Click on the picture to view this Collection! Name: Robert Covarrubias Location: Ridgewood, New York

1- When did you start collecting Batman Toys?
I’ve been seriously collecting for about 4 years now.

2- When did you start displaying them?
Well it all started with a friend of mine who knew that Batman was a childhood hero of mine, he would usually buy me a Batman item as a gag gift, either for my birthday or Christmas. Usually that gift would end up on the top shelf of my closet. One day I was organizing my bedroom and I decided to make a shelf display with some of the Batman and Star Wars toys and movies that I had acquired throughout the years. I liked the finished product very much it was fun to look at so I decided to keep it. Later when I moved into my apartment I had an office that eventually doubled as my display room for my Batman collection. It started in a supply closet that I had purchased then spread throughout the room with the help of ebay of course.

3- Was your display inspired from anything or did you just create it from your imagination?
At the time I didn’t really know any one who really collected toys or who at least displayed it so I had no real idea as to how to do it. As my collection grew I just started experimenting and placing things on shelves and determining what looked good and what didn’t until I had a nice display going. Like anything in life it takes time to get the hang of something and know how to do it well. Today I see many collectors on line and I get some great ideas looking at their stuff.

4- So you do most of your purchasing through ebay?
Yeah I’m an ebayholic, I’ve learned to control myself though and also learned a lot about the value of things. Now when I go to a convention or see something in a store I know whether it’s worth purchasing the item there or just get it from ebay later. When I made the discovery that I could purchase all my childhood Batman toys from ebay, I was hooked, I’ve never looked back since.

5- Why Batman?
I grew up with Batman. My earliest, Memory was watching the 1966 reruns of The Adam West, Burt Ward Batman show and I absolutely loved it. My mom would Buy me the mego batman figures which included the villains, the batmobile, anything mego anything Batman. I love the costume and as I got older I started reading Batman comics and liked the character more because of what he represented. He had no superpowers which meant he had to work harder than any other superhero and that made him special to me. What’s not to like, he’s a ladies man, intelligent, a scientist, a detective and in great physical shape.

6- Are you a fan of the custom craze that is occurring on ebay, and have you made any?
Oh yeah, I feel that those people that can make a decent custom and then sell it for $500.00 have a great gift. I haven’t purchased one myself because I always get outbid and at the moment I can’t afford them. I tried my own custom of the Adam West version of Batman. I don’t think I could sell it for $500.00 but then again I wouldn’t sell my first custom piece either, that would be like selling my firstborn

7- What is your prized possession?
If I had to choose I would have to say my pictures, which I have framed, taken with Adam West, Burt Ward and Yvonne Craig at two conventions I attended. How many people can say that they’ve met their childhood heroes. It was great to meet them and an experience I will never forget.

8- Do you collect anything else besides Batman memorabilia?
Actually I do, I also have Marvel figures, Horror movie figures, transformers, Bruce Lee, but these I don’t display at the moment until I have my own house. The plan is to build a super display area probably in the basement so that all my friends and family can enjoy it. At the moment I give priority to my Batman collection.

9- Is your collection insured?
Not at the moment but I hope to be taking care of that soon, I read an article where this guy who collected toys for many years came home one day to find his house burnt down to the ground. He was devastated from the loss of all his priceless toys. He didn’t have anything insured so basically he lost everything and had to start from scratch. I would die if that happened to me which is why I need to get my collection insured in case anything happens.

10- What do people say when they see your collection?
It depends on the age, my oldest son is a teenager so when his friends see it, all you hear are oohs and aahs. The adults who don’t collect usually say in a soft voice “That’s nice” but most admire it as if they were in a museum and ask questions. Only one person has called me crazy and I haven’t seen him since.

11- You mentioned earlier that you also attend conventions for some of your purchases could you tell us about that?
Sure, I attend a few of them, the San Diego Comic Con so far is my favorite. followed by Chiller Con which they create two conventions per year. The biggest one is in October on Halloween. People come from all over and get dressed up in the best costumes, it’s really fun. People are there to have fun, to buy, trade or just see what new products are out in the market. I’ve met some great people who also collect toys and have come to realize that the toy collecting market is a serious business. San Francisco , Chicago and Japan are just a few of the states and countries that carry big conventions. I usually find things that I would normally get outbid for on ebay. It’s another place I go if I’m trying to find that hard to find item to add to my collection.

12- Most collectors now a days go on what they call a toy run, do you participate in that as well?
Oh yeah, whenever I can. I have a friend who knows all the spots and we usually set out early in the morning and see what stores like Target, Toys R Us, Kmart, and out of the way toy stores have in stock. It’s like treasure hunting because when you finally find that item that has eluded you for so long the overwhelming feeling of satisfaction can just make your day. I remember going on a toy run with my friend Frank one day and finding a Horizon Batman model that was way under priced in a vintage toy store in the village. It felt great to find this model that is no longer made and second for the best price you can imagine. I felt as if I was robbing the store.

13- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
Well it all depends on a couple of things, have I purchased doubles? Is the item old? Is the item new? or is it something that is limited? Usually the stuff that I have out of the box is because I bought it that way, was given to me like that or I just liked it so much that I decided to display it out of the box.

14- 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?
Never, I think that 10 years from now I will still be collecting. At that point I would have probably passes it on to my sons. Hopefully they will be as delighted to collect toys as I have been. My collection would probably be so big by then that I would have to build a special place for it at the house maybe an attachment to the house who knows.

15- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection?
Go to conventions, read the toy magazines they’re very informative, search the web for information and be smart about it, don’t go spending too much money on something that you can get for less later on. Too many beginners like myself at one time spend too much money on something because you think the opportunity will never come again. Believe me it will and you will see that same item two, three or four more times in the future and probably at a better price. Care for your toys and protect them with the proper casing.