I have been, I am and I always shall be...

The Author

Well hello there and welcome to my first "Blog" post. When I decided to write this, I knew I had to decide whether or not I wanted to tell you about myself first or write about collecting. I went back and forth on this thought quite a bit until it hit me. I'll do both. To talk about myself without talking about my passions isn't really talking about me at all.

I'm sure I'll touch on many of the things I love in greater detail in future writings, but for now I'll just jump right in with a Paul primer so to speak. Here goes.

I was born in July of 1976. Right in the aftermath of this country's Bicentennial celebrations. I remember nothing about it. In fact my earliest memories are always foggy and sometimes influenced by the stories my mother always told me growing up. For example, the earliest stories I was told about myself involved my moms love of the 1967 Spider-Man cartoon. Apparently while pregnant with me she'd rock in the rocking chair and hum along to the now famous catchy theme song. Just as Spidey had, "Radioactive blood", there must have been something in our blood as I inherited a lifelong love of Spider-Man.

My oldest toy? a 1977 Spider-Man doll from the Mego company. Yes. My mom bought me this while I was one. I still have it. the seams repaired by Mom when they began to come apart. Mom's no seamstress, but she did her best, and after 35 years it's still holding together.

The Spidey referenced above.

What story came next? Now I guess it's time to "Put on makeup". "It's time to light the lights". Yes apparently I was crazy about the Muppets. Mom and Uncle Chip both fondly talk about me getting really close to the old tv set and when the large monsters came out I'd start backing away. The Muppet Show and Sesame Street needed toys and the Sesame Street Fisher Price Little People answered my need perfectly. I ADORED them and took them everywhere. I still have a picture of me sitting on a picnic table at my paternal grandparents with all of them lined up beside me.

Lucky me! I found the picture! Ignore the huge collar!

My Kermit Cake.

The next story they laugh at has to do with me playing in the kitchen while Mom was watching tv. As all parents know, when things get quiet it's time to see whats up. Mom found me standing on a chair at the gas stove melting my precious Muppets in a pot. I'm told I was in tears, crying that I'd just wanted to make them dinner. I was so distraught, my Mom and Dad had to go out the next day and find me replacements.

Not my originals but these are in my collection.

This would be a great time to mention how truly blessed I've always been to have such understanding parents. I'm not sure why they were so understanding, but I know others who weren't as fortunate as me. In fact this understanding really included most of my family.

At this point in the late 70's I discovered what every other kid of that time did. STAR. WARS. I loved them sure, but I have no big fond memory of those toys, and I find it interesting that Star Wars holds no big place in my collection.

Now we move to Kindergarten. Breakfast with Santa. After pancakes I got to go sit on the big guys lap. He asked me what I wanted, and my answer was simple and direct, MONSTERS, The Remco toy company had released a line of 3 and 3/4" figures of the classic Universal Monsters. Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula. The Mummy, The Phantom of the Opera and The Creature From The Black Lagoon. They also made a carrying case that opened up into a mad scientists lab playset.

My collection of Remco's Mini Monsters.

Christmas morning arrived and they were all there. It's a fond memory, Christmas of 1981 was a good one.

1984 brought The Transformers and Comic Books. The floodgates were open and I'd found my home. The 1980's rolled on. G.I. Joe. C.O.P.S. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Marvel's Secret Wars. DC's Super Powers Collection. it was like NERDVANA,

Some of my collection of Kenner's Super Powers line.

So there I was surrounded with so many great characters. Cartoons were great but comic books were total crack. Things were great right?

Well, not exactly. I didn't have any friends. No really. None. I don't relate this for sympathy, I tell this to you for understanding. See, I'm lucky to have many friends these days. Making friends is easy. Back then it was not. Back in those days super heroes were NOT cool. You couldn't go to Target and buy a Hulk shirt. There really weren't any. So when I discovered a blue t-shirt with The THING from the Fantastic Four at Comic Universe in my size I had to have it. Mom bought it for me. I proudly wore it to school. I knew the other kids would love the charging image of rocky Ben Grimm shouting, "It's Clobberin' Time!!". They didn't. In fact I never wore it to school again.

My heart broke a thousand times back then. School was truly a horrible experience. Whatever, it's all in the past. It made me who I am, and I really wouldn't change a thing. That being said, after 8 hours of hell, I arrived home to my Fortress Of Solitude. My room. The many long boxes of comics. The shelves of books and figures. I can still see the 2 Spider-Man posters. One McFarlane. One Romita Sr.. A John Byrne She-Hulk. A huge Marvel Universe poster with almost every hero on it.

Here's the McFarlane Spidey poster. I recently reaquired one of these!

This brings us to the real point. Before High School and my first real friends. Before Dawn and Stacie. Before Paul Martin. Before Mike, Christin, and Steve at Comic Universe. Before the Arby's Crew. Before Sarah at Papa John's. Before I grew into adulthood and went out and got my ass kicked repeatedly by the world. Before being repeatedly betrayed by people I thought were my friends, I had Oscar, Frankenstein, Fozzie, Spidey, Batman, Superman, etc. They were my friends when I had none, and I just won't turn my back on them because I love them,

There I said it. I love Plastic Man. I love Uncle Scrooge. I love Spider-Man. I love the Garbage Pail Kids. I love them for making my childhood a great one despite a less than fun time at Ridley Middle School.

I clearly love Scrooge McDuck.

 I also love my Mom for walking me and pushing my sister in her stroller all the way to Rios Pharmacy to buy me some Garbage Pail Kids. After the long trek she just decided to buy me an entire unopened box. THAT is a good memory.

Mom, Dad and my sister Dawn.

I love my Uncle Chip for listening to me talk about a newfound love for comics, Teaching me that it was the Sub-Mariner when I pronounced it Sub-Mareener. For taking me to his room and pulling out an old toolbox, He opened it up and inside were no tools. It was where he'd stashed his absolute favorite comics. The ones he wouldn't let my Grandmother throw away. His collection of Magnus Robot Fighters, only missing three issues. Now only missing one as I've added to the collection. As good as those were, the crown jewel and possibly my favorite possession, a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #14. The first appearance of The Green Goblin. Yes, THAT Green Goblin. Years later I stood in line to have the author, Stan Lee, yes THAT Stan Lee sign it, I'm only the second owner.

Bask in its greatness!

I collect things because they make me happy. I collect things because they remind me of innocent and magical times. I collect things because I feel loyal to the characters. It's a way to see and spend time with old friends again. I collect things because they remind me of the love I have for my Mom and Uncle who sparked a fire in me for these things that mean so much to me. I collect because I have to. I want to. I don't know how to stop and I really don't want to.

Our house is full of things we love. All my stuff and Dawn's horror stuff, Star Wars stuff and Scooby Doo stuff. I once said to our son, "Son, one day all of this will be yours." As soon as I had said it the enormity of that hit me and I added, "and I'm really sorry about that".

On the other hand, maybe he's heading down the right path..

I hope he finds some enjoyment in it, if not I'm sorry for the burden it'll be selling it all off. Except that Amazing Spider-Man #14. That had better stay in the family.

In closing I know I've dragged on interminably. If you actually stuck with this, you're either really bored, really curious, or a really loyal and loving friend. Either way I thank you.

Collect something. you might enjoy it! If all you ever collect is friends, much like me,
it'll be the best collection you can have.

The best collection I have. My true and loyal friends, Dawn, Jess, Devin, Awahl, JP, Dave, Rich, Tim, Stacie, Allie and Tara.

Paul D. Poole
November 11 2015