Nerd Nook Newbies - A bit of everything!

Hey all welcome to an exciting installment of Nerd Nook Newbies! Now just to give you guys a quick heads up, I had quite a few gift cards from the holidays burning a hole in my pocket so I did splurge here quite a bit. You could say I kicked off my 2013 collecting year with a bang!

Newbie 1 - The elusive Shell Gas Station Canadian Slim Carded Green Lantern

As far as slim cards go, this is by far the hardest to find. I have been after one of these for months. I sort of gave up on my slim carded collection needing only Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. As soon as I had the chance to get this guy I grabbed em.  Expect to see a slim carded Wonder Woman in a future Newbies to round out my collection!

Newbie 2 - Replica L-Slot Rocket Firing Boba Fett Prototype

Yes you read it right "replica". Unfortunately its not the real thing and its not worth a small fortune. I picked this guy for 25 bucks because I thought it would look cool in my growing loose Star Wars Collection. I was right. The rocket really does fire. Far and fast.

"You'll shoot your eye out!"

Newbie 3 - Vintage Lion-O and Snarf

 Eyes still light!

Absolutely loved this toy when I was a kid....almost as much as Cheetara and her "baretts" as my 5 year old self liked to call them =)

Newbie 4 - Toy Biz Wolverine (early 90s)

Now this guy isn't really a newbie at all. He's actually an oldie. 20+ plus years to be honest. Now I have to send out a thanks to Brian over at Cool and Collected. Had it not been for his League assignment I may have never found this guy.  This was MY figure, and as a kid who moved ALOT, most of my childhood toys were lost. Well instead of 4 surviving toys I now have 5!

So your wondering "what did the league assignment have to do with finding an old toy?". Well if you read my league post I pulled out my "spy bag" to photograph it for the "Spies" assignment. I figured I hadn't opened it in probably 15 years.Well needless to say I was thrilled to find this guy inside! He of course has his own sentimental story of how he came to be mine. So once again thanks Brian for the league assignment that has reunited me with another beloved childhood toy! 

Fifth and Final Newbies - 1979 Knickerbocker Lord of the Rings Gandalf the Gray and Ring Wraith

These were the guys that I splurged for! I figured I got the gift cards and worked out a good deal....why not! I am hoping to finish the set with the exception of the two horses. These toys are just excellent figures. I am simply amazed at the level of detail in that Ring Wraiths sculpt and accessories. Incredible!

Phew! That does it for a busy week in the Nerd Nook. As always I'd really enjoy hearing what you think so drop me a comment!

"You only live twice, one life for yourself and one for your dreams....."

This Week's Top 10

As I type this blog I find myself one day away from the coveted Christmas break.  The time when everyone gets together eats great food, gives gifts, eats cookies, and feels all warm and fuzzy.  As a kid the build up to Christmas break was something to be remembered.  I remember the sheer joy I felt that last day before Christmas break as a kid.  Getting coloring books, candy, and gifts from the teacher knowing the next time you would be in school it would be a new year and you'd be packin a new arsenal of toys.  So this brings me to the subject of this week's top ten...Gifts from Santa.

Now I didn't compile this list all by myself. I called upon the help of my brother to recall all the best ones!

Number 10 - Bikes

Yup that was 1990ish. Every few years me and the bro would get new bikes. Always awesome!

Number 9 - Wooden Dinobone Models

I guess this choice increases my nerdyness but I absolutely loved Dinosaurs as a kid and had tons of these models.

 

Number 8 - Nintendo 64

I was a bit older when this system came out (like 12 or so) and I remember reading up on it and watching previews and such. I remember being totally blown away by Mario 64.  Only an 80s/90s kid would get a kick out of distorting Mario's face in the menu. Eiter way this system was awesome. It brought us the classic Golden Eye 64....nuff said!

 

Number 7 - The Ultimate Warrior Wrestling Buddy

As a kid I definitely could appreciate the appeal of wrestling. I had the old school rubber wrestlers and the plastic ring.  My favorite wrestler as a kid was Ultimate Warrior.  Hulk was cool and all but there was just something about the Ultimate Warrior.  I remember begging my mom for months for this toy and getting the old "maybe Santa will bring it for you" routine.  Well Santa came through!  I have long since lost interest in wrestling but do have this guy on my radar as something I'd like to add to my collection at some point. I can't retrace/collect my childhood without this guy!

 

Number 6 - Thundercats haul of 1986

 

I remember this Christmas very well.  My bro and I were totally hooked on the Thundercats cartoon and wanted anything with that red emblem on it.  I don't even think we were specific in our notes to Santa. Regardless of this he came through! We got the playset and the vehicle as well as all the main characters. We even got mini characters with a mini playset.  IT.WAS.AWESOME. And of course my curiousity with Cheetarah's "barettes" as I came to call them began.

Number 5 - Pool Table

I don't know if you remember those pool tables from back in the day that could be transformed into other games? Either way me and the bro wanted one.  We wound up getting an actual mini pool table for kids which was even more awesome!

Number 4 - K'nex

I have many great memories attached to these things. Quick walk down memory lane here.... not long after I got these for Christmas there was an ice storm that literally coated everything in a fine sheet of ice. This lasted for days resulting in schools being closed for a solid week. My friends and I hung out that whole week building stuff and playing Street Fighter on SNES.  Great memory.

Number 3 - The Great He Man haul of 1985

The caption for this add says it all.  We got Greyskull, Snake Mountain tons of figures and more.  Pure He Man bliss!

Number 2 - Fireball Island

This game was just badass.  Cool pieces, awesome setting, and you could make pretend you were Indy while playing. I remember plenty of times using only the jewel to imagine I was Indiana himself after some ancient artifact. 

Number 1 - Super Powers Hall of 1984

The 80s were veritable gold mine for toys.  The first few Christmases of my life were spent opening some of the most iconic toys of all time (my opinion of course but one shared by many).  This Christmas it was Super Powers.  My love for this toy line has spanned decades!  I got the Hall itself, The Batmobile, The Supermobile (lol what), and a bunch of the first series figures.

So that brings me to the end of my walk down memory lane as I sit here on the night of the last day of school before Christmas break.  If I could rewind time 20 years or so I'd be on the floor with my bro in front of our old NES flipping through comics and playing Golden Axe with sheer unadulterated excitement coursing through our bodies in anticipation of the goodies to come in just a few short days.

Anyway Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and I hope Santa is good to you all this Tuesday!

"And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.

Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!”



 

The League Has Spoken - Wish List

For this week's league assignment....

 

"The big guy is on his way! What’s on your Christmas wish list this year? "

 

 

For a collector of all kinds of pop culture related items this poses a decent challenge.  I'm not sure if I should approach this practically (as in things I actually have a shot at getting) or outrageously (ask the big fella for stuff that is out of this world expensive/rare). Maybe a little of both!

 

For my outrageous request I'll go big....why not? What's the worst that can happen? Coal?

 

Dear Santa,

I have been extra special good this year. I deserve a minty on card Masters of the Universe He Man and Thundercats Lion-o.  These were two of my all time favorite toys and since you got them for me once, I figured you might have some extras stashed away somewhere up in the North Pole. You'll make me the happiest kid ever!              

 

Now Santa I understand if you don't have any extras lying around for the last 30 years and don't have a spare 2 grand this holiday season.  If this is the case I'd settle for the 1989 Batman Hot Toys figure. Michael Keaton is my all time favorite Batman and this awesomely detailed figure would look great in my new display case!



                                                                                        

 

So there you have it. There are tons of other items I would love to have delivered to me free of charge by a fat guy in a red suit.  However, I may be nostalgic but I ain't stupid. Maybe I'll get lucky and get the Batman Hot Toy!

 

Happy Holidays everyone. Hope you get everything you asked for and more!

 

"Vintage He man and Lion-o? Keep dreamin asshole!"

 

Also from some other extraordinary bloggers we have Infinite Hollywood wishing for some awesome old school items here. The Monster Cafe is also after some