Happy Independence Day From The House Of Swag!

OK, so this image is from a calendar that is 33 years old, but it's the closest I can find that celebrates our nation's birthday, geeky style.

Of course, when I think of patriotic superhero images, this is the image that always comes to mind.

The cover of Superman #14 from January 1942. This is one of those images that even if your not a Superman fan, your going to want this in your collection is someway shape or fashion. For me, I want the DC Direct statue from 2002.

So I would like to wish you all a Happy Independence Day. I hope you spend it with your families, eat a lot of BBQ, down a few adult beverages and kick back and relax with your favorite comics.

Excelsior!

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.

5 YouTube Channels Everyone Should Be Watching

OK, this might be considered a "lazy" blog post, but it's one that I have wanted to post for a while. See, like many of you, I am a YouTube junkie. I watch videos posted by comic book companies, sports card fanatics, Techie Geeks, autograph hounds, wrestling companies, old T.V. shows, Old T.V. commercials and from fellow toy geeks. Like most of you, I have my favorites that I try to watch on a daily basis or as they upload.

Now, just because the title says that you should be watching these videos, doesn't mean you will agree. I understand that everyone has a reason why he or she would watch a video or follow a particular channel. I just think that if your like me, you will enjoy these channels and subscribe to se new video content as they are uploaded.

So, without further ado, here are 5 YouTube channels you should take a peek at.

1-Stewmurray47

For my money, Stewart has one of the best and most well organized Superman collections on YouTube. His well articulated reviews  only showcase his love for his collection of the Man Of Steel and even though I don't collect Superman, I enjoy each video he uploads and I have not missed a review since I discovered his channel. If you have not visited his channel, I urge you to check out his video of his entire Superman collection. The video is over an hour long, but I daresay it's an hour that is well spent as he shows off each piece in his Superman collection. If I can have a Batman or Spider-Man collection half as cool as Stew's Superman collection, I would be a happy man.
Visit here: http://www.youtube.com/user/stewmurray47

2-Lamarr Wilson

When I first discovered Lamarr, I was trying to decide on a new cell phone. I ran across Lamarr's channel when I ran a search looking for reviews of the Galaxy Note 2, which I eventually wound up buying. Lamarr's review of the phone helped me decided on picking it up, but the real reason I followed his channel is the guy is hysterical. At the time I followed him, he was doing only Tech reviews, but now is uploading videos where he shares his thoughts on anything from laptops to video games to why cable sucks. I feel it's one of the more entertaining YouTube channels you will find.

Visit here: http://www.youtube.com/user/wilsontech1/featured

3-ShartimusPrime

Shartimus is one of those toy reviewers that I enjoy because not only does he review cool toys, but he makes his review videos fun to watch buy adding humor to his in depth reviews. Shartimus collects Transformers, Marvel Legends and has uploaded reviews of NECA, Hot Toys, Star Wars, Batman, Spider-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers figures. The guy knows his stuff and I try to watch each review before I decide on buying a figure.

Visit here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ShartimusPrime/featured

4-mycollection7000

This guy is a man after my own heart. This is someone who add to his collection the way I do. By scouring eBay, Target, Ross and Thrift Stores for deals. mycollection7000 is a collector from Hawaii and his collection has a little bit of everything in it from GI Joe to Michael Jordan to Hot Wheels to Rap CD's. His videos are haul videos as opposed to review videos, which is fine by me. I enjoy watching videos of what someone else is buying.

Visit here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mycollectionz7000

5-Nerd Nook

If you are into Kenner's Super Powers, than this is the channel for you. This channel has just about every figure and prototype from that line and plenty more. There has been vintage He-Man, Star Wars and other vintage figure reviews as well as some Loot Crate unboxings, Lego figures and some DC Kotobukiya New 52 statue reviews. This channel just passed 300 subscribers and I can see it getting close to a thousand sooner than later.

Visit Here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Richd1482/featured

Now, I'm sure you guys have your favorites that you like to watch and if you want to show them some love or if you have a channel you'd like me to check out, post a link bellow and I will be more than happy to watch a video or two, maybe more.

I really enjoy watching YouTube. Some of the YouTube'rs have some really creative, informative and fun to watch videos. It doesn't matter if you're into toys, movies, video games, makeup, cars, autographs or even model building there is something for everyone to watch. So get on your computer, log on and melt your mind watching opinions, reviews and how to videos.

