Click on the picture to view this Collection Name: Joseph L. Szabo III Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1- What do you Collect?
I collect Comic Books, Marvel Figures (Marvel Legends, Marvel Legends Icons, Marvel Legends Masterworks, X-Men Classics, Spider-Man Classics) DC Comic Figures (JLA, Batman Figures, Superman Figures) Star Trek Figures and starships, McFarlane Toys (Mostly “Movie Maniacs”), Horror Figures, Masters of the Universe Figures, TMNT Figures, A few Star Wars Figures, DVD Box sets of my favorite TV shows and movies, Speculative Fiction Magazines (Analog, F&SF, Asimov, and Galaxy) and Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Posters.

2- When and How did you start Collecting and what keeps you going?
I have been collecting every since I was about four. However I used to open my toys back then. Now, I just leave the figures in the packages and wait for the prices to go up on them. The first toy I received as a child was a “Castle Greyskull” with a He-Man and Battle-Cat figure-since then I was hooked.

3- Why do you Collect what you Collect?
I collect solely for the look of the figure. To me, the figures are like works of art that an average person-with say ten bucks- can take home with them. Try going into a museum and asking for a Michelangelo sculpture for the same amount of money. I don’t think you’ll get a very pleasant response. Also I have a soft spot for Comic Books and Speculative Fiction figures.

4- When did you begin to display your Collection?
I began to display my collection about eight years ago. I thought, since I had all this cool stuff, why not just bring it out for all to see. Most of my friends get a kick out of it.

5- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your Collection?
I display them, pretty much, the same way the store shows them. However, for my opened toys, I got a lot of ideas from the people who display their stuff on this webpage. Thanks!

6- Do you “Collect ‘em all”, or just the ones you like?
I collect mostly the ones I like. So far there has not been a Marvel Figure or a DC Figure I did not like. But as for the McFarlane stuff, I usually used stick to the “Movie Manaics. I like the Spawn toys, but I am not a Spawn Fan, so I don’t collect those figures. I guess for some products I do collect them all, and for some I buy them just because I like them.

7- Do you have a favorite character that you Collect? 
Oh…I like Spider-Man. He is the one character I collect the most. However I do love Batman; but he is only comes in second to Spidy.

8- Which item in your Collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
Actually my favorite is an item I bought only a few weeks ago. It’s the Marvel Masterwork Series 1: Fantastic Four vs. The Mole Man. That toy, the first time I saw it on the Internet, I knew I wanted it.

9- How much do you spend a month on your Collection?
About eighty dollars on figures and eighty on comics.

10- Which item was the most difficult to obtain?
The most different one was actually a figure I just ordered but haven’t receiver yet. It’s a 40th Anniversary Star Trek Captain Kirk doll in his Chair. I hope to get it next week.    

11- What is the oldest item you own and the one with the most value?
My house recently burned down, so many of my older figures have gone to Valhalla; RIP. I did manage to save most of my stuff, but the ones I collected since I was a kid are gone. The oldest item I have to date is a “Gorgon” Silver Age comic about sixty bucks. I did have an original “Stay Puff Marshmallow Man” which I would kill to get back and I can’t find it anywhere locally. The most expensive figure I have right now is a Marvel Legends Series Five “Colossus”, worth about forty dollars.

12- What is your “Holy Grail”?
“Stay Puff Marshmallow Man”! God I want that toy!

13- What inspires your to purchase an item to add to your Collection?
The look. It’s as 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’m an admirer, not an artist. If I had the skills to make a figure I would, but I’m without talent when it comes to artwork.

15- Where do you make most of your purchases from?
Wal-Mart, Big K, Garage Sells, sometimes online-but only if it is a toy I can’t find anywhere else.

16- How does your partner (wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend) feel about your collection?
I am single at the moment. But if she truly loved me she would say it is great.

17- Do you ever get hassled about being a toy collector
Not really. Most people get a kick out of it.

18- What will happen to your collection after you've passed away?
It will be buried with me.

19- Is your collection insured?
After the fire, yes. Before the fire-I’m sorry to say-no.

20- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
I hope to get the rest of the Marvel Legends- I still have a few figures that I haven’t gotten around to getting. I would love a Snake Plissken “Movie Maniac”. And as I stated before a “Stay Puff Marshmallow Man”!

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?
That has to be my Castle Grayskull and every Masters of the Universe figure. I had them all, plus the mini comics.

22- If you needed to raise cash quick, would you consider selling (some of) your collection? If so, what would you NEVER sell? 
NEVER!!! I would never sell any of my figures. No matter how much the price or how in need of money I am. I’ll sell blood first.

23- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
“That’s pretty cool. I wish I could collected this kind of stuff.”

24- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? could you tell us about that?
I have never attended a conventions. Not because I don’t want to attend, its because I live in an area that really does have many conventions. However, if I acquire some large amount of money in the future, I will go to as many as I can. For then I truly will be in my natural habitat.

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 do this pretty much every time I leave the house and go to a shopping area. I head for the toy section like a Saturn Five Rocket.

26- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
I’ll leave everything in the package. The only things, which are open in my collection, are the toys I bought opened when they were purchased.

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?
If they are sealed, they should be mint. I just have to wipe the dust off every now and then.

28- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection.
Buy what you like and stick with it. Save some money from your paycheck-minus your average monthly bills stuff-and buy what you love.