Now, Why Haven't I Started Collecting These?

Let me take you back to the mid 70's. As a kid, I was obsessed with a few things. Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Star Wars, The Beatles were among the things that kept me busy. But then there was lunch boxes. Man, I loved them. All the different characters, colors shapes and sizes of these things kept me drooling over them. I would always look at my classmates lunch boxes and then look at my brown paper bag.

See, I never did own one. I had to obsess over everyone's lunch boxes and obsess I did. Whenever someone bought a new one I had to be the first to give it the once over. When my mom went shopping I would find a lunch box I liked and would beg her for it. But she never relented. She would always tell me I would lose it. To her, a brown bag was dispensable. To me, a cool looking lunch box was a status symbol. By the time my mom started to consider buying me one, I was already on my way to Junior High School and was perfectly OK with a brown paper bag.

So, now that I am an adult and have started some collections, yet I STILL have not picked up any vintage lunch boxes for my collections or started a lunch box collection. After watching a couple of lunch box collection videos on YouTube,  I started thinking about why I had not picked up any. I came to the conclusion that 2 factors, lack of room for displaying them and money has kept me from picking any up. Vintage lunch boxes have become a costly hobby, but if I do come across any that I can afford, I may start picking some up and finally start that lunch box collection I have been dreaming of since I was 5.

Which ones would I pick up? Well, let's start off with the obvious ones:

Superheroes:

I have been wanting that vintage Batman lunch box forever. It's a pretty expensive lunch box, so I probably wouldn't go after it as a starter for my collection and would probably put it with my Batman collection anyway. The Superman The Movie lunch box would probably be a better one to start off with, price wise. I love the Hulk lunch box, but I never understood why Spider-Man never got his own lunch box. I always see him with other Marvel heroes on a lunch box. As much of a Super Friends fan I am, the Super Friends lunch box is a no brainer for me. I have come lose a couple of time to acquiring one, but could never agree on a price.

The Beatles

These two Beatles lunch boxes will have to wait until I hit the lottery. These are pretty high end pieces.

TV Shows I liked as a kid:

I had fun watching all these shows as a kid and in some cases still do watch them. I would love to pick up these lunch boxes to remind myself why I loved lunch boxes as kid and why I want to start a collection of lunch boxes.

And of course the movies I love:

I have to have the Star Wars lunch boxes. I was and still am a huge fan of Star Wars, but if Luke Skywalker is on the lunch box, it would probably go with the rest of my Luke Skywalker collection. Too bad a Back To The Future Lunchbox was never made. With all the Back To The Future stuff being released, maybe they will make one.

And finally, 2 music acts that I would have to add to my future lunch box collection:

How did I get from Kiss to The Monkees? I love them both, that's how. Even though Kiss has really been annoying me as of late from lip syncing their performance at the Kings/Ducks game at Dodger Stadium to not performing at the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame induction. Still, the lunch box is something I've wanted for years and would jump at the chance to own one.

After looking through all the pictures and videos of all the lunch boxes that are out there any collection, no matter how big or small, would be a great one. My hope is that one day, maybe I will fulfill the dream of a 5 year old me and one day get that monkey off my back by picking up a few.  The fact is I have loved these things for far too long. For me not to own any vintage lunch boxes is a personal crime and hopefully, one I can make right for my inner kid.

Bring It Back: The Green Hornet

Yes, I know, I know. A movie was made about the adventures of The Green Hornet and his trusty partner, Kato back in 2011. Now as a fan of the character, I did not hate the movie. I took it for what it was. A different interpretation of the hero. Not the Green Hornet movie I would have done, but it's Seth Rogen. What did you expect?

They had the right idea with doing an origin movie. One that establishes the character because, let's face it, unless your a hardcore comic guy or a fan of the original series, like I was, chances are you didn't know much, if anything about The Hornet. The comedy should have been kept minimal and a serious movie should have been made instead with someone other than Seth Rogen playing the role. So, you can see why I would want a total reboot of the character done, like yesterday.

So, what should I think be done with it? How about return it to television, for starters. I think an updated version would would very well for T.V. I would keep the show separate from the film and start all over again. Retell the origin story and spend the 1st season learning to be the Green Hornet. Kind of like a Batman Year One story. Let him make mistakes, get caught, beat up. Heck, I wouldn't even have Kato join up with Britt Reid or show the Black Beauty right away. Let all that happen over the course of a few episodes. I'd make this show a Smallville or Arrow type show.

Now, who would play the characters? To be quite honest, there is one actor I would have in mind for the Green Hornet.

