This week’s League topic is a show and tell event, where you’re asked to show off your prized possession. Many of my fellow bloggers have already chimed in with sentimental objects that tug at your heart strings and ooze nostalgia… I’m not going to do that. Believe me, It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s because I can’t — and I am extremely jealous.
I grew up as an army brat and we moved around a lot. Every year or two, we would pull up stakes and move to another state or country, and as a result, a lot of my toys seemed to have been left behind, rather than packed and loaded on the moving truck. I just never grew overly attached to objects or places, and to this day, I’m perfectly fine with buying something, enjoying it, and then selling it to buy something else to enjoy for a while.
However, every now and then, an item enters the collection, and I know that it will never leave. So, in response to this week’s topic, I searched around for the item I prize highly enough to risk life and limb to save. My first thought was to save something unique–something that no one else in the world would have. It might have been an original comic art page featuring Spider-Man, or the original art files for the Incredible Hulk’s Rub’n’Play set, but honestly, the winner would have to be this painting by Christopher Tupa:
Chris Tupa is a fellow League of Extraordinary Bloggers member and is one of my favorite pop culture artists. I wrote a blog post about his work a couple of years ago, and totally unsolicited, he painted this picture for me, knowing my love for bubble-headed spacemen. This painting just brings a smile to my face every time I see it.
Being a collector of pop culture collectibles, most of the items I collect were mass-produced and are readily available on eBay. I will always buy several smaller items over a single big ticket item, so my collection primarily consists of “dealer smalls” — nothing worth saving in a life-threatening situation, but there is one item that I recently acquired that I would definitely run through a burning building to save…
(You knew Kong was going to show up eventually, right?)
This 1964 Aurora King Kong model kit box is as close to perfection as you can get, in my mind — I just love that image, and the typography. I have a few of the models, including this nicely-painted one, but the art on that box just thrills me to no end. So, when the Mayan prediction comes true and the 2012 Apocalypse starts happening, I’ll be tucking King Kong under my arm and striking the Heisman pose, as I leap over the chasms opening in the earth beneath my feet.
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And in case my wife is reading this, the kids are safe, and the photo albums are already in the trunk.
Wow. I’m stunned. I didn’t expect that answer at all!
I’ve been doing some network training all this week and some last week so I had to skip the past two League posts(which were great one’s too, I had some fun answers for those) so I just now got to get caught up on the good stuff.
Man, you actually got me all-teary-eyed.
Hey Chris, I really love what you do and the fact that you took the time to paint that picture and send it to me really was amazing. It’s one thing to go to a con and ask for a sketch or an autograph, but another thing entirely when someone does something for you out of kindness. Thanks again!
You definitely earned a Cool Kids Club Card with that great work of art 🙂
This is a fantastic post, Brian. Now I need to get on Chris’s good side, so I can get some original artwork from him!
Thanks, Fong! Chris does amazing work. Be sure to check out his web site if you haven’t done so already.
Oh, I have… I’m going to have to contact him shortly. Oh, and, get ready for my first League post.
Great news! Something tells me your prized possession is going to be pretty special. 😉
I can totally see why Chris’s very special painting would keep you smiling 🙂
😀 😀
Awesome Model :D. I just picked one up at a Flea market and am in the middle of putting it together as we speak.
That’s great! I know there are model collectors who keep the pieces on the sprues in the box, but I’m with you–build that thing!
That’s an awesome piece of art. I need to check Chris’s page as well.
That Kong is sweet as well Brian. Would love to get my hands on the Aurora Batman and Spider-Man ones from the 60’s. I love, love the art work on the boxes.
I was lucky enough to get a Spider-Man in the same haul, but like you, I’m still looking for a Batman. You just can’t beat the art on those old boxes.