|
Sorry I had to miss last month, but I had some personal issues to work out, and now that those have been worked out, I'm back at full strength and ready to give you more than 100%.
Every time I hit the toy aisle I get nostalgic for the old days when toys were good and had all sorts of support. The first Multi-media toy line of the 1980's had to be GI Joe. Not only was it a toy line, but it had a Comic Book that ran for nearly 13 years, a spin off comic that lasted for 3 plus years and a cartoon show that had had a great run of success. Not sense Star Wars has a toy line enjoyed that much success. Now, Star Wars has another 3 movies to draw off inspiration for their toys and GI Joe has a new life from a new "Cartoon Series" on Fox Kids; although they seem to be focusing on the collector friendly action figures rather than the much cooler vehicles that you could have your figures pilot, drive or sail in your room, backyard or even bathtub.
When did toys become a collectors item, and will they ever stop being a collectors item? Granted, I'm nostalgic for the toys I grew up with in the 1980's and 90's, but to have to pay some obscene price for something new on the shelves really chaps me. The last toys I purchased were the five Star Wars OTC figures put out earlier this year that had the offer for the George Lucas in Stormtrooper outfit, and I managed to get them on E-Bay for what they would have cost me in the store plus sales tax. I had to pay shipping, but the money I paid in shipping saved me more than the amount in gas and wear and tear on my car that I would have spent just going from store to store looking for all five figures. I paid somewhere around $13 a figure for a pose able piece of plastic with maybe a weapon or helmet or both. The only thing that justified the price I paid was the nostalgia factor. Was it worth the $13 a figure, probably, but would I do it again, maybe not. If it was a line of nothing but R2-D2 and Luke Skywalker figures I would say yes, but I would go bargain shopping for the best deal. I love Star Wars, but to have to pay $13 for a Tuskin Raider/Sand Person was just a little too much to pay in hindsight.
Toys used to be fun, in my mind, before they became collector's items. You got to use your imagination and play with them how they were meant to be. We had a series of ponds in the house I used to live in, and I would pretend that Cobra had a single A.S.P. guarding the fountain from GI Joe, and GI Joe would only send a Sky Hawk to take the A.S.P. out and GI Joe would always win. What can I say, I was only nine at the time and I always knew GI Joe would win because they always did on the cartoon.
That's all for this month; if you have any interesting article ideas, send them my way and I'll see if I can make them into an article.
|