In Christmas of 1977 I was 4 years old. I can remember my older brother Carlo opening up a present and getting this cool looking new toy called Stretch Armstrong. Then I would rip open one of my presents and it contained a creature called the Stretch Monster (Mr. Armstrong's arch-enemy). I loved how he felt and stretched, he was so much fun! These two toys left a big impression on me at this time because I really can't remember anything else that we got that day. As it turned out, these two toys didn't last very long. My older cousin Bill stretched Mr. Armstrong a tad to far and my uncle Salvator tied Mr. Monster a bit too tight (I remember crying to my father). I would soon go onto other toys, but I always remembered those stretch figures being very, very cool.

Most people when they hear “Mego Spider-man” think of the sarcastic star of “Twisted Toyfare Theatre” but would be surprised to know how many products Mego produced of the classic character.

How am I going to write this?

I've thought about this ever since it was even hinted it would happen in April 2006.

How does one have people over to his house that he has idolized and followed on the movie screen for years and not gush like a huge geek? How would I put the excitement I felt in my heart and bones onto a computer screen?

I've written and deleted this story 3 times in the last 2 months.

As I sit here now and think about it I get chills, the good kind of chills, Christmas morning when your 8 years old chills. It seems like a dream, I walk through my house and it will hit me like a brick.

I remember growing up a hyper kid always showered with toys at Christmas time, especially my Batman and Robin Megos with all the villains and vehicles to match. I played with them so much that they would eventually wear out and break, but no fear Mommy was near and all she had to do was go to the store and buy me another. If you were smart, today, those original figures are sitting in a glass case somewhere in your home. And God help you if you try to re-claim the whole collection, unless you’re a relative of Trump that probably wont happen. But there is another way to re-claim the old glory so that a new generation can enjoy the pleasures we still carry with us today and that’s when we call in Paul Clarke known to others as Dr. Mego. Paul Clarke isn’t really a doctor; he just plays one nights and weekends in his workshop.

My life always has had George Lucas's Star Wars intertwined with it, from my childhood to my current job. I feel a good part of my life has been shaped by a Georges galaxy far far away, I grew up knowing I wanted to help people, I wanted to be a Police Officer, sadly due to a medical condition I was unable to do this, so I make due catching shoplifters for a local store, its my small way of helping fight "evil" in this crazy world.

I was over at Heroes Club in San Francisco a couple of months ago visiting owner Robin Kwok (and of course purchasing mini figures) when he told me about a new 12" figure set that was being prototyped of Batman & Robin. I immediately thought about the latest movie "Batman Returns" and said: "Wait, Robin wasn't in Batman Returns". Robin (Kwok) replied quickly: "No, no, no. I'm talking about the Classic Batman and Robin from the 60's TV show."

March 25, 2005, 6-9pm, Waycross, Georgia, Okefenokee Golf Club:

The Pierce and Brantley County GOP PAC hosted an event at the local Golf Club that had as it's keynote speaker Nationally famous Ralph Reed, from Toccoa, Georgia, who has been named one of the top ten political newsmakers in the nation by Newsweek magazine, one of the twenty most influential leaders of his generation by Life magazine, and one of the 50 future leaders of America by Time magazine. As executive director of the Christian Coalition (1989-1997), he built one of nation's most effective grassroots organizations.

Regarded as one of the best Toy stores in New York City, Toy Tokyo, presents “Tag the System”. At “The Showroom NYC”. (117 second avenue NY, NY) Over 150 of the World's Leading Artists and Designers have come together to celebrate the New York City Subway Centennial with this outstanding exhibit. Each artist was given a 2 foot long plastic Subway car, manufactured by Drastic Plastic, and asked to lend his own creative vision and style to it.

Since 1999 The NY Line has decorated the sidewalks of Manhattan’s historic Ziegfeld Theater on West 54th Street to see the latest installment of the Star Wars saga. Fans come in droves from as far away as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to be a part of the phenomenon. But this isn’t just about the movie; the NY Line also raises money for the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation. With the final installment of the Star Wars saga in place, I can’t help but feel sorry for these great people because this may be the last time that they all gather together for a common purpose and not only do they show a lot of heart but great courage and support for what they love and believe in. Though they may be mocked by people who walk by or see them on TV, I can only say one thing, anyone who would dress up as their favorite movie character and stand on line for days or weeks at a time just to be the first to get a glimpse of something they love gets ALL of my respect.

Here’s a question for anyone who has collected something in their life, are you always looking for the best possible way to display it and show it off? Come on, I know you must have thought of it once. Well I’m of the belief that if you collect something then it is your duty to display it and show it off otherwise why collect it? At my home I am always searching for my collector’s realm, MY space, the place that I go to for peace and tranquility, much like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude.