Click on the picture to see this Collection!! Name: Frank Patz Batista Location: New York City

1- What do you Collect?
I Collect many different things, mostly Action Figures. Star Wars, Marvel, DC, GiJoe, Movie Figures, Superman, and Japanese toys as well.

2- When and How did you start Collecting and what keeps you going?
I have always Collected Action Figures. My earliest memory is when I was very, very young and my grandfather gave me these small chrome “spacemen” figures. Ever since then I can not remember a time I haven’t had some type of figure in my hands.

3- Why do you Collect what you Collect?
As I said before, I don’t remember a time in my life where I was not Collecting some type of Action Figure. When everyone "grew up" and stoped playing with toys whether it be for school, girls, or work, I kept Collecting. I Collect them because I guess they make me feel like a kid again. There is nothing like opening a new figure for me, which is my favorite part of the hobby, it brings me back to 8 years old, sitting on my floor and the feeling of opening a new toy. I Collect because it is my Hobby. There are many bad habbits and addictions out there. I feel that this is a positive one.

4- When did you begin to display your Collection?
I always had them on my desk or kept most of my things in a box in my closet. Then one day my friend Gary (salacious cray) got this china cabinet display case from his father and put all his figures in it. It looked absolutely AMAZING!!! I loved it and this spawned a great desire for me to display my collection like a museum would.

5- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your Collection?
Well, I really have no “routine”. I just start with an empty case, add figures and slowly but surely it begins to take shape on its own. I usually know what I want to display on each level and take it from there. I am never 100% happy with the result, which is why I am always reorganizing.

6- Do you “Collect ‘em all”, or just the ones you like?
I only Collect figures that I find appealing. There are definitely certain lines that are my favorites. Like, Marvel Legends, Star Wars, Sideshow 12 inch Figures, GiJoe. But I don’t have the need to Collect them all. It all depends on a number of factors, do I know the character? How is the quality of the sculpt?

7- Do you have a favorite character that you Collect?
They are all my favorites. I only Collect the figures that I like. But if I had to pick one, I would have to say Superman. He is and always has been my favorite Superhero. Darth Vader is up there as well. So is the Hulk. I also love the GiJoe: A Real American Hero line. Can you see what I mean?

8- Which item in your Collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
My favorite has to be my ¾ inch Mego Hulk. This is the actual figure I had as a child. I kept it in pretty good shape considering it was in my pocket for many years, going everywhere with me.

9- How much do you spend a month on your Collection?
Well, that’s a good question. To tell you the truth, I really don’t know and I think I don’t want to know either. It varies I guess on what is available at the time. This January I have spent over $1500 on my Collection as the two Sideshow Collectible Premium format figures came in a few weeks apart. Those, along with my regulars, Marvel Legends, Dc Direct, and everything else I buy, I am sure adds up a lot.

10- Which item was the most difficult to obtain?
Well, I don’t really Collect to many vintage items, so everything is pretty easy to obtain. I guess the short packed figures are the tough ones for me. Also, I am trying to complete my Collection of the Sideshow James Bond Figures which I did not buy when they were first released, so that is quite a task at the moment.

11- What is the oldest item you own and the one with the most value?
Oldest item is the Mego Hulks, McDonalds Happy Land figures, and my Evil Knievel figures. Every piece in my Collection has the same value to me so I cant really answer what is the most valuable item.

12- What is your “Holy Grail”?
My Holy Grail is the Life Size Han Solo in Carbonite by Illusive Concepts. It is a great piece and I have wanted one for a long time. I will buy this one day, but I do not have anymore space for it….. AT THE MOMENT!

13- What inspires your to purchase an item to add to your Collection?
I just buy what I like. It’s a simple as that.

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?
I have tried in the past. But I am really amazed at what is out there. There are a lot of talented guys who are making some great figures and I think I will leave the customizing to them.

15- Where do you make most of your purchases from?
ToysRus and Target are my biggest places. Walmart, suncoast, and comic stores are also up there. Sideshow Collectibles has been taking a chunk of my money lately as well.

16- How does your partner (wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend) feel about your collection?
I am single at the moment! But I have never had a problem with women and my toys. But like everyone else, they are amazed the first time they see “The Room”.

17- Do you ever get hassled about being a toy collector?
Not really. I would not care anyway. Its better than being a drug addict.

18- What will happen to your collection after you've passed away?
I would like to give parts of it away to my Collector friends. I am also working on making a Collector Museum for Collectors who would like to have their Collections viewed even after they pass on.

19- Is your collection insured?
Not yet, but I certainly do recommend it.

20- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
I need a bigger Collection Room. Thats my first priority. I would also like to complete my Sideshow James Bond figures and I have a list of other things I am looking forward to acquiring.

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?
My shogun warriors, Mego figures, Big Jim and Bionic Man figures, all of my toys from the late 70’s. I had a box full of great old toys that my mother put in our basement. Living in a building, someone stole the box and I lost a great part of my childhood. But I am currently on a mission to Collect all of the toys I had as a child.

22- If you needed to raise cash quick, would you consider selling (some of) your collection? If so, what would you NEVER sell?
At one time I sold a bunch of early toy biz marvel figures and I regret it now, so I will never sell anything again.

23- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
Amazement. Shock. Then they say, “Your crazy”. But everyone leaves impressed.

24- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? could you tell us about that?
Being that I run this website and most of my friends work in the Comic Book industry, I try to attend ALL the big conventions. (San Diego Comic Con, Wizard World, Big Apple, Toy Fair, Chiller Theatre, etc) I am a convention whore. I really do love to go to them. It stems from my first convention, a Star Trek Con that I went to here in New York in the mid 80’s and I have never been able to shake the attraction. I can always find a good deal at them as well.

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.
I go on a toy run at least 2 or 3 times a week. I visit all the targets, ToyRus, and Malls in my area and sometimes even go into Long Island or New Jersey looking to score. There is no routine, I just go from store to store looking for anything I can find. I also go to Tokyo once a year on a “Toy Run” does that count?

26- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
Almost everything comes out of the packaging. (99%) Like I said before, it’s my favorite part of the hobby. Opening the packaging brings me back to 8.

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 think I will have a huge room to put my stuff in and but then I will have LOT more to display. I can buy A LOT of items in 10 years.

28- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection?
Do what you like, buy what you like. Open the packaging or keep it sealed. There is no right or wrong way to collect. Just display it. Dont keep it in boxes in your basement. Collect what makes you happy. And show your Collection on Eternalcollector.com!!