Dark Knight Mez-Itz Pickup

Sometimes, It's worth waiting on picking up an item for your collection.

Case in point, I have been wanting to pick up the Dark Knight Rises Mez-Itz figure. I had seen it in Toys R Us all last year for 12.99. I would always think about picking it up, going as far as holding it in my hand before putting it back. Then I couldn't find anymore. One week it was there and the next, gone. 

I was kicking myself for not picking it up when I had the chance. I always seem to do that. I will see something that intrests me and not buy it for whatever reason and then never see it again. I figured I was doomed to picking it up off eBay for whatever the seller was asking plus shipping. I may have paid more for it then I would have had I picked it up at Toys R Us.

Funny how things work itself out.

I had decided to hit Barnes N Noble after work one day. I wanted to see if there was any books or comic trade paperbacks on clearance. What I did find on clearance shocked me.

The Mez-Itz Dark Knight figure. 

It had a 50% off sticker on it, so it was a no brainer for me to pick it up at 7.00. When I got to the register, the figure rang up at 5.00. I have never been more than happy to open my wallet and pay the guy behind the register and get out of dodge with my newest Batman figure. 

And here he is. Red Sticker and all.

On one side of the box, you have pictures of their 2 releases in this line, Batman and Bane.

Other side is the brand name, letting you know that you indeed bought a Mez-Itz figure.

The back has a cellophane window, displaying the back of the figure with the company website on top and the Dark Knight Rises logo on the bottom.

Here is Batman out of the box. Ta-da!

The figure has a very nice paint job. I like how the gray contrasts with the black to give it a real nice shading effect on the mask. He looks really Po'ed. Like I am when someone eats my nachos.

The coloring extends to his body. The artists also did a nice job with the utility belt as well. I really like the way they did the costume. Not a straight black and grey, but the artists highlighted the details of his costume that  really pop out on the figure.

I love that we get a cloth cape with this figure instead of a cape molded from plastic. I think it is a real nice touch that makes the figure even better.

On the bottom of one foot is the copyright info and on the other is the Mez-Itz logo molded onto the bottom of the foot.

I have to say I really like this figure and I would pick up more as I find them in stores. I have seen the blue and grey costume Batman that I am now yearning for as well as the Batmobile and Tumbler as well as mini two packs with Bane and Catwoman. If your not a Batman collector, fear not, I have seen Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern Mez-Itz figures. All look great and I may actually pick them up as well.

I think I really did well. I picked up a great looking Batman figure at more than half off the original price. He's going to look great with my other Batman figures and collectibles and I cannot wait to get that shelf up. I'm going to enjoy this purchase for a while.

Cross Another Item Off The Want List

I could watch this GIF for hours.

As you can probably tell by the GIF above, this is yet another Batman post. I'm also guess you also probably realized the addition has something to do with the 1966 Batman show. Well, you would be partly right on that one.

Back in 1966, due to the success of the T.V series, companies were releasing anything and everything with Batman's likeness on it. From lunchboxes to loafs of bread. From super duper large plastic Batman cowls to rings. Trading cards, ice cream, comics (Natch), orange and fruit punch drinks, toys of varying types. Anything and everything had Batman's likeness on it, which us collectors pay top dollar for these days on eBay and through various auctions. Thankfully, I didn't have to pay top dollar for this newest addition to the Batman wing of the House Of Swag.

That's right kiddies. Mikey's scored himself a 1966 Batman Soakie bottle. This is an item I had been wanting for quite sometime and I finally scored a pretty decent bottle, condition-wise for a fraction of what I have seen these go for previously.

Soakie bubble bath bottles have been around sing the 1950's, but their heyday was in the 1960's when they had licences to characters like Batman, Superman, The Beatles, Bugs Bunny, Disney, Universal Monsters among others. The bottle was shaped like the character and the head screwed off allowing you to pour the bubble bath. This was the work of a genius as the kid got a new toy, but parents got the kids to take their baths without any hassles from them. It was a win win situation. These bottles can now bring in some decent coin.

Thankfully, the one I purchased was in pretty decent condition. This bottle can probably use a warm cloth as there seems to be some dust on his face.

This the where the bottle has some problems. There is paint loss right under the cape and a bit as well as on his lower abdomen and leg. But the emblem is in perfect condition. Go figure.

If I knew nothing of this bottle, I could tell it was from 1966 as it says so right on the bottom.

The back of the head has some scratches, but that's about it. No paint loss on the back, which is terrific.

For a figure that is nearly 50 years old, I am very happy with the condition of this bottle, He is going to look great with the other vintage Batman merchandise I have been able to pick up this year. I can't wait until I am able to display everything.

There are still some stuff on my Batman want list, but it's great I was able to get this crossed of said want list and who knows? Maybe I can add another item before the year is out. But even if I don't I think I did pretty good this year.

For those who aren't familiar with Soakies, here is a vintage commercial selling them to the unsuspecting masses.

I love these vintage commercials.

What I've Been Reading: Crisis On Infinite Earths

OK, here's the truth...I have never read one of the great books of the 1980's. I had never read Crisis On Infinite Earths. To be honest, I can't explain why it took me so long to read it.

It's not like I can say I had given up on comics at that or any point in my life. Honestly, if it was not Spider-Man or Batman, I wasn't reading it (And before you all go saying that Batman is in this story, it's not a BATMAN story and he's really not in it all that much).

Yes, I was more involved in other things at that point: music, sports, acting, writing for my school paper, working at the Public Library had all taken up a big part of my life and I wasn't buying a lot of books at that point, but I do remember reading the issue where Super Girl died, (I think the spoiler alert as passed us by with this book being 28 years old), but I wasn't really impressed with the story, if you can believe that, so I never read the other issues. Now, 28 years after the issues have been released, I decide to finally take a dive and read the books.

Crisis was a 12 part series where DC simplified it's universe. Before Crisis, DC had multiple earths with heroes on each one. There was an Earth One Superman, who was the current hero, an Earth 2 Superman, which would be the older Golden Age Superman, an Earth 3, where the heroes on Earth One were villains with different names and Earth Prime, which was outside current continuity. Confused? So am I.

Any book that George Perez draws, I'm there. Perez is one of my all time favorite artists. Owning a Batman drawn sketch by Perez is one of my goals. I have always loved how he drew some of DC's iconic characters like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and The Flash. I even enjoyed Avengers Vs Justice League based solely on his art.

Marv Wolfman wrote the arch and as much as I liked his run on The New Teen Titans, I though Crisis confusing at some parts. So many things were going on at once at some parts and I really did not like while a huge fight was going on and there is a separate series of panels where Lyla is recording the series of events leading up to the present. I found it distracting. I wanted to continue reading about what was going on with The Spectre and the Anti-Monitor. Honestly, as the story went along, it got better and better and after reading it, I'm glad I did and I'm really glad DC simplified their universes for readers like me who mouth the words while they read.

One Of DC's Most Iconic Covers


I remember reading the Death Of Supergirl issue and while I was shocked that she was actually killed off, I didn't pick up the next issue and to be honest, I should have because if you thought Wolfman was done killing heroes off...

Think again. Of course, I should have been surprised that Barry Allen was killed off in the very next issue, but I already knew it was coming. Not because I saw this page...

But because I watched an episode of Comic Book Men and someone bought in the books to sell and Walt Flanagan gave away that little tidbit. I remember slapping my forehead when he told Ming that Barry Allen dies in this issue. Still, it was great read, even though I already knew the outcome.

Even though it took me 28 years to read the book and even though I found the story a bit rough to follow at times, I did think the story hit the points it had to make and gave me a couple of "Wow" moments, even if I knew what was going to happen, which is good for repeat readings. By the end of the book, I was enjoying the read and of course, George Perez's art. Also have to give it up to Dick Giordano, Jerry Ordway and Mike DeCarlo for the ink work they put in to make Perez's work look as great as it did.

Now I can cross this trade off my list and move on to the next one.

O.K. I Want This And That And That....

It's auction time for us members of the League Of Extra Ordinary Bloggers. A time where we wish each other good luck in adding new and glorious pieces to our collections and then figure out a way to blindside each other for the same piece. It's a war and we have our war paint and fatigues on as we zero in on the pieces we wish to add to our collections and make sure we don't give up our first born to get that piece. This is eBay on steroids and I'm about to drop a few elbows to get what I want. O.K, maybe it isn't that vicious, but you get the idea.

Hake's Americana and Collectibles is holding another one of their fantastic auctions and is sponsoring this week's topic. Here is the link to Auction #209 in case you would like to drool all over your keyboard like I have so many times:

http://www.hakes.com/browse.asp?Auction=209&ListID=0

Now, I have never participated in a Hake's auction. A lot of the stuff they have up for bid is a bit out of my price range, but I do love to browse through their inventory and just play make believe in my mind and pretend I was Ted DiBiase and make a mental note of what I would buy if I was loaded. Unfortunately, once Mr. Rogers enters the dream, I pretty much end it 'cause that's just plain creepy.

For this week's topic, we are to go on an imaginary shopping spree at Hake's current auction and list what we would buy if we had the funds. I decided to pick pieces for collections I collect or picked pieces to start a collection I have always wanted. In some cases, they were pieces I had or come across as a kid or pieces that I have always longed to own. What did I pick? Well, you my dear reader are pretty nosy, but I will show you anyway.

Let's start with 2 pieces I would love to own for my Batman collection:

This is an animated cell from one of my favorite episodes of Batman: The Animated Series. Entitled "Legends Of The Dark Knight", the episode follows 3 kids as they envision what The Batman is really like. One kid imagines the Caped Crusader as something right out of a Dick Sprang drawn comic book with a heroic voice and all. Another visualizes Batman to be like Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns, complete with mud fight with the Mutant Leader. I loved how the episode showed what Batman has looked like over the years and to add this piece to my Batman collection would be fantastic.

The Mego-head that I am would never be able to pass up the chance to be able to bid on and possibly own a boxed Batman Mego. The graphics on the box just pop out at you and the figure is mint and complete inside. This would be a great addition to the Batman shelf right next to the loose, not so mint Batman I do own.

I have never seen these before. Batman and Robin Jigglers from Fun Things. They're rubber figures with removable capes that you can hang on door knobs or other spots around the house. I'll just keep them carded and on my shelf, thank you. These pre-dated the Ben Cooper jigglers by about 7 years.

I didn't find much to add to my Luke Skywalker collection, but I did see this bad boy. As a kid, I had this and loved it. I would have lightsaber battles with the Darth Vader figure I owned, had him hang from his grappling hook or just sit on my desk looking cool as he was when he blew up the Death Star...ok, maybe he wasn't Han Solo cool, but he did shot at Stormtroopers, got into a cantina fight and blew up a couple of Tie Fighters. Makes him cool in my book.

For my Beatles Collection, I found this gem:

My vintage Beatles memorabilia is pretty limited and to be able to add this awesome lunchbox to my collection would instantly make it the crown jewel of my Beatles collection. This is a pretty expensive piece to own and right now its at a reasonable bid, although I don't expect it to be for much longer.

It even comes with the thermos. I want to say the picture has them in 1965. I think they wore suits similar to this at the famous Shea Stadium show on August 15th, 1965.

The last item I would bid on is a lot of DC Comics Hallmark statues, a couple of which would fit nicely in my Batman and budding Superman collection:

I simply love that statue of Batman and Robin running with the Batsignal displayed behind them. I have always wanted to add that statue to my collection, but either it's too pricey or I'm outbid on one. The Robin beside it is also a nice piece.

Can't go wrong with Wonder Woman, classic or modern. Love the vintage Wonder Woman piece.

I love this Superman statue which has him in that iconic pose from Superman issue #11 from 1941. A must have.

A very cool piece of Superman flying over the Daily Planet which would be a nice addition to the Superman Shelf. Plus, he is sporting a sweet mullet.

Speaking of Superman, I found a really cool piece for the Superman collection:

This tin piece was a toy that you would wind up and Superman would lift it up from the bottom and flip the tank over, then start over again.

I never got why Superman is wearing a yellow suit rather than the iconic blue uniform. I know I have seen an earlier version of him in the blue suit. Still, a vintage piece like this one would be a head turner in any Superman collection.

I would like to thank Hake's for allowing us use of the pictures from the auction. I have seen a ton of other pieces that I would love to have from Monkees to Green Hornet to even goodies for my baseball collection. I could go on and on and show off all the stuff I would love to own, but we all don't have hours to read the ramblings of a poor geek.

Now, go and bid, bid, bid!

Since you're still up, check out what my fellow League Members would bid on:

http://shezcrafti.com/a-bunch-of-awesome-crap-id-buy-from-hakes-if-i-wasnt-broke/

http://brandedinthe80s.com/11435/down-with-opp

http://gijigsaw.blogspot.com/2013/07/hakes-shopping-spree.html

http://mosespa.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/loeb-hakes-shopping-spree-redux.html

http://aeiouwhy.blogspot.com/2013/07/league-post-return-to-hakes.html

Tell them The Sexy Geek sent you. I'm sure they won't know what the hell you are talking about.