Best. Toy Fair. Ever.
The old Toy Fair rule is "go in without a plan". See, if you attend this city's annual toys, hobbies and collectibles fair with a set target, you're bound to walk away disappointed. Better to go along intending to enjoy yourself and buy whatever meets your fancy (and budget) than to comb the tables for that elusive Transformer, or doll, or comic book you need to complete a collection.
That said: rules were made to be broken.
My Toy Fair goal for 2010 was Darkwing, the Decepticon Powermaster. It was a good year for such a goal, too - I had book money to spend! I'd already decided to take $500 to the Fair, knowing this would be my last chance for a long, long while to spend without care. Seeing as Darkwing's ridiculously rare, and his Powermaster engine is desperately hard to find, I was prepared to go up to $150 should he be on a dealer's table. Any more just wouldn't be worth it.
stareyednight and I reached the Fair just before the 10am opening time. I thought that would put us near the front of the queue. Turns out everyone else had the same idea - we were at least 50 (if not 100) people back from the doors, and the line kept growing after we arrived. Ah well. The wait had no effect on our fun. Wandering a geek-stravaganza like this, with my wife... well, there are no words. I'm just a lucky guy.
We caught up with people we've not seen for ages (a bunch of fellow Transformers fans, a guy I went to uni with, thebagbunny, mistress_vixn and their family), saw a lot of cool stuff, and bought some truly amazing toys.
----------
My swag!
What you've got there is the SDCC exclusive Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks Seventh Doctor and Dalek two-pack; the weapons for G1 Mirage (I already had the figure); G1 Slugfest and Overkill; G1 Darkwing (like I said, rules were made to be broken); and Revenge of the Fallen Ironhide (who was actually picked up at Toys R Us after the Fair, but whatever). The cassette-cons are the only impulse buys in the whole bunch and, at $25 each, I just couldn't resist. Might have to chase down Beastbox and Squawktalk next.
The manic-depressive duo - together at last!
I know, I know: every time I say I've finished off my Transformers shelves, I think of something else. Darkwing's no different. He's a character I loved in the comics but, for some reason, always forget when I make grand pronouncements like "I own all the guys I liked as a kid" or "every story I've ever loved is on those shelves". Silly me. Anyway. I've had Dreadwing, on the left, since he was first released, so it's very cool to finish off the team. I love these guys, they're such moody losers.
Getting Darkwing today's actually a cool story. The dealer had two of the same toy: one with weapons but no engine, the other with the engine but no weapons. Said engine was wedged into the figure. "If you can get it out," he said, "you can mix-and-match so you get a complete toy." I called in the aforementioned Transfans, knowing at least one of them would be carrying a small jeweler's screwdriver (as do all obsessive toy collectors). Seconds later, the engine was free and I had myself a Darkwing. A dirty Darkwing in need of some TLC (well played with, was this guy), but a half hour of disassembling, cleaning and reassembling saw to that.
The price? $65. Ah, I loves me a bargain.
Their combined mode, Dreadwing, is awesome.
The way these guys merge is really neat... there's all sorts of gaps in Dreadwing's vehicle mode that Darkwing just slots right in to! Small wonder they're moody - they're clearly gay for one another and just can't express it because of Megatron's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Poor bastards.
The boys.
Damn, am I glad I've decided to collect the main movie-verse crew. Ironhide's the first toy for which I've hunted in years, and it's been a lot of fun. I'd hate to get back into doing it all the time, though (too draining and, ultimately, kind of pointless). Anyway. All I need now is Battle Blades Optimus Prime (which, in case you missed it, I'm reasonably eager to get my hands on).
This one's for amethystlight. Real love means never having to say "cover me".
Buoyed by Dalek reindeer, Davros Claus is coming to town.
He knows when you are sleeping, his vision is not impaired, he's going to exterminate you so run for goodness sake... ahem, sorry. Remember how I said, once before, I missed out on having Dalek toys as a kid? I think I'm well and truly making up for it, now. Truth to tell, I bought the set only because of the Seventh Doctor, but I won't say no to a nice Imperial Dalek as part of the package.
Attention, producers of Doctor Who: I CAN HAZ CROSSOVER NOW, PLZ? OK THX BAI.
I could have lived without the goofy look on Seven's face (c'mon, toy sculptors: by Remembrance he was being all sinister and advance-plotty and shit), but it was too sweet a find to pass up. Much as I love Ten, I'm hard-pressed to name him my favourite over Seven. It's said your first Doctor always remains "your" Doctor... I guess there's some truth to that, at least.
----------
As great as last year was, with the uber-cool Trypticon find and all, this Fair topped it. Not just in quantity of toys, nor in quality, but in terms of sheer fun.
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF
That said: rules were made to be broken.
My Toy Fair goal for 2010 was Darkwing, the Decepticon Powermaster. It was a good year for such a goal, too - I had book money to spend! I'd already decided to take $500 to the Fair, knowing this would be my last chance for a long, long while to spend without care. Seeing as Darkwing's ridiculously rare, and his Powermaster engine is desperately hard to find, I was prepared to go up to $150 should he be on a dealer's table. Any more just wouldn't be worth it.
stareyednight and I reached the Fair just before the 10am opening time. I thought that would put us near the front of the queue. Turns out everyone else had the same idea - we were at least 50 (if not 100) people back from the doors, and the line kept growing after we arrived. Ah well. The wait had no effect on our fun. Wandering a geek-stravaganza like this, with my wife... well, there are no words. I'm just a lucky guy.
We caught up with people we've not seen for ages (a bunch of fellow Transformers fans, a guy I went to uni with, thebagbunny, mistress_vixn and their family), saw a lot of cool stuff, and bought some truly amazing toys.
----------
My swag!
What you've got there is the SDCC exclusive Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks Seventh Doctor and Dalek two-pack; the weapons for G1 Mirage (I already had the figure); G1 Slugfest and Overkill; G1 Darkwing (like I said, rules were made to be broken); and Revenge of the Fallen Ironhide (who was actually picked up at Toys R Us after the Fair, but whatever). The cassette-cons are the only impulse buys in the whole bunch and, at $25 each, I just couldn't resist. Might have to chase down Beastbox and Squawktalk next.
The manic-depressive duo - together at last!
I know, I know: every time I say I've finished off my Transformers shelves, I think of something else. Darkwing's no different. He's a character I loved in the comics but, for some reason, always forget when I make grand pronouncements like "I own all the guys I liked as a kid" or "every story I've ever loved is on those shelves". Silly me. Anyway. I've had Dreadwing, on the left, since he was first released, so it's very cool to finish off the team. I love these guys, they're such moody losers.
Getting Darkwing today's actually a cool story. The dealer had two of the same toy: one with weapons but no engine, the other with the engine but no weapons. Said engine was wedged into the figure. "If you can get it out," he said, "you can mix-and-match so you get a complete toy." I called in the aforementioned Transfans, knowing at least one of them would be carrying a small jeweler's screwdriver (as do all obsessive toy collectors). Seconds later, the engine was free and I had myself a Darkwing. A dirty Darkwing in need of some TLC (well played with, was this guy), but a half hour of disassembling, cleaning and reassembling saw to that.
The price? $65. Ah, I loves me a bargain.
Their combined mode, Dreadwing, is awesome.
The way these guys merge is really neat... there's all sorts of gaps in Dreadwing's vehicle mode that Darkwing just slots right in to! Small wonder they're moody - they're clearly gay for one another and just can't express it because of Megatron's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Poor bastards.
The boys.
Damn, am I glad I've decided to collect the main movie-verse crew. Ironhide's the first toy for which I've hunted in years, and it's been a lot of fun. I'd hate to get back into doing it all the time, though (too draining and, ultimately, kind of pointless). Anyway. All I need now is Battle Blades Optimus Prime (which, in case you missed it, I'm reasonably eager to get my hands on).
This one's for amethystlight. Real love means never having to say "cover me".
Buoyed by Dalek reindeer, Davros Claus is coming to town.
He knows when you are sleeping, his vision is not impaired, he's going to exterminate you so run for goodness sake... ahem, sorry. Remember how I said, once before, I missed out on having Dalek toys as a kid? I think I'm well and truly making up for it, now. Truth to tell, I bought the set only because of the Seventh Doctor, but I won't say no to a nice Imperial Dalek as part of the package.
Attention, producers of Doctor Who: I CAN HAZ CROSSOVER NOW, PLZ? OK THX BAI.
I could have lived without the goofy look on Seven's face (c'mon, toy sculptors: by Remembrance he was being all sinister and advance-plotty and shit), but it was too sweet a find to pass up. Much as I love Ten, I'm hard-pressed to name him my favourite over Seven. It's said your first Doctor always remains "your" Doctor... I guess there's some truth to that, at least.
----------
As great as last year was, with the uber-cool Trypticon find and all, this Fair topped it. Not just in quantity of toys, nor in quality, but in terms of sheer fun.
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF