Click on the picture to view this Collection! Name:Luis Crespo Location:Los Angeles, California

1- What do you Collect?
Our collection consists of items such as Star Wars 12 inch dolls from all movies, Star Wars Action Fleet ships, Star Wars Unleashed, Master Replica’s mini lightsabers as well as FX lightsabers, and specific 3and half inch figures.  Other items in the collection are busts (both mini and larger) relating to the Uncanny X-Men (both heroes and villains) as well as Daredevil (both heroes and villains), also we have expanded to collecting statues as well (both mini and full sized) relating to the X-Men and Daredevil.  The collection also includes Disney Globes mainly pertaining to Princesses and a few others.  Bronze Age comics such as the original Uncanny X-Men, Daredevil, Excalibur, Wolverine, The New Mutants, X-Factor, Alpha Flight, and many number 1’s.

2- When and how did you start Collecting and what keeps you going?
Ignorantly, when I was around 5 years old through age 17 or so.  Knowledgeably, from age 29 to present.  Nostalgia got me started and my fiancé’s on-going support as well as having a full time job, has allowed me to keep going.  And of course, the obvious passion behind collecting.

3- Why do you Collect what you Collect?
Star Wars primarily because of the fact that growing up, my parents would always reward me when I did well in school with toys from the original trilogy and of course, not being old enough to understand the eventual value of them, I would trade them, break them, lose them,……basically do what every kid wants to do with them,….”play with them!”  So now that I’m old enough and a little wiser, and am certainly in a position where I can appreciate them as collectibles.  Marvel comics simply because my older brothers would pass them along to me after they were done with them.  I have kept quite a few, and have added some along the way.  And that has transferred over to busts and statues simply because of the appreciation I have for the craftsmanship artistry of the sculptures.  It’s great to be able to have a three dimensional look to what we were only able to see in comics.

4- When did you begin to display your Collection?
Almost immediately.  And basically when I realized that I needed to put up shelves because the collection was growing quickly.

5- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your Collection?
The inspiration comes from the size of the items as well as the amount of available space for them.  I don’t like to keep the items packaged, which is good thing considering we have limited space, but once unpackaged, I will try to set them up according to class, style, groups, sculptors and of course,….genres.

6- Do you “Collect ‘em all”, or just the ones you like?
Just the ones I like and can afford and have space for.

7- Do you have a favorite character that you Collect?
Yes.  It would be Wolverine from the Uncanny X-Men.  Growing up, he was always my favorite.

8- Which item in your Collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
Well, that’s a little unfair, as I imagine anyone who is asked this question might say….
But My Randy Bowen Storm Mini bust is high up there on the list because my fiancé got a great deal on it for me for the Holidays.  I would also say the my full sized, Elektra statue is pretty high up there and probably my 12 inch Chewbacca as it is a Custom made one and is the only one ever produced.  And lastly, my Sandtrooper Custom made bust up.  Once you see the pictures of them, you’ll understand why.

9- How much do you spend a month on your Collection?
Anywhere from $5 to $50.  Depending on what new items have come out.  It can go as high as $100

10- Which item was the most difficult to obtain?
The most difficult to obtain would have to be the Randy Bowen Storm mini bust as there was a bit of “drama” that went along with acquiring it.  And I would have to say that my prized possession would have to be my Randy Bowen blue Angel Mini bust as it was the VERY FIRST bust ever bought for me by my fiancé and perhaps my Master Replicas, Luke Skywalker green lightsaber as it was the first collectible I received that leaded me in the direction of seriously collecting other items.

11- What is the oldest item you own and the one with the most value?
The oldest item would have to be (in comic books): Daredevil #12 (Bronze age) as well as the X-Men #9 (Bronze Age), also I have the 1977 (original) Luke Skywalker as well as others from that original series (3 and half inch-carded figures).  I would say that the items that hold the greatest (financial value) would be my Bronze age comics, ranging from X-Men and Daredevil as well as a few "number 1's" and a few special issues when the artists were changed over, for example Dave Cokrum, then John Byrne (X-Men) and Frank Miller (Daredevil).  But my most valuable items (personal) would be my Randy Bowen, X-Men mini statues (6 total) which were purchased for me by my fiancé as a Christmas gift as well as the Randy Bowen Angel mini bust (blue), which again, was my very first bust.

12- What inspires your to purchase an item to add to your Collection?
Well, first off, if it is an item that is part of a “series” and I happen to have a few from that series, then I want to make sure that I’ve completed the series.  Particularly if it is connected to what I actually collect.  If an item is an exclusive, I may find myself getting that item as well, again, if it is connected to what I collect.  And lastly, if the item is fair in size so as to not take up too much room than I can actually allow.

13- 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 am a very big supporter of the arts and self expression and I consider it to be an art form as well as the ultimate form of flattery when someone feels confident enough in customizing off of someone else’s original idea(s).  I have purchased a custom12 inch Chewbacca that I am very proud of and I think that the Artist did a fantastic job (refer to pictures) as well as a custom Star Wars Sandtrooper bust up (refer to pictures) and I believe the artist did a fantastic job with this one as well.  I have never considered creating a custom item, but I have total and complete respect for their ideas.

14- Where do you make most of your purchases from?
Well, I think it’s safe to say that since I have actually opened an account with Ebay and have purchased at least 80-85% of my collection on Ebay, and that any and all of my friends and family who have questions about Ebay come to me,  that my lady would easily agree that I am a true Ebayholic.  Otherwise I will go to the retailer or a local store.

15- How does your partner (wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend) feel about your collection?
My fiancé is very supportive and has even expressed to me that she is happy that I share these different interests and that she is impressed at the level of respect and integrity I show my collection.  She is also happy with the fact that the items in which I collect are not "intrusive" or "inappropriate" in any way as we have both seen items that we would not care too much to have displayed in our home.

16- Do you ever get hassled about being a toy collector?
Only on days that end in "Y" But of course it's all out of fun, until they actually "see" the collection with their own eyes, and then they realize the seriousness.

17- What will happen to your collection after you've passed away?
Very, VERY good question.  Well, if I pass away before my fiancé, then she will have to continue with the collection or sell it depending on how she feels.  Or it can be sold to help family with expenses, etc.

18- Is your collection insured?
Yes.

19- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
Well more space is the first “real” answer. But it would have to be the Randy Bowen, Dark Phoenix mini statue, the Darth Vader Unleashed (with the removable helmet to reveal Anakin Skywalker), Randy Bowen Daredevil full sized statues (both red and yellow costumes), and the very first (blue) Star Wars Clone trooper (from Attack of the Clones in blue).

20- 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 suppose it would have to be the original "Stretch Armstrong" as well as the first 12 inch "G.I. Joe" as they were the two very first toys that I still have a childhood memory about.  I think I may have been 5 years old when I had them both and for the life of me, cannot remember any toys I may have had before then.  Therefore, they would be my choice.  And perhaps the Original (Very first) Optimus Prime Transformer.

21- If you needed to raise cash quick, would you consider selling (some of) your collection? If so, what would you NEVER sell? 
I would consider selling some of my items, but would NEVER sell ANY of my Marvel busts and statues.  Especially the much harder ones to obtain.

22- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
Well, there are a few..........
It’s either, “wow” or “this is amazing!” or “It looks like a museum,” but my favorite has to be,...., “How old are you again?”

23- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? Could you tell us about that?
Sure, I do.  I have attended the San Diego Comic Con, and have attended local monthly conventions in and around the Los Angeles area.  I also attend special events such as the recent FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) in Los Angeles where they held the Star Wars Trilogy Costume design exhibition.  Lots of fans attended the event and even attended dressed in costume.  (We didn’t, though), but enjoyed taking an array of photos in which we were even able to sit inside of the life sized X-Wing fighter.

24- 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 have been known to do that especially when new items are first coming out.  My favorite places to go are either the conventions or Target or Toys R’ Us.  And of course, some of the local “mom and pop” stores.  I don’t have a routine, it’s usually based on availability of funds…….”gotta pay rent first right?”

25- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
I really don’t.  Just about everything in my collection is out of the package, with the exception of a lot of my 3 and half inch Star Wars figures (refer to pictures), and that’s only because originally I thought it would look cool to have them “draped” over the side of the walls (again, refer to the pictures).  But honestly, we like to display ALL of our collection,……..not the boxes of the items of the collection.  I think that the movie “Toy Story 2” explained it best,…….(If you haven’t yet seen it,…..you should!)

26- 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 in 10 years time, the collection would have more than doubled based on the way in which I have been acquiring items as well as for the fact that manufacturers and companies have seen the “boom” in toys and collectibles.  Therefore, they have been producing more and more items that we just “want!”  Remember, we live in a “gotta have it!” type of society!  But in the end, you’ll always have to remember that you can’t have everything,……..because where will put it?
And “no” I will never grow tired of it.

27- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection?
Marry someone Rich!!!!!!  (Kidding, but not really!)
Seriously, I would say that you should really focus on what specifically it is that interests you and why???  After you’ve done that, realize that there will always be on-going themes closely related to what you have decided to collect, so if you don’t want to spend money like crazy, limit to certain themes in the collection.  For example, if you want to collect Star Wars items, do you want to collect every Star Wars item out there, or do you want to JUST collect, Lego Star Wars, or Just ships or even better, just the Republic ships (which again, will include all sizes from the larger ones to Action fleet, to micro machines, to lego to die cast, etc…) or if you collect busts, maybe just focusing on a specific theme like heroes only, or villains only or teams only, etc.  Either way, it’s gonna cost ya, so make sure you have a job and pay your rent first.  Otherwise, you won’t have a place to display them, right?