Christmas is fast-approaching, and this is the time of year when we dog-ear and circle items on page after page of the Sears wish list catalog mom brought home from the mall, right? Well, maybe that’s not how it works anymore, but I do fondly remember those days. Now, it’s a bunch of scrolling and clicking and BAM! there’s your list all neat and tidy.
Making a wish list as a collector is vital. Everyone knows you like Star Wars, so they buy you any piece of dreck the third world is able to produce. You wanted a Sideshow exclusive Bossk, but you get an Angry Bird Darth Vader instead. If you don’t make a list with VERY SPECIFIC details, you are probably going to be let down by those well-meaning family and friends.
I’ve pretty much relegated my wish list to books on Amazon. I love a good collector book, and they’re easy to buy. Buying a vintage Mego action figure, sealed on the card is not something for the novice. (“$300 for a toy!!! I can get a 300 Angry Birds for him for that price.”) So, for my family and friends, the wish list is simple and straightforward — books and DVDs all tidy and neat in the Amazon wishlist
Star Wars Black 6″ Boba Fett
Okay, I hate to admit it but I am getting sucked into action figures for the first time in 25 years. It started innocently enough, by picking up a cool-looking Darth Maul at Target. And then that R2 was really fun, so I had to have him. And those Sandtroopers, whoa. Stop! Now, there’s a Boba Fett figure out there. Of course, he can’t be found on any shelves, but ebay is clogged with them. I want one! I am itching to photograph these guys over the Christmas break. Oh, and I also need a Han Solo.
I really do enjoy the hunting and trading aspect of collecting, so rather than just going to Amazon or eBay, I’d rather connect with someone who found this guy in the store and got an extra. I know you’re out there. I’ve got toys to trade, let’s make a deal.
Hot Wheels
After a recent trip to Wal-Mart, I found a great selection of Hot Wheels vehicles and ended up with a dozen in my cart. I got home and put them in the drawer I have been using to store my other Hot Wheels cars, and realized that the drawer was full. How did this happen? When did I become a Hot Wheels collector?! How can a guy resist this things? They’re $0.97! What else can you buy for less than a dollar these days? I really do try to limit my selection to pop culture vehicles, but there are just so many great vehicles, an extra one usually finds its way home with me. Now, it’s getting bad, because I want older cars that are no longer on the shelf. and I want the variant cardbacks in addition to the loose cars. I’ve been trolling ebay for them. They’re still cheap, but shipping charges make them not so cheap.
On my list, I am adding Hot Wheels Batmobiles. Heck, I’ll even veer into Johnny Lightning, Ertl, Corgi, and any other diecast manufacturers. I’m no purist.
Batman and Robin 1966 Classics figures
I totally blame my friend Todd for this one. He told me how he had recently picked up the Batmobile from this series and said it was huge and amazing. Well, I had been avoiding it for the huge aspect — both the size and the price — but then I hit Toys R Us with a coupon in hand and there it was. I already have a couple of Batman figures from the line, but now I need a Robin. I don’t want to buy the two pack for Robin, but that Batmobile needs a sidekick.
One of the main reasons I wanted this Batmobile is because I wanted to see Boba Fett and Han cruising around in it. I am really digging this larger scale. If they start making vehicles for that SWB line, we’re all going to need to purchase storage units.
Damn, Dirty Apes
I love the monkeys — no, not THE Monkees — simians in cinema, King Kong, Dr. Zaius, Cornelius — those monkeys. It’s always fun to add a new ape to the collection, so if Santa put one of those under the tree, I would be really surprised!
12-cent comics
Here’s another item I can’t get enough of lately. I love the old comic covers with their beefy line art and bold colors. I don’t really care about the story inside, I just like to look at the covers and place them on the shelf among the other items in my collection. An old 12-cent Hulk cover beats anything done since the 80’s. I used to be a hardcore comic collector many, many years ago. Now I am more of an art collector, if that makes sense. I don’t buy these for their story lines, I buy them because I like the way the look. I can’t afford original cover art, I’m no condition-snob, and the character and subject matter is not even a priority to me — these things are simply fun to collect.
Help me Internet, you’re my only hope. I can’t trust my wife or kids to place any of these items under my tree this Christmas. if you have any of these items and have seen something here on the site that would make for a fun Christmas swap, let’s make some Christmas magic together!
(This week, the League of Extraordinary Bloggers is writing about their own Christmas lists, so be sure to check them out!)
Oh, and here’s my gift to you… a Christmas Giveaway!
The awesome folks of 80stees.com have offered up possibly the most amazing Christmas sweater ever produced to one lucky reader of this post. All you have to do is add a comment below to enter for a chance to win the He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Sweater. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you. This contest is open to people with U.S. addresses over the age of 18 only. I will stop taking entries on 11pm on December 12, 2013.
So, add a comment below (what’s on your Christmas list?), and you may be sporting this awesome sweater on Christmas morning. It would be a Christmas miracle!
UPDATE: The contest is closed. Congratulations to our winner: Michael Wirth!
Sweet Shirt!
Also right there with you on vintage comic covers.
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed these, but within the past few weeks, I have been noticing new 12 inch Star Wars figures, at all places, Walgreens. I have seen Darth Vader, a prequel Storm Trooper, and Anakin,. They seem pretty basic, but at only $6.99, you can’t beat that price. I haven’t bought one yet because I have been holding out for a Boba Fett. Has anyone else seen this line at their local drugstores? Do they have a Fett figure?
I guess I need to go to Walgreens today. 😉
Oh. My. Sweater.
I’d wear it in the summer too. Sweaty and stinky? Yes. Weird? Maybe.
