Raving Toy Maniac

- SHIELDS UP! -

I never saw much use for such things, but some people (speculators, mostly) are totally anal when it comes to storing or displaying action figures. So, if you're really worried about damage from the indoor elements, encase them in carbonite! But seriously, here's some information I found out about this compulsive yet intriguing subject:

COMIC BAGS: Most commonly found at your local comic shops (DUH!) and cost around $5.00 for 100 of 'em. Be sure to buy the kind that are made for holding "Silver Age" or "Golden Age" comics since they are the only ones large enough to cover most action figure packaging. You may also think about some "backing boards" to keep your cards from warping under the stress of a firm taping job. The cost is roughly $8.00 for 100 boards and are also available from your comic dealer.

Bagging figures is a fairly straight forward process, and you don't even need an adult's supervision! Here's how:

1. To start with, place the bag so the side with the "flap" is facing up Crease the flap back, out of your way, if you wish.	2. Take a backing board (glossy side up) and slide it into the bag carefully. Try not to gouge the bag while doing so.	3. Gently slide the action figure (blister side up) in between the glossy side of the board and the flap-side of the bag.
4. Fold the flap over to meet the opposite side of the bag until a snug fit is achieved.	5. Tape the flap at each end and/or in the middle.	6. Viola... your action figure has now reached the anal retentive status of comic books... enjoy!

NOTES: In most cases, you will need to cut approximately 1/2" off of the side of the backing board (vertically) or size the board to the width of the figure's card to allow enough room for a snug fit.   The "Zip-loc" type freezer bags are large enough to hold a number of different types of figures. These may indeed be large enough for figures and 2-packs from lines such as "Spawn", "Shadows of the Empire", "X-Men: Robot Fighters", etc.   What you should keep in mind is that the methods I have laid out on this page are just the basics and you should feel free to experiment with all available materials to you. Because let's face it, what's good enough for me may not be good enough for everyone.

ACRYLIC DISPLAY SHELLS (or Cases): If you desire the "carbonite" treatment for your figure collection, then these babies are the way to go! Of course, they will also cost you an arm and a leg, and an eye, and a nose, and a... But I suppose in the long run, they're worth their weight in gold if you can afford it. Display shells are basically just glorified blister packs which cover the entire action figure's packaging and are even inter-lockable for stacking, as you can see. Even though they are tough, as I stated above, they can be rather expensive ranging anywhere from $2.00 to $10.00 each depending on the size of packaging you're looking to protect. Your local Toys 'R' Us and comic shops tend to carry the common sizes that accomodate more popular action figures such as the X-Men, Star Wars, and Batman assortments. For larger figures or ones with oddly shaped cards, you will most likely need to look for shells that are specifically designed for such items. So, try these places below:

Polar Blue 12190-1/2 Ventura Blvd., Box 134 Studio City, CA 91604 (213) 660-1138	The Final Score, Inc. 3575 Clyde Park S.W Grand Rapids, MI 49509 (616) 261-4488
Sportscard Heaven, Inc. 6329 Rising Sun Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19111 (215) 742-9635	Three "B" Collectibles 19312 S.W. Mohave Ct. Tualatin, OR 97062 (503) 692-8877

GLASS DISPLAY CASES: If you're an exhibsionist and love to show off your prized plastic possessions, you might follow the course of a large display case. In most cases (oops, no pun intended) it's likely to be alot cheaper if you build your own using plexiglass and the support material (i.e. wood or metal) of your choice. That is if you have the tools, the skill and the time. But, if you think your loose toys deserve only the best, contact the people below to get you started on your quest: Dave Cohen & Associates, Inc. (908) 727-1800 or (201) 666-2222

Credits: Mark O'Brien for the addition of Golden Age sized comic bags.

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