Click on the picture to see this Collection!! Name: Adam Arnold Location: Georgia, U.S.A.

1- What do you Collect?
Comic books, manga, DVDs, video games, action figures...a little bit of everything, really.

With action figures, a large portion of my collection is Batman action figures reaching from the Tim Burton Batman movie on through to the current The Batman figure offerings. As much as I like Batman, I’m a diehard Superman fan, so I’m definitely going to be breaking my bank account to collect all the merchandise coming out for Superman Returns.

I also am big in to anime and video games, so a lot of my figures also relate to those topics. I have bit of a Sailor Moon shrine in my room devoted to the dolls and wands Bandai and Irwin put out in the mid-90s here in the U.S. I’ve also got shelves with Dragon Ball Z, Final Fantasy, Evangelion and Gundam figures on them.

Aside from figures, the most obvious part of my collection is my library of DVDs, games and books. I call it a library because I put all my anime and manga in alphabetical order. It was just one of those necessary things. Just don’t ask me to give you a number for how many of each I have...that’s tough!

Oh, I also collect PEZ dispensers.

2- When and How did you start Collecting and what keeps you going?
I got started with action figures with Masters of the Universe and The Real Ghostbusters back in the 80s. I still have all those figures from when I was a kid, but I don’t have them on display currently. I just don’t have the room!

My passion for comic books dates back to the 80s also, but I didn’t seriously start collecting super-hero comics until 1992 when “The Death of Superman” arc came out. I was hooked after that.

Anime and manga date back to June 1997, which is when I first saw Sailor Moon on TV. It was like a drug and I started blowing every check I managed to get on VHS tapes of Tenchi Muyo!, El-Hazard and the likes. That progressed into DVD and manga and I started making a name for myself through that hobby. ^_^

3- Why do you Collect what you Collect?
Hmm...hard one. Maybe it’s because I like blowing money on stuff I can enjoy...or maybe it’s because I’m obsessive compulsive and gotta have it to have it. ^_^;

4- When did you begin to display your Collection?
Really, I always have in some form or another. I remember playing with my toys, but I kind of just stopped and went to just displaying them in unique poses on shelves. I was one of those kids that liked looking at my stuff as much as I did playing with it. So I knew how to treat my stuff so it’d last.

I do have a space problem, though. So I tend to only keep stuff in boxes if I really like the packaging or if the figure will get lost on a shelf. Like with Star Wars figures, I use them like I would wallpaper.

5- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your Collection?
The whole putting shelves on my walls deal came out of a need for a place to put all my figures where they were out of the way, but still visible. At my old house, my parents helped me to install a row of shelves on one of my walls about a foot down from my ceiling. I later added another shelf to keep my Dr. Who VHS collection.

When I moved in 1997, I basically installed tons and tons of made a conscious effort to use them to display almost every collectible I could. As time went on, I added more shelves to the point where I literally started getting rid of bulky furniture because it wasted too much room—room that I could put more stuff on!

6- Do you “Collect ‘em all”, or just the ones you like?
It depends on the series and what well the figures are made.

With Batman figures, I’ve gone to just buying the core Batman and then just focusing on buying the villains and whatever supporting cast shows up. I’m not a kid anymore...why do I need repainted figure of Batman in a costume he’d never ever appear in?

7- Do you have a favorite character that you Collect?
Yep, Batman and Superman related items. ^_^

8- Which item in your Collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
Aww...do I really have to call favorites? I really have no way of picking a single thing out...there’s just far too many. Eh heh.

9- How much do you spend a month on your Collection?
Too much, but as long as I’m happy...I don’t see the problem.

10- Which item was the most difficult to obtain?
Hmm...there have been a couple. I remember trying to find all the 5” Sailor Moon dolls back in 1997 and having the hardest time finding Sailor Mercury. I mean, I had all the other dolls from that run except Mercury. Then, I went on a trip with my mom and we stopped off at an antique store and I found that figure in someone’s booth. I was so happy that I basically just wandered around clutching the box in this really creepy, giddy daze.

11- What is the oldest item you own and the one with the most value?
Most of my stuff doesn’t stretch much farther back than 1981, but I do have some of the original Star Wars figures and vehicles. I also have a very large collection of He-Man and She-Ra figures and their vehicles. I can’t say I keep up with prices, but I’m sure my Eternia playset is worth something.

I also collect comic books, but I’ve only ever tried to collect books from the 70s on. Though, I did manage to collect every appearance of Rip Hunter...Time Master. I did a web site on him back when I was in high school and it took me a really long time...and a lot of eBaying to finally get his really early appearances like Showcase #20 from June, 1959.

I should probably also throw in the fact that I have one of those Madballs rip offs that Bonkers! gave away for sending in candy wrappers back in 80s. It’s weird, I’ve actually read online that people actually think that the “Ugly Ball” doesn’t actually exist. Well, it does...and I hear that’s reeeeeally rare. ^_-

12- What is your “Holy Grail”?
I let you know once I know once I’ve found out what my “Holy Grail” is, because I sure don’t have a clue yet!

13- What inspires you to purchase an item to add to your Collection?
Knowing it’ll look good on my shelf or on my wall. I get this great feeling of calm being surrounded by all these figures, so it helps me focus on my writing, actually.

14- Customizing figures and statues has become very big, have you ever purchased a custom figure or statue and have you ever tried making one?
No, I don’t really have the time for model building. I bought a Ritsuko garage kit (from Neon Genesis Evangelion) once and never got around to actually making it. That said, if I saw a custom figure or statue that I REALLY liked, then I’d consider buying it.

15- Where do you make most of your purchases from?
Here...there...everywhere. I really don’t discriminate when it comes to the stuff I buy. As most people know, if you see a new toy on the shelves...then you just need to buy it right then and there. The chances of you seeing it again for a while are slim to none.

That said, I do tend to stick to retail stores and conventions when it comes to buying action figures, if I can help it. If I’m truly desperate, then I’ll resort to buying figures online. I have no qualms with buying books, movies or games online, though. Half the time that’s the cheapest place to get them anyway.

16- How does your partner (wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend) feel about your collection?
Partner...? Eh heh...I’m still single...

My parents are supportive, though. Heck, my mom has a Barbie collection that’s out of this world. Guess collecting is in my genes...

17- Do you ever get hassled about being a toy collector
Nope. People tend to be left speechless.

18- What will happen to your collection after you've passed away?
No clue. I don’t really think that far ahead. ^_^;

19- Is your collection insured?
Nope, but I live with my parents still. [But not in their basement...we don’t have a basement!]

20- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
I can’t say that I have much missing from my collection. Right now, I’m focusing on being excited about all the stuff that has yet to come out.

21- What toy did you have as a kid that you most wish you had kept or, at least, kept in good condition for your collection?
I had some original Star Wars figures that went missing back in the early 90s that I so wish I still had.

22- If you needed to raise cash quick, would you consider selling (some of) your collection? If so, what would you NEVER sell? 
Sure, I’d do the 40 Year Old Virgin thing and get rich off selling off my collection if the situation presented itself. I think I’d be left a shell of a person because of it, because I’m very much a completionist, but I would sell stuff off if it came to that.

What would I never sell? I’d have to say my organs. I know they fetch some nice prices on the black market...but I’m kinda attached to them. ^_^;

23- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
I get a lot of, “Oh my god! I can’t believe you have that must stuff!” type of responses.

24- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? could you tell us about that?
Yeah, I try to hit at least one or two cons a year. In the past, I’ve gone to Anime Expo, San Diego Comic-Con, Anime Weekend Atlanta and some others. Since I’ve become really active in the industry side of things (I write a manga series called Aoi House and also edit manga), I tend to go to do the booth thing now, but I used to attend in a press capacity to do write-ups. Still, I always make it an attempt to buy plenty of books, DVDs and a few figures or plushies when the opportunity presents itself.

Then again, I remember buying laserdisc at Anime Expo back in 2002 and having a REALLY tough time getting my luggage packed so I could get on the plane without a problem. Always remember...don’t buy more than your luggage can hold!

25- Most collectors today go on what they call a toy run, do you participate in that as well? And what are your favorite spots? Tell us about your routine.Sure, I have my own little shopping rituals. It mostly relates to DVD buying, but I also hit the toy departments when I make my rounds. My runs are always on Tuesdays (when new DVDs come out) and Fridays (when stores tend to get books and other restocks). I hit places like Target, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy, Toy’s R Us and the mall. If I’m still up for it, then I tend to hit the arcade and play some Dance Dance Revolution or Pump It Up.

26- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays    sealed?
It depends on the packaging and how hard it was to get the figure. If I bought it at retail, then it tends to come out of the package. Stuff like Batman figures just look bad in the packages and I already have so many out of the packages...what is a few more out of the package going to hurt?

27- At what stage do you think your collection will be at 10 years from now, do you think you would have grown tired of it?
I can’t think that far ahead, but I already know my room is PACKED with stuff on nearly every surface. So, I guess that’s a bridge I’ll cross when I get to it.

28- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection
Turn back now! :-P

Seriously, though, if all you’re doing is worrying about how much something is worth or how much it will be worth...then you can’t really call yourself a collector. Collect what you like and enjoy what you collect. That’s all there is to it!