I think Wes Bentley, who has done American Beauty and The Hunger Games, would be perfect to play Britt Reid as he starts his career as the Green Hornet. I can actually see Bentley wearing the mask and fedora. I doubt he would do it, but I think he would be great in this role.

When I did my research of actors who could possibly play Kato, one name kept coming up as one of the top young Japanese actors, Kenichi Matsuyama. I read he has won the Japanese version of an Oscar for his roles in Detroit Metal City and Death Note. As a serious actor, I doubt he would come to the states to do television, let alone play Kato. Plus, who knows if he can do martial arts. He looks the part, but if he turned the role down, I would probably go with an unknown.

As a fan of the 1966 T.V. Series starring Van Johnson and Bruce Lee, I would love to use an updated version of the Al Hirt theme. Black Beauty also be a big part of the show when it makes it's first appearance. Perhaps use a crude version of the car and have Reid and Kato build up the car until we see a finished Beauty at some point.

I think a Green Hornet show on say, The CW Network, has the potential to be a big hit, if done right. I realize that the Green Hornet hasn't really been a viable money maker in years. But, the comic books still sell well for Dynamite Entertainment and the movie grossed over 200 million. So, I think the time is right for the Green Hornet to make his long awaited return to TV.

And with that, we cue the music

See what the other members of The League Of Extraordinary Bloggers want to see back:

http://coolandcollected.com/its-time-to-bring-back-buck-rogers/

http://www.randomnerdness.blogspot.com/2013/06/this-weeks-league-assignment-bring-it.html

http://blog.paxholley.net/2013/06/07/rebooting-the-six-million-dollar-man-to-make-it-better-stronger-faster/

Make Mine Sexy!

New Comic Book Pickups

As of late, I really haven't been picking up a lot of comics. I've been mainly concentrating on picking vintage toys for my various collections or new items for my sports collections (if you want to check out the sports blog, you can check it here :http://thesexygeekssportsroom.blogspot.com/ ). I have been picking up various comics here and there, but I had decided a long time ago to just stick with the graphic novels and not pick up any single issues.

Well, I kind of back peddled on that promise yesterday when I dropped by Midtown Comics to see what they had on the shelves. I wound up picking up a few new issues for me to read during the week. My geeky soul thanked me over and over for the new books to read as it missed the characters, the papers and the adventures.

So, what did I pick up?

Of all the comics I used to read, I never stopped buying Batman. I really haven't bought Detective Comics, Batman Incorporated or any of the other Batman related books and I'm sorry I haven't. As you probably know, Robin, Damian Wayne was killed off by an aging, crazed clone of himself in Batman Incorporated #8 and I missed it. Midtown still had copies as well as copies of the beginning of the Requiem story arch, in which Batman deals with the lose of his son and his wanting to avenge his death against his mother Talia Al Ghul, whose assassin was the one who killed Damian.

I have been enjoying this Star Wars story called Star Wars: In The Shadow Of Yavin, which takes place between New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. In this story, The Rebel Alliance has been searching for a new home base and learns that there is a spy in the Alliance. Leia, Luke and others team to search for a new base as well as flush out the spy, while Han Solo and Chewbacca go off on a secret mission to Coruscant. The story also deals with Darth Vader's faliure in New Hope and his getting back in the Emperor's good graces. If your a fan of the original trilogy, like I am, pick up these books.

I have always been a huge Green Hornet fan. I loved the TV Series. I liked the movie as well, although not as much as the TV series. I have been wanting to read some of the Green Hornet graphic novels, especially Kevin Smith's run as on the book. His book was supposed to have been made into a movie years ago with George Clooney as the Hornet, so I need to hunt those books down. For now, I picked up the first issue of this comic with Mark Waid  writing. It takes place in Chicago in the 1930's and follows Britt Reid and Kato as they fight crime, posing as criminals. Read the first book and loved it. Might be time to start a small vintage Green Hornet collection.

Yeah, yeah. I know what I said regarding Superior Spider-Man. I wasn't going to pick it up, I hated what they did to Peter Parker, yadda yadda yadda. well, I made the mistake of reading the first 2 issues of the book, with the intentions of having it further cement my hatred for what happened to Parker. After reading the first two issues, as well as the next two, I hated to admit it: the comic was very good. This was a different maybe even fresh take on the character. Doc Ock is trying to be the best Spider-Man, but at times a bit of the old Doc Ock will resurface. The spirit of Peter Parker is there right by Ock's side to make sure he doesn't do anything wrong. It kinda reminds me of Firestorm, except that Ock doesn't know Parker is floating around. It's an interesting dynamic and I'm curious to see how they will bring Parker back (you know they are going to eventually), although it doesn't look like they will make the switch anytime soon.

I also picked up this Age Of Ultron tie in, even though I am not reading that arch. I figured I'd take a peek at what's going on with this issue, provided that I don't get lost reading it.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the purchases and cannot wait to sit down and read them. I have been enjoying previous issues of these books and enjoyed the first issue of the Green Hornet book. I'm still trying to pick up just the graphic novels, but for now, I'll just enjoy reading these books and getting my geek on.

Happy New Years! Resolutions For 2013

Even though Batman isn't too happy, I would like to take this time to wish everyone a happy and safe New Years and a great 2013. 2012 was a great year, collecting-wise. I rediscovered a passion for toys, comics and other pop culture awesomeness I thought was lost. Now, 2013 comes (take that Mayans) and I have plans for my collection. Everyone has New Years resolutions so here are mine, collecting-wise.

-Collect More Vintage

One thing I discovered this year was a passion for vintage toys. Let me be specific here, vintage superhero toys. The newer stuff that has been coming out hasn't thrilled me as much as the vintage stuff.

 I have always been a huge fan of Mego's World's Greatest Superhero line. I had some of the figures as a kid. A few years ago I was picking up the figures lose and now I want to finish the line as well as pick up a few of the accessories.

I also want to pick up more vintage Batman stuff for my Batman collection. As a kid, I loved Batman and always had a Batman figure or a Batmobile. With the Dark Knight movies and my rewatching the 1960's Batman show, my love of the character is at an all time high and I want to add more vintage Batman to my collection.

-Expand My Collection

As much as a Superhero fan as I am, specifically Batman and Spider-Man, there are other characters I would love to collect. Green Hornet, Luke Skywalker and James Bond are three that come to mind. I have seen some great pieces I would love to add to my collection. I would also love to add some vintage Superman, Hulk and Iron Man pieces too.

I would also love to pick up some vintage Star Wars toys like a Death Star Playset, X-Wing Fighter and some figures.

-Organize

One of the things I really want to do is to be able to display all the stuff I have managed to collect. I want to buy display cases from Ikea and put up some shelves. I have seen other collectors awesome collections and I would love to be able to do the same.

-Work On My Spider-Man and Batman Comics Collection
Over the past couple of years I started to collect Spider-Man and Batman comics. I would love to have an entire runs of Amazing Spider-Man, Batman and Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man. Now, Some of these books are way too expensive and I will probably never complete the sets, but I will have fun trying to grab as many of these vintage comics as I can.

I would also love to add some vintage comics to my collection. I just love the artwork from the 1960's and 70's. I could just read those stories for hours on end.


I hope everyone has a fantastic New Year. Please, don't drink and drive. Be safe and I will see you all in 2013.

My Visit To Toy Tokyo

Today I decided to take a quick visit to Toy Tokyo, which is located in lower Manhattan. I had heard of this store and wanted to take a peek at all the toy goodness inside. With the name Toy Tokyo, I expected the store to be mainly toys imported from Japan. Although there were japanese toys, there was a lot of american toys being sold as well. Toys that made this sexy geek wish he had buku money to spend. Problem is, if your looking for bargins, Toy Tokyo is not the place for bargins. The owners know what they have. Most of the toys were being sold at retail or above, especially the vintage goodies.

As soon as you walk in, there is a display case of vintage toys.

 

Yes Virgina, that is a circle suit Mego Spider-Man in box.

 

 



Vintage Green Hornet anyone?

After fogging the glass on this case, I moved on to the bigger cases in the back that housed more stuff. From vintage toys to not so vintage. Japanese to American. All I know is I was staring way too long. So long that I noticed an employee eyeballing me to make sure I wasn't looking for a five finger discount. Not that the thought would come to mind. I'm a good boy.

You know I was peeping at that vintage Star Wars X Wing Fighter japanese import model kit. Would look great in the growing Luke Skywalker collection.

As would this

And this. These were kubricks made to look like Lego's.

80's toy's?

If Superheros is your thing

 

 

 

Oh No! Godzilla!

 

 

You will be mine Jack, oh yes. You will be mine.

 

 

I don't know whats worse to see, a mess of Smurfs

 

 

or a bunch of Monchhichi's. Monchhichi, Monchhichi. Oh so soft and cuddly. Don't judge me.

 

 

 

As you can see, Toy Tokyo has a little bit of anything for every collector out there. There was a bunch of other stuff I didn't post pics of, but I assure you that no matter what you collect, you will come away from this place drooling. So, if you wish to visit Toy Tokyo, it's at 91 Second Ave in New York City. They're website is toytokyo.com. If you go and have funny ideas about walking out with a bunch of stuff, let me know. I'll have the car running.