Not weird at all.
My Christmas List is either too rare or too expensive for anyone I know to get me anything. lol You have the insane (and insanely expensive) vintage Star Wars figure case from FigureDisplay.com, as well as an operating vintage Tomytronic Bowling Wrist Watch (don’t ask, only child), and every missing vintage Star Wars figure that I need. I wouldn’t mind a complete Death Star Space Station or X-Wing either….
Speaking of Darth Vader figures. What I REALLY would like, but it doesn’t exist, is a 7 Foot Tall Darth Vader. Sure one of those multi-thousand dollar replicas are great, but they’ve got this cool but cheap 31″ version at Toys R Us. Why can’t they just expand that by a factor of 3?! I’ll pay $100 for that amazing monstrosity.
Oh and I too would love a 6″ Boba Fett. Thanks to the lovely army of scalpers across the nation, they are holding them all hostage on eBay like you said for over $30…and that’s loose. Hopefully next year the madness will go away and I can get one for $20. Why didn’t they do 6″ like this when I had the room for them? Now I’ll just have a lonely Luke and Boba.
Oh and that sweater is the bees knees. 😉
Great list! I remember that bowling watch! 😉
Great list! Have you seen the Funko Pop Batmobile? I have almost bought that She-Ra/He-Man Christmas sweater so many times but never pulled the trigger, but I love it so much.
I’ve seen it, but have so far avoided to pull of Funko toys (for the most part). It’s a great shirt, so maybe your lucky day will come soon! 😉
About the only thing I want for Christmas is the Ghostbusters light-up firehouse from Diamond.
That would look great in any Christmas village display!
Brian, I’m right there with you on the whole Hotwheels thing. I was NOT planning on becoming a collector… but then when I found out they were doing cars like the Ecto 1 and Mystery Machine? All bets were off. I prefer not to collect loose cars at all, and to instead keep them in their packaging on the wall, and I too only stick to the pop-culture cars… but that’s been enough to get 18+ actual Hotwheel brand cars in my cave taking up wallspace. And that’s not even counting the set of Toys R Us exclusive Monster 500 cars I decided I had to have a complete set of… And the Dracula Mater from the Pixar Cars line I just found at Target… OR the shelf of loose cars that have come from every property imaginable including Archie, the Jetsons, BAtman, Smurfs, Shirttalls, Fraggles, Sesame Street, and coming from sources such as fast food premiums, Applause and Hallmark.
I feel like I’m just sort of obsessive about it now.
Anyway… sign me up for that shirt!
A kindred spirit. 😉
Herbie! Too awesome seeing the Lovebug in Hot Wheel form now where is Speed Buggy and the Wacky Racers?
The list goes on and on, full of all the possibilities.
Okay, I guess those Christmas sweaters from 80stees are on my list… my husband and I got matching TMNT ones last year for his family’s dinner and they were a big hit. He picked up the He-Man and She-Ra one for himself as well. Looks like he’s getting me the Jem one this year, muaahaha! (not an entry into the contest since I’m a pesky Canadian!)
Sorry Lindsey, we’ll get you next time. 😉
This year I went with the eBay wish list. We’ll see!
Good luck! Unfortunately, I’m the only one around here who seems to know what eBay is.
My wish list now includes those sweater/sweatshirts and some more shelf space to display my favorite things!
Cross those fingers! 😉
Man, you’re not kidding about needing a detailed list! I often wind up with Mega Blocks and Best Lock wannabe LEGO sets because I just tell everyone I want LEGO. Sometimes I actually get a legit LEGO set, but I’m trying to get away from the new stuff and stick with the classic retired sets. All I want for Christmas this year is a LEGO Classic Pirates ship, any one of them. I NEED one for my bookshelf!
Speaking of needs, I need one of those MOTU sweaters! Our boiler is on the fritz and we’re freezing our butts off in Salt Lake City with below zero weather!
Megabloks — the scourge of all LEGO fans.
Sending some warm wishes your way!
Being a JW for 20 years and recently leaving….I would LOVE my first Christmas sweater! I have nothing of Christmas anything. Only a few DVDS now. Rudolph, Emmett Otter’s Jugband Christmas, and Christmas Carol with George C. Scott.
Well, this should certainly be the outfit you wear as you break into the holiday revelry!
I’m sitting here watching the He-Man She-Ra Christmas Special. And it’s so cold. A sweater would sure warm me up.
I’ve also recently found my way back into Star Wars figures. Though for the time being I’m limiting myself to Astromech Droids. They’re so many!
Who would turn down 12¢ comic books? They’re great. I’ve found myself getting in Marvels’ old Where Creatures Roam and Where Monsters Dwell recently. Can’t beat those Silver Age giant monster covers!
And as for vintage Christmas wishes, I recently remembered the old Tomy Mighty Men & Monster Maker set I had as a kid. Remember those? If not, you should check one out. So much fun!
Oh wow, I had to google that one and then an absolute nostalgia bomb went off. I loved those drawing kits as a kid. I think I had a super hero version but maybe it was the mighty men set. Whew, what a great memory. Thanks for that 😉
Santa’s bringing me a Castle Grayskull this Christmas, and it would make for some keen Christmas morning pics if I had this sweater!
It most certainly would. 😉
That’s an awesome sweatshirt!
Those sweaters are just like the He-Man Christmas Special. They are so wrong that they are so right!
My Christmas list for Santa is to bring me an original Faker as he is the only vintage MOTU figure I’m still chasing. But if Santa struggles with that one I would be more than happy with some shelving units to house my ever growing collection of retro toys in my office/man cave!
A collector can never have enough shelves. 😉