In Search of the "Holy Grail" of Hulk
A fanatic's story
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I had a friend, Meghan (who had a sweet innocent voice) call the number and ask for the doctor. Meghan spoke with his wife and told her about a surprise party that she was throwing a close friend (me) and it would be such an honor if she could have her husband sell her the stretch Hulk figure so she could give it to me as a present. This woman said that it would be her pleasure but she had to ask her husband about it first (the funny thing was that she even knew where the Hulk figure was located).
A few hours later the woman called Meghan back and told her that her husband said it would be fine, they just wanted to find out how much it was worth and then sell it as soon as they could. Step one of my plan was complete. I knew a girl calling with a good cause would be the right move because I would've been too anxious and possibly spoiling the deal. The doctor's wife called Meghan the next day and said that they would sell it for 300.00 dollars (that was such a steal), they would send it overnight free of charge.
Once again I sent the money out by Paypal to the doctor's account and called into work so I could be there in the morning when the package arrived. Finally the quest for my "Holy Grail" was complete. The next morning I waited and then waited and waited and waited. The package never came. I thought maybe it was just a delay and it was going to show up tomorrow. I called into work again and still no package was delivered. I couldn't believe it! Even after the 3rd day there was no package. After an entire week of waiting I was beginning to think I was cursed. I didn't know what to do so finally I had Meghan call the doctor again to see what had happened to the Hulk figure.
As it turned out the couple went away on a week long cruise and forgot to send it out. The lady felt terrible that she made such a mistake and promised to send it out the next day. Was this really going to be the end of this horrible 22 year journey?? I've waited so long and experienced so much heartache for this toy that I didn't bother to call into work. But when I got home later that day, there it was a beautiful cardboard package that contained the real "Holy Grail" for me.
My heart raced as I once again cried like a baby (for at least 10 minutes). I finally opened the package and saw the Mego Elastic Hulk figure, but to my dismay it was missing the box and the figure itself had leaked and was stuck in the styrofoam case to never be picked up...UGH!!! I was a little disappointed but how could I complain, I finally had the figure. I later found out that the doctor kept this toy in a non-heated wearhouse for years and the constant hot and cold weather destroyed its latex skin. I said to myself that if I was destined to have this toy and it had to be in this condition I would still grateful.
Within the next few years, things slowed down for me and my Marvel memorabilia compulsion (after everything that I've accumulated what was left for me to get). By the end of 2003 I stopped collecting comics on a monthly basis because they just didn't seem as fun as they used to be for me (I'll always believe that the 60's thru mid 80's were the greatest time for comics IMHO). I moved back to Waltham (it took three trips with a 14 foot U-haul to bring my collection home).
I eventually decided my collection was to big and it had to finally go (I was soooo tired of lugging it around). I decided to get a lot of money by selling it off to the highest bidder. Many big time comic and toy collectors came from all over the country to check out the collection and give me an offer. In the end I went with a company from New York that gave me a hefty fee none of the others could match (the heroes I've been dedicated to over the years finally gave me something back). Don't worry folks I did keep about 150 vintage pieces of my collection, especially the Mego and Denys Fisher Stretch Hulks (how could I let those go).
The moment that changed my life forever was when my beautiful daughter Bryn Isabella Cimino (the real "Holy Grail") was born on July 25th, of 2004. This was the person who was going to inherit my collection and hear all the crazy stories her daddy went through to get them. To tell you the truth it is an honor for me to give it to her eventually. I want her to understand how much these toys (especially the stretch Hulks) have meant to me.
But if Bryn was anything, she was my lady luck. During this time I met a friend over the internet named Tony who lived in Medina, New York. We hit it off so well because we both had a passion for the stretch figures, especially the stretch Hulks. Tony was a BIG TIME collector and wanted every stretch figure made. He would journey long and far to find them (He is now the biggest stretch collector in the world, check it out at www.stretcharmstrongworld.com.) Tony reminded me of me when I was in my collecting frenzy hayday. He would stop at nothing to get these toys and it didn't matter how much ca$h he had to spend. We spent literally hours on end talking on the phone about the magic of these figures and how they were so fun to play with as a kid. I loved helping him out with my connections and helping him locate some stretch figures.
One day in late Spring of 2005, Tony calls me up and said that he had located a guy named Mark from California who was a huge toy dealer that specialized in Mego toys. He had a complete collection of totally mint Mego Elastic figures and a loose Denys Fisher Hulk to sell from his own personal collection. We analyzed the pictures over and over to make sure this wasn't a scam (you wouldn't believe how many there are out there in the toy world). But this was legit!! OH MY GOD!! A perfectly mint Mego Elastic Hulk in a beautiful box and complete!! Mark told Tony that this Mego Hulk was the best conditioned figure of the set and the most beautiful Hulk he had ever seen in 16 years (and this was proven true)! I said to Tony that we had to get these NOW!! This was a once in a lifetime opportunity!! I made a deal with Tony that I would trade him a few things including my damaged Hulk (Tony can fix these stretch toys, no matter how damaged, like new and recreate the boxes too) for this perfect Hulk. Tony (being the great friend he is) said yes because he knew how much I wanted this toy that has eluded me for so long. He eventually closed the deal for some major dollars and cents and sent me the Hulk along the way! Could this really be the end to my journey???
Tony sent the Hulk to me with overnight shipping after he recieved it first. He just had to look at this Hulk and to shed a tear for its pure beauty and condition. Tony told me that it was one of the best stretch figures he had ever seen to date and was tempted to keep it for himself. I once again, called into work the next day and had my daughter stay home from daycare. If anything, Bryn was going to enjoy this day with me!!! She had too!!! When the packaged finally came I called Tony and thanked him for being such a good and loyal friend for giving my daughter and myself this moment. I hugged and kissed Bryn as she opened the cardboard package (I also took pictures). And soon there it was...the real deal, MINT in the box Mego Elastic Hulk!! It was a thing of beauty and as I wept like a baby (again), I just kept thinking of that day as a child in the CVS so long ago and seeing this toy for the first time on the top shelves. It was a special moment as I looked at Bryn and this toy. I now had the "Holy Grail" of my toys and the "Holy Grail" of my life. What a perfect ending to the journey.
Now I know most people will think this story is a little much. But for me, I can't wait to tell Bryn about it and one day she can look back on this story and say that even through daddy's extreme compulsiveness he had a ton of fun and enjoyed the magic of youth.
Amen.
- John "Mego Stretch Hulk" Cimino - March 2006, 2007
Glint of Hope Productions
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