batman movie, which I enjoy the hell out of. I will admit something though, I hate the all black Batman outfits. My Batman has grey in it. Blue and grey to be specific. I can't explain the joy I feel whenever I see a Batman figure in those colors. It takes me back to my childhood when I used to sit in my room, watching the Super Friends while noshing on a bowl of cereal or when I opened Christmas presents and got a Batman Mego with Batmobile. So I decided I will start focusing my collection on Batman before the Tim Burton movie. I love the 1966 TV show, so I will buy stuff that fits that part of my collection, vintage or modern releases. I love the Super Friends Batman and have the figure. I want that Hot Wheels Super Friends Batmobile and I also want the statue and will get them eventually. I can concentrate on just this period of the character and have a pretty kick ass collection.

2-Spider-Man

I don't see myself really changing in how I collect Spider-Man. I will probably continue to collect him as is.

3-Statues

One thing I want to do is add more statues to my collection. I figure if I don't spend money on newer releases at Toys R Us or Target, I can save up for some really cool pieces. I have been wanting to start collecting the Batman Black And Whites. I want to pick up the upcoming Adam West Batman statue. There are some really nice Spider-Man pieces I want also like the Origins piece and the half Peter Parker/Spider-Man bust that I drool over each time I see it on eBay.

4-Hot Toys

These are some of the most beautiful and expensive figures you will ever see. I see some of these figures in comic book shops or cons and I just start getting feverish and itchy and I start walking toward the figure like I'm looking for my next fix. I, unfortunately, do not own a Hot Toys figure. Part of it is I haven't had steady work in almost 2 years and part of it is because I spend, spend, spend. I couldn't save a dollar even if I knew I was getting thrown out tomorrow. I'll still be at Toy's R Us buying that cheap plastic Spider-Man that I really don't need. This year, I will try my best to save for at least 1 Hot Toys figure. I'm leaning toward 1966 Batman to be my first Hot Toys figure.

5-Luke Skywalker/Star Wars

I have been collecting anything and everything Luke Skywalker I can get my hands on. I just recently got a Luke Skywalker Titan figure that I love as a late Christmas gift. I will be reviewing it in the near future. I also want to pick up some vintage Star Wars figures and play sets. I still want the Death Star playset. I also need a vintage X Wing too.

6-Beatles

Some of the most expensive collectibles you will find are Beatles items from the 60's. Because of that, most of the Beatles things I will own will be modern Beatles releases. Right now, my Beatles holy grail is the set of Beatles cartoon figures that McFarlane put out. That box set goes for close to $200.00 bucks on eBay.

7- Back To The Future

I really don't go out of my way to pick up Back To The Future stuff, even if it's my favorite movie of all time. I haven't picked up the Funko POP's yet. I haven't thought about grabbing the Hover Board I've seen. If I come across it and feel like picking it up, I will.

So, I've managed to streamline my collecting habits to 7 categories, and that's not even mentioning my sports collectibles. I won't be collecting Kiss or Iron Man or anything else I was picking up before. The Simpsons are a category that I also don't normally collect, but I have picked up a piece here and there and will probably continue to do so. I can also see myself knocking off a category or two in the future. Why?

Well, I need room to walk around. My room is starting to become cluttered. I have no space to display my stuff and in the future, what if I don't have room for display then either? I have always hated collections that look so cluttered, unorganized and I never want mine to look like that. I will display in cabinets and shelves, but I want it to be a neat display. Also, money. I don't have a million dollars to spend on figures and collectibles. I barely have $50.00 at times. I need to pick and choose what to get. I want to pick up the best things for what I can afford.

When going shopping, my buddy and I don't buy just anything anymore. We look for the "Wow" factor. Something that I will not put back after holding it and walking around the store. If I have to think about it, it goes back. Maybe I'm trying to grow up a bit or maybe as I reach my 44th birthday in April, I am starting to realize I cannot own everything. That's not what collecting is all about. It's about picking up pieces that you will be proud to display and never, ever want to let go. I want to be able to look at my collection years from now through coke bottle glasses and smile as I sit n my rocking chair.

As Doctor Emmit Brown Would Say, Great Scott!

If you know anything about me, either from personally knowing me or by reading this blog, you would know what a Back To The Future fan I am. It's in my top 2 favorite movies of all time. I have watched all three movies countless times, I have a small Back To The Future Collection, have a few of the cartoon episodes and have been praying we would get a BTTF animated movie so that Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd can reprise their roles and not have them recast.

Then last night, my buddy tagged me on a post on Facebook and what I saw sent me into a frenzy.

I must have looked like Doc Brown when the model of the DeLorean caught on fire and raced into the garbage.

Are you freaking kidding me?? I had no idea Hot Toys had a Back To The Future license. and look at how good this figure looks.

This will be a part of Hot Toys's Movie Masterpiece Series and will be released in the first part of 2015 to coincide with the film's 30th anniversary. The figure has an authentic and detailed likeness to Michael J. Fox, including movie accurate facial expressions with detailed wrinkles and skin texture.

Not only am I a huge Back To The Future fan, but I am a huge Michael J. Fox fan as well. I've watched him on TV on Family Ties, Poison Ivy, Spin City and The Michael J. Fox Show (I can't believe that show got cancelled. I LOVED that show) as well as movies like Secret Of My Success, Casualties Of War, The Hard Way, Doc Hollywood, Greedy, The American President and The Frighteners. Heck, I even liked Bright Lights, Big City. This figure will be a must have for me.


I shouldn't be shocked at how good this figure looks. I mean, it's Hot Toys. We all know how good they make their figures.

I have been wanting to start buying Hot Toys figures. I'm not too crazy about the figures I see at Toys R Us or Target anymore. We are paying too much for crappy figures. If I'm going to spend my money on figures I want good stuff. So, I figure (no pun intended) that instead of spending 12-20 bucks for a six inch figure, I should save that money and put it towards Hot Toys. I've been wanting to pick up the Amazing Spider-Man and the Adam West Batman first and gradually build my collection from there. Now, I may have to pick up this Marty McFly Hot Toys right after those two. There hasn't been a price announced just yet, but I'm guessing it will be around $200.00.

Knowing that Back To The Future will be 30 years old next year makes me feel really ancient. But having this figure come out will soften that blow. I'm just waiting for a Hovercraft, flying DeLorean, A Flux Capacitor, A Mr. Fusion and my self tying power laces pair of Nike's. Oh, and abolish all lawyers.

New York Comic Con

I resigned myself to the fact that I would be missing New York Comic Con this year. I was actually fine with it. I am saving my pennies for my trip to Los Angeles to see my baby at the end of the month, so I wasn't even thinking about trying to find a way in this year.

Then, around 4:30 PM Friday afternoon my buddy, Jose, texted me asking me to call him. I ran to my desk at the office and called him back. Turns out he had weekend passes and his friend cancelled for that evening and he wanted to know if I wanted to go.

Um, yeah.

So, after I got off work, I met up with Jose in front of Jacobs Javitz Center and in we went. Jose runs a website called Talking About Games, which talks about makeup and hair styles. Nah, it's a video game website. You can check out the website at talkingaboutgames.com.

Ok, enough of the props. On to the pictures.

I'm pretty much going to let the pictures do the talking here. Unfortunately, since time was limited, I didn't get to see everything I wanted, which is fine. I ha a blast in the time I was there and hope I can make another Comic Con in the future. If you are on my Facebook page, you already seen these, but if you aren't (shame one you), here they are.

Walking up to the entrance

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I would kill to own this.

This too.

I love this poster

Snootchie Bootchies

I still need that Art FX Batman statue.

Love these bust banks.

My favorite booth was the Toyworth booth, which displayed some sweet vintage stuff.

Check out that awesome vintage Batman and the Justice League playset. Drool.

Sweet vintage looking Spidey card from Hallmark.

Awesome Batman stuff. I want them all!

I will be reading this when it's released. I believe it's going to be put out by Dark Horse.

Lola from Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. made an appearance.

We end with Neil Adams. One day, I will have a commissioned Batman piece from Neil. Unfortunately, at $300.00 a pop, that will be a long way off.

Again, I want to thank my buddy, Jose from Talking About Games for the pass to get in. I really enjoyed looking at all the cool stuff. Go check out his website and listen to his podcast as well. I will guest on it one day and knowing the two of us, you never know what will come out of our mouths.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

I Will Be Wanting These....OK, I Already Do!

I have been seeing some pictures of future POP Vinyl releases and they all had my heart racing. I cannot wait until these are released so I can add these beauties to my growing POP collection.

First up are a couple of Comic Con exclusives:

This piece is exclusive to the upcoming New York Comic Con.This batmobile has been made up to look like those old 1970's Japanese tin batmobile toys. You know, the ones that would require your first born to own (I looked it up. Good thing I don't have children). Well, owning this would be the next best thing. I'm missing NYCC this year, so I will have to pony up the dough on eBay to add this to my collection.

Oh man, this one is also pretty cool as is also a Comic Con exclusive. To get this unmasked Spider-Man POP, you will have to be at Comikaze, which is the first weekend of Nov at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Hey, I'm going to be in L.A. that wekend. Hmmmmmmm..

Ever since I was a kid, I have begged for some Back To The Future stuff and I have some, but no figures. When Mattel bought the licence, I was drooling over the prospect of what figures we would get. Then they never released them so that was a waste. When I saw these pictures I almost had a coronary. I must have these.

Funko has been releasing some terrific POP Vinyls and these are no exception. POP has easily become one of my favorite toy lines and I love picking up new figures to add to the collection. I always wonder if I should display the Batman and Spider-Man ones with those collections or should I display them with the other POP figures I pick up. At the rate I'm going, I will have a nice POP collection. Which means I will need a bigger boat...or house. Whichever comes first.

Hey Buddy, Can You Spare Some Room?

I spent a better part of last weekend doing some much needed clearing up of my room. I did this for a few reasons. A-My room had gotten really cluttered. B-I wanted to swap out stuff I had in my closet for future blogs for stuff I had already shown. C-I wanted to see what I had. What should have taken a few hours had taken a couple of days and it was shocking and frustrating.

I had boxes and bags on my dresser, chair, desk and other places in my room, so I packed all of the stuff and opened my closet door to put all my stuff away. When I opened my closet, I realized I had a problem that you would think you could only find in cartoons or comedies. My closet was already filled with boxes upon boxes of sports cards, unopened and opened figures, as well as boxes for most of my bobbleheads. That is when I realized I was in big trouble.

I had just about run out of room and I was stuck holding the bag, literally.

What started out as collecting what I liked had turned into an episode of Hoarders, starring The Sexy Geek. It was an unplanned and most unwanted appearance. I had to figure out what had happened and how I could stop this slippery slope I was on before I was left blubbering over an intervention by friends and family because I was sneaking in a moldy issue of Amazing Spider-Man #500 and a Mego Robin with a broken leg...wait I have one already. Oh God, Help me! (drops to my knees, crying hysterical as I hold Robin in my arms, whispering to him that everything would be O.K)

Alright, seriously, I know how I got here and it's a pretty simple explanation. What started as my collecting stuff I actually loved grew into my picking up something of anything I remotely liked. I have my sports collection which consists of anything Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Islanders and Devils as well as a few player collections. In my sports collections, I have cards (a lot of cards), autographs, bobbleheads, figures, pins, yearbooks, programs and other stuff I can't remember. My pop culture collection consists of Batman, Spider-Man, The Beatles, The Monkees, Luke Skywalker/Star Wars and Back To The Future.

