A Very Merry BOBA FETT Season

I had to go a few thousand parsec from my part of the planet, but I was able to acquire the most coveted action figure in the galaxy. Ok, that may be a lot of Bantha Poodu, but this BLACK SERIES BOBA FETT is most certainly in demand among collectors.

 

And, I did have to travel out of state to get it.

 

Soon afterwards, I came across a garage sale that had this ...

 

The 1997 Don Post BOBA FETT helmet.

 

I was lucky when I acquired my first Star Wars Don Post helmet - a 1977 Darth Vader version found on top of someones recycling bin !

 

Since then, I've picked up a nice Clone Trooper helmet and several full scale weapons.

 

The Don Post head gear are the most respected and quality of the licensed Star Wars costumes. They are only superseded by custom made versions which can go into the thousands of dollars.

 

I got mine for considerably less.

 

Happy BOBA FETT celebration to everyone this season.

FX SHOW - Coolest Show On Earth

The 3-day Comic Book Convention known as FX or the FLORIDA XTRAVAGANZA took place this weekend in Orlando.

 

Although I don't attend as many shows as I used to, I went partly because I was contracted to produce the official poster. I did a limited edition, signed and numbered print of BATMAN and SNOW WHITE which I designed and pencilled.

FX Show Exclusive

 

Past FX Shows I got to appear with (the late) David Carradine (Kill Bill, Kung Fu), George Romero (Night of the Living Dead), and Robert Englund (Freddie Kruger).

 

The guests from this show that interested me were Joseph Gatt (Star Trek, Thor) and John Martino (The Godfather) among others. And then there is always the "swag" - the free stuff I get and offer to people after these shows.

From bottle openers to buttons ...

 

There were lots of excellent costumes, but when I am working behind my table, I cannot always get pictures. Its nice when they ask to take a picture of my work or with them.

Golden Age heroes and heroines

The Shadow

Orange Lantern Corps (Green Lantern story arc)

 

One of the items I enjoy getting are trading cards from the 501st Legion and other Star Wars garrisons. Here are just 4 of the 10 cards I acquired from this show.

 

Being that Orlando has Disney (which now owns Star Wars) and they host Star Wars weekends, there will always be solid material exclusive to our area. (if anyone want to purchase any of the exclusives from this show, shoot me an email)

 

That's all for today. More loot next blog.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY - Still Cool

There are still some things in America that are advertised as FREE - and are actually FREE. No bait, no switch, no catch. FREE.

 

FREE Comic Book Day (FCBD) is just that. Go to any participating comic book shop on the first Saturday in May, and pick up a brand smackin' new comic book. If you have not read one in years, try it. totally, cool.

 

 

 

The smell of freshly printed, color covered, super studded choices are great. The idea behind this promotion was to get people back into the comic shops. These days, with Internet, mega-cons and mail order comics, the loss of the local store is like an endangered species.

 

I went to such a shop, about 20 minutes down the coast line in a sleepy beach town. They had two tables of titles to choose from. While many shops have put a limit on how many free comic you can take (usually 5), it sometimes becomes hard to just pick a few.

 

I selected some of my favorite titles - a Special Superman issue, Star Wars (of course) and Batman (of course).

 

I am usually attracted to the cover on these, so my picks are influenced by the art work. There were lots of goofy cartoon, from Ren & Stimpy to anime and several unknown titles.

 

Free Comic Book Day offers the opportunity to sample new comics and catch up on old ones.

 

There have been some exclusives made for the event - notably, a boxed HERO CLIX mini figure. This year it was an IRON MAN 3 issue.

 

 

While in past years these were given away free, some stores have chosen to use these FREE giveaways as incentives to solicit their store. This local shop was asking patrons to buy $10 worth of merchandise to get the Iron Man figure.

 

While, I was disappointed, I totally understand. Its about survival for these comic shops which are losing out to Wal-Mart and large book sellers.

 

One of the most anticipated exclusives of the day was The WALKING DEAD comic book. I got one. Mission accomplished.

 

 

I've noticed that some of the past FCBD issues are now listed in the comic price guide. Most are listed at $2 to $3 each (about the current day cover price of a comic), however, some of the rarer titles have made it to the $30 summit ! One example is Scott Pilgrim from a few year back. It was made into a movie and poof - its gold for free.

 

I am looking forward to reading these comics, and looking through the art work.

 

 

This Falcon is Out of This World

So what has been keeping me from blogging about cards the last few weeks ? Well, besides yard work, building projects, end of the season MLS Play-offs and Uefa Champions League in full swing ? Just this ...

My $6 rummage sale purchase of a LEGO Millenium Falcon !

After 4 hours of construction I have a complete and mint fresh space craft from  the STAR WARS universe. While the box looked worse for wear, all the parts were there AND it included the original 5 minifigs ...

Pricess Leia (Hoth outfit), Han Solo (Hoth outfit), Chewbacca, C-3PO and a bonus Snow Trooper with cannon.

Also mixed in the box was a GENOSIAN FIGHTER plus a Genosian Pilot !

Legos are one of the best toys ever made. They also are one of the most creative activities for both children and adults. Many architects and builders are preoccupied with designing and expermenting with the colorful blocks.

My wife, who is also a psychologist, tells me many therapist use Legos in their play therepy sessions. I think I'm going to be in therapy for a long time.  

The Force of STAR WARS; Big Money Moves

I don't know what it is about STAR WARS, but I cannot pass up on the stuff made for the iconic films. I need a board game like I need another hole in the head. But when "The FORCE" compels you to buy  something, you do it.

I found this boxed STAR WARS Monopoly game with classic artwork on the front.  Being the card collector that I am, I was pleased not only with the Property cards inside - Dagobah Swamp land, A Moisture Farm and X-Wing fighters ... to these ...

the replacement for the traditional Community Chest and Chance cards - now replaced with Rebel and Empire cards. 

The flip sides ...

The artwork, again, is pretty cool. Princess Leia (above) ...

the wise Jedi Master, Yoda ...

Darth Vader's Tie Fighter ...

and the Dark Lord himself - Darth Vader.

The entire deck is full of characters and creatures from the original 3 films. Even the money is in "credits" not dollars. 

But what really sold me was not the cards or the artwork. 

It was the inclusion of these great pewter figures ...

I have seen these miniatures go for about $3 to $5 each. They are well sculpted and supposedly only available with this boxed game. The figures are

* Grand Moff Tarkin *

* Luke Skywalker *

* Darth Vader *

* Lando Calrissian *

* Obi-Wan Kinobi *

* Fighter Pilot *

* Sand People *

* R2-D2 * 

I've already played a game with the wife. I made her say "credits" instead of dollars throughout the entire game.  She made me pay by beating the Mandalorian armor off me !

Considering I only paid 65 credits ... er, I mean 65 cents, it was a classic bargain.

BIG SUMMER MOVES

Lots and lots of transfer of players this summer. One of the biggest is the move of Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic from AC Milan to PSG (Paris Saint-Germain). PSG has been on tour in the USA including a match at Yankee Stadium. 

2012 Futera Unique - Ibrahimovic (limited edition to 395)

"Ibra" will join the club for the game against DC United.

The big Swede scored a spectacular goal at Euro 2012. He's come a long way from the fresh face kid that debuted back in the 2004 Euros ...

2004 Panini Euro sticker 

MLS has been busy with New York signing Australian World Cup player Tim Cahill from Everton. Vancouver traded Sebastian Le Toux also to New York, while signing Rangers and Scotland star, Kenny Miller.  As previously mentioned, Stoke City sign American Geoff Cameron  from Houston.

Weekend Mail and Garage Sale Pick-ups ...

I have always been fascinated by the idea of tobacco cards. Having grown up in the age of bubble gum trading cards, I guess I wonder about those the same way today's kids think about modern cards. Today's packs are sold without any additional product. This is quite different from the era when cards were just the byproduct of the item to be sold.

I had the chance to get this complete cigarette box of "TURF" sliders. They were named as such because you could slide open the box to retrieve the cigarettes. 

The 1953 "TURF" Cigarettes series of 50 British Aircraft were meant to be cut out after the box was empty. These can sometimes be found through online auctions. I found this one for .99 cents and free shipping.

My garage sale bargain was this complete set of Top Trumphs 2009 STAR WARS: Clone Wars card game.

Tops Trumphs is a British manufactorer that has produced these card games since the 1970's.

The range of subjects run from entertainment and sports to science and history. They are well known around the world and you can visit their web site Planet Tops Trumphs here. My cost - .25 cents.

Collecting Oscar Winners on Modern Cards

With the long history of the Academy Awards (since 1927) there have been many sets that have featured Hollywood's feted actors. There are several excellent British tobacco sets that feature many a great thespians.

But for modern collectors, there are some nice cards that depict Oscar Winning actors. Although very few exhibit the actors in their Oscar role, they are classic performances in some cases.

None is a better example than Sir Alec Guinness immortalizing the character of Obi Wan Kenobi in STAR WARS.

The 1970's Topps Partridge Family set included Oscar Winner - Shirley Jones.

For many autograph collectors, there is a challenging (and expensive) array of Oscar Winners on various autograph cards. some are less flattering such as Charlton Heston in the remake of Planet of The Apes. They are none-the-less valuable as Hollywood signatures and in a few cases, gone for good.

The Batman series of cards have an extraordinary run of famous autographs. Not only does this include California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, but a nice handful of Oscar Winners including - Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, George Clooney and Micheal Caine.

One of the select (that I know of) who appears in more than one autograph set, is Dame Judi Dench. She signed cards in the forgettable able sci-fi movie Riddick - and in the James Bond set as well.

Another classic series that offers a surprisingly strong Oscar Winning alumni is the X-MEN set that includes Halle Berry and Anna Paquin.

Berry is one of the other actors that have autographs in additional sets - appearing in the James Bond series too.

Others worthy of mention are autographs by Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider and Kim Bassinger in Batman. Non-autograph card appearances of note include Nicole Kidman and Jack Nicholson (Batman), Jessica Lange (King Kong), Sally Field (The Flying Nun) and Gene Hackman (Superman).

3rd Blog Bat Around: CARD WARS

The 3rd Blog Bat Around, hosted on this occasion by Fielder's Choice , is to expound upon the future of card collecting. Well, in a phrase ... in a collecting galaxy far, far away ...

I hope to impart some sensibility by seeking a person of wisdom ...

While it would be ideal that the card collecting universe be a peaceful and harmonious place, the reality is that there is and always will be an evil empire ...Er, um ... no, not that EMPIRE ...
ahhh, yes ... the very topp EMPIRE and the one in the upper deck of the chancellery ...
... and the one we count on for other aspects of the hobby - like the Perenial Systematic Active grading companies who decide the value of some cards ...

... yes, to rule the EMPIRE that produces the cards and want to ... produce ALL the cards -

and make us prisoners of the hobby ...

We need a Champions who will look out for us ... we, the collectors ...

... some one to help us ... guide us ... rescue us ...

... someone to strike back ... with a bat ... or a blog ... an all around saviour ...

... after all, if there is no future ... what good is the past ... ?

As a historian I have seen many phenomena come full circle. Card collecting is not different. It began with tobacco cards - surely not meant for children (although with the tobacco companies you never know). The product was first marketed toward adults - primarily men.

And so it seems it has progressed toward a return to using tobacco brand and style - back to the men (no offense ladies) who spend money on this hobby ... cum business ... cum fiasco.

If I could dictate a doctrine to govern the next ten years of card collecting - I would suggest the following draconian laws:

1. Limit all companies to two (2) sets per sport each year.

2. Limit the gimmicks - autographs, game-used, or any other inserts to one per set. - One of the sets may contain either parallels, autograph, numbered or memorabilia, but only one.

3. If a company makes two sets of the sport, one can be a full size set, the other must be less than 200 cards in total number.

4. Only two companies - maximum - can produce any one sport. So, there would be only 4 baseball sets per years - 4 football sets, 4 hockey, etc. - period !

5. No player should have more than 4 cards made in a year - unless there is a historic or monumental record to feature.

6. Card sets may have subsets - ones that inform, educate and entertain - (examples in the recent Allen & Ginter series may serve as nice templates.) These may reflect trends, either historical or manufacturing.

I hope that these ideas from ALL the bloggers will have some sort of influence over the future of card collecting. Thus the piles of cards remain intrinsically more than three peas in a pod ...