John Arturo - When did you start collecting and how did you get into the hobby?
write33 - Collecting for me was a completely gradual process...'started when I was 9 years old when a couple events happened around the same time... 'while I had seen superhero cartoons on TV, I hadn't been to a comic store yet, but I fell getting out of a pool and needed some minor dental surgery...as a reward after, my mom took me to McDonalds and then the local comic shop (A World of Fantasy)...she said I could have one book...so based purely on the cover I chose Iron Man 196. I read it cover to cover and was hooked. And then not too long after that, a friend at school told me about comic book shows and how much fun they were. So on a Saturday I took all the money I had... $15 which felt like a huge sum... and my Dad drove me downtown to the LeBaron Hotel for my first comic show. I loved it! I bought a Superman cardboard standup... fantastic John Byrne drawing... and a set of "Legends" comics... that started me enjoying both comics and associated collectibles... and apparently my appreciation of John Byrne art. ('still haven't bought any pages by him, but did get a cool "Legends" in-store promotion poster for Christmas a few years ago, close enough)
John Arturo - Your collection seems to contain lots of art commissions. How do you get these wonderful pieces?
write33 - Envy! Really that's what it is. I always wanted to be an artist and even took some art classes but just didn't feel the talent to do it... years later I tried my hand at writing comics with mixed results, but I've always been incredibly impressed with someone who can take a blank page and add in a dynamic, powerful superhero or a few panels of outstanding story. So I went to more local comic shows like WonderCon and SuperCon. They were the main yearly conventions for me for awhile until I started making the 8 hour drive to ComicCon. I would hit Artist Alley and look for an artist who drew a book that I liked. That was my criteria usually... 'being lucky to enough to find an artist I admire and watching him or her draw a character they had been published drawing. I am still so impressed with my Larry Stroman "Steel" and I have no idea if he ever drew the character outside that, but he should have! (it was my best friend's idea to ask him to do it, not mine). I really am proud and pleased with my commission collection. In my late 20's / early 30's I had a few extra dollars in my bank account so transitioned to building up a small art page collection that I love; 'buying pages by artists I really feel strongly about from series I consider to be modern classics. (e.g. "Planetary" or "the Authority").
John Arturo - Do you collect anything else?
write33 - I still love toys and statues. I often will get one for a holiday. The Kotobukiya Infinity Gauntlet statue was a gift from my family last year. This year I received the EC Avengers figure set. 'having a daugther into superheroes is a great excuse to pick up things too! ..no joke, she asked today that after swim lessons, if she's on best behavior, can we hit ToysRUs to pick up the Hawkeye bow & arrow from Avengers......how can I refuse???
John Arturo - What are your favorite collectible companies?
write33 - Hmm, probably Sideshow is my favorite site to peruse for pieces I just may get one day, but for me it's not by company, it's by product type and character. Usually if I'm playing a game for example, that may drive a purchase. 'like I downloaded the Voltron game for my Xbox and had a lot of fun with it, so now I'm realizing I have nothing Voltron in my collection and have been on mattycollector to check out what they have going there.
John Arturo - What is your favorite part of collecting?
write33 - I think it's been as I get older and am more selective in what I buy, but when I use a test of finding an art page or collectible online not buying fast but going back to it a few times and still feeling a pull to get it. Then seeing the piece fit in with my existing items. I think about myself as a kid and how I want to tell him that someday I'll have some the cool types of things I would only dream about owning then.
John Arturo - What is the key thing you look for in an item you want to add to your collection?
write33 - For me it's making sure I really do want it, and that it's a unique and special piece for me and it's not easy!. I could be a fiend for action figures! But, after a minute or so, I don't play with them anymore and don't have wallspace to display entire sets in packaging. I do still keep a drawer with figure for my kids to play with, other family kids, etc... but even that only has so much room. So I try to give myself time to really think on something and then pull the trigger on a purchase. My Ed McGuinness Superman page is a great example. I got a bonus last year from work and I look at art pages often (comicartfans is a GREAT site) and had a few I liked, but wasn't sure if they were worth buying / framing, etc... when I found that page. 'loved it right away (Ed McGuinness is my last favorite Superman artist before I stopped collecting comics) and every time I went back, 'felt the same.
John Arturo - What does your significant other think of your collection?
write33 - Haha, she is very patiently indulgent. With the art pages we made a deal... I wanted to display them throughout the house because of how rare and special they are; she agreed as long as she got to pick the style of framing. Fortunately! I really liked what she chose, so everybody won in that case.
John Arturo - What is your favorite movie?
write33 - "The Magnificent Seven"... and I feel strange like I should name a comic movie, but that one I saw as a kid and just struck me as incredibly cool, with fantastic music and acting and the idea of a group of moral to vaguely immoral individuals who band together to defend innocent people. 'it's a very heroic theme no doubt. I still enjoy it to this day.
John Arturo - What is your favorite piece from your collection?
write33 - Complete tie between my custom-made / "took a long while to put together" Eaglemoss Justice League vs. Avengers chess set and the two-page spread by Bryan Hitch from "JLA: Heaven's Ladder." I love it. For a long time he was my all-time favorite superhero artist and that piece is one that I feel should be in a museum or fine art collection. I cannot believe I was lucky enough to get it. It hangs right outside my bedroom and I see it often, every day.
John Arturo - What are some items you are most looking forward to adding to your collection?
write33 - Most things Avengers-related have my attention now as I still am amazed a huge budget movie of that team is nearly here. I am ridiculously excited for the onslaught of Avengers toys and I am debating if I really will buy a Helicarrier and hang it up in my garage. I've always wanted to do that like with old Stars Wars vehicles or Gi Joe toys I packed away somewhere... maybe S.H.I.E.L.D's flagship will be the piece I finally try it with.
John Arturo - Finally, what is your favorite aspect of ComicBookMovie.com?
write33 - I enjoy a great many aspects so not sure I can say just one. I find the site well designed and updated often; and I like that the content-providers encourage diversity, not just strictly covering superheroes, but related features / items as well. (e.g. somebody posted recently on the Lone Ranger's horse! haha, I dunno, I found it interesting to read about)
If you want to know more about collecting statues/high end items, or just want to see what kind of interesting collectibles are out there, visit my statue devoted site Lethal Farce.
If you have a collection (don't worry about the size, it could be 4-5 items and that is still a collection right?) and want me to showcase it on the site, then shoot me an email by clicking the "Contact Me" link here. I will shoot you a few questions to answer to go along with the images and once a week we will showcase a users collection on here.