Now, the problem is not only do I have a large collection of stuff that I like, but I have managed to start side collections of stuff I that while I like, don't have the attachments that I have to my favorites. For instance, I love KISS, but did I really need to buy a huge Love Gun Mister? It's never even been out of the box. Granted, the box is wrecked, which is why I got it for half off at Spencer's, but I honestly didn't need it nor have I used it. Plus, I really don't go out of my way for KISS stuff anymore.  I have a side Iron Man collection. I was never a huge Iron Man fan when I read the comics. I fell in love with the character after I watched the movies and then started reading the books. I'm a huge WWE fan and I never even started a collection save for a few Roddy Piper and Steve Austin figures. Imagine how messed up I would be if I had?

Because I really cannot afford a storage room, I have some boxes and rubber maid bins that have toys, video tapes, autographs, books and other items. I also have my T.V., DVD's, Blu Ray's, clothes and other things. As you can imagine, room is very limited in my area. I'm lucky I have room to move around right now, but if I keep adding stuff I may not.

What I am going to have to do is step back and take a bit of a break from collecting. Reestablish my collecting goals and focus on that. Anything else, I may either put away, trade or sell. I would have to figure out just what I would be willing to part with. That will not be easy. I always did not want to be the collector you all saw on Collector Intervention that would have a hard time letting go of a piece, but the more I think about what I may or may not part with, I can now understand why they always had a problem with letting go. But I also realize I need to take control before the collection takes control of me.

If I decide to let anything go, I will throw it out to you guys to see if there would be anything anyone wanted. I would rather anything I have would go to a good home and a collector who would appreciate it before I give it to Goodwill or turn to eBay. It sucks that I let things get out of control, but at least I was able to catch the problem before it was too late and that is always a good thing.

League Assignment: Where Are They Now: Back To The Future

Ever wonder what happened to the characters of your favorite movie? I do. I have often wondered what the characters of my favorite movie, Back To The Future, did with themselves after the events of Part III. Unfortunately, due to Michael J. Fox's condition, we may never get a Back To The Future Part 4, but thanks to this weeks assignment from Brian over at Cool and Collected, I can imagine what became of the characters from Hill Valley.

Marty McFly became a successful musician, fronting The Pinheads to worldwide fame. Wrote legendary songs such as "1.21", "I'm Not Chicken" and their CD; "Flux Capacitor" is the all time best selling album in rock history. Is now focusing his energy in producing new artists for his label, "Hoverboard" Records

Doctor Emmit Brown is now a retired scientist, living in Hill Valley with his wife, Clara and their 2 children, Jules and Verne. He is still studying about the most puzzling species in the world, women.

George McFly is still writing Science Fiction novels, but is also now producing his stories for the big screen.

Lorraine McFly is still happily married to George McFly and has started a foundation for alcoholic mothers, who are bored with their lives.

Biff Tannen is still running is auto detailing business. But he actually had possession of his own time machine, which he used to go back in time to steal Marty's music and form his own band; "The Buttheads". Marty, Jules and Verne managed to go back in time to the point where Biff steals Marty's music and prevents it, while destroying Biff's time machine in the process. Biff went back to his business, manure free.

Jennifer married Marty before his music career took off, only to divorce him when he was caught in the company of several women. They briefly reconciled, but Jennifer realized it would be best if they parted friends. Jennifer is currently the CFO of Hoverboard Records and Marty's closest confidant.

Clara Brown has settled into the 20th century just fine as she became a teacher, then the principal over at Hill Valley High School.

Jules and Verne are now grown up and have taken over their father's studies. They now go back in time in the train for Doc's studies. They have gone back to the Prehistoric age, witnessed the birth of Christ and gone to the future to make sure Marty's kids don't grow up to be morons. Verne and Marty's daughter are currently seeing each other.

So many possibilities for more Back To The Future movies could be realized from here. But how? Reboot the franchise? Animation, so that Fox can reprise the role of Marty McFly? What do you guys think?