by Jeff Cope

"Gotta catch 'em all"

Not only is that the slogan for Pokemon, but it's the rally cry, the mantra, the first rule of law for collectors. Now, this should go without saying, but collectors are far from limited to the world of toys. There are stamp collectors, coin collectors, book collectors�you name it. There are people who collect by subject matter, like horses, or Volkswagons, or their favorite rock band.

You name it, someone collects it.

The dictionary definies collecting as "to bring together in a group or mass; gather" or "to accumulate as a hobby or for study". Of course, a collector is defined as "one who collects"

Accumulate. That's a good word. In my many years of collecting I have accumulated quite a bit. I really don't even want to know how much. I think the answer might frighten me, and all who know me. Ignorance is, as the saying goes, bliss. Really.

I've often wondered about what drives me, and others, to collect. I've joked with my friends about being obssessive/compulsive but that actually is a serious disorder and nothing to joke about. [FYI, obsessive/compulsive disorder or OCD is defined as: "an anxiety disorder characterized by an inability to resist or stop continuous, abnormal thoughts or fears combined with ritualistic, repetitive, and involuntary defense behavior"] I do however get somewhat obsessive about things, and do feel something of a compulsion to collect.

I've gotten better over time, especially in recent years. I used to collect on a whim. I had my certain lines that I was dedicated to (Star Wars, Batman, etc) but would pick up other stuff here and there as it struck my fancy. Sadly, a lot of those items were purchased when I couldn't find what I was really looking for and just didn't want to leave the store empty handed. Sad, I know. I've felt more pangs of buyers regret over those purchases than I have paying a larger sum for something I really wanted, like the Canadian mail-away exclusive Emperor Dark figure from Coleco's Starcom line.

Now, I am far more discerning in what I collect. I pass on far more than I ever buy. But, when something gets ahold of me�.it really gets ahold of me. That's where the obsession kicks in.

Let's take Gundam for example. I've heard of Gundam for years. Never showed even a passing interest in it. I'm not all that fond of most anime, and never really cared for robots, giant or otherwise. I wasn't bitten by the Gundam bug until this past Toy Fair where I saw the 4.5" Mobile Suits in Action action figures from Bandai. I took one look at those guys, and I knew I wanted them.

Of course, then I discovered the already existing Mobile Suit figures from previous Gundam series. You guessed it, I hadda have them! Predictably, and this is where the obessive part kicks in, that opened the flood gate to other Gundam stuff like collections of the manga, the Gundam Wing DVD (um, I don't have a DVD player yet - that'll have to wait until the Playstation 2 comes out in October�sigh�) and a few of the Super-Deformed model kits.

Nothing gets my obsessive juices flowing like cross-marketing. I swear, I am a marketing department's dream. Star Wars is a gold mine for this. Not only do I get action figures (in multiple scales yet, including my favorite 3-3/4") but there's comic books, novels, soundtracks and video games (just to name a few categories). Batman is much the same way, with a huge variety of product categories to choose from.

The thing with collecting is that it is extremely personal. You collect what you like (well, at least you should). You collect what interests you. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of your collection, or you for collecting it. It's yours, and for you to enjoy.

Personally, I prefer smaller scale figures like Star Wars, or the G.I. JOE Real American Hero line. However, there are others who prefer larger figures such as McFarlane Toys' stuff, or even larger like 12" figures. Who's right? Both, and neither because there is no right or wrong in collecting (well, unless the money you're spending needs to go to bills or something like that, but that's another issue entirely). There are collectors who seem to insist that everyone else likes the things that they like, and frankly, that's just silly.

But, what fascinates me is why do I like smaller figures, or why does someone else prefer their toys larger? Frankly, why do I like action figures at all? What is it about these little hunks of moveable plastic that keeps me pacing aisle 7C at Toys R Us, or disappearing to the action figure department at Target when the girlfriend is looking at shoes (uh, and that's another collection I won't go into)? Where does that come from?

Wherever it comes from the secret is, in the collecting community, is to enjoy the differences rather than squabble over them.

Before I moved to Ohio, I was part of a terrific collecting group in California called the B.A.T.gang (Bay Area Toy gang - hi guys!). We had a good 20 people in the group, and would get together periodically to exchange items we picked up for one another and just hang out. While there was some cross-over in our tastes and collecting habits, there was also amazing diversity and that is what made it fun, and kept it interesting.

Then, there's the completist. I fall on my knees and thank God I'm not one of those. The completist is compelled to get every single figure released in a given line. For some lines that's not a big deal, but for others - like Star Wars - it can be extremely expensive. The completist is truly of the "Gotta catch 'em all" variety.

The bottom line in collecting is: enjoy it. If you're not enjoying it, well, you're in the wrong hobby.

Well, I'd write more but I've gotta get to the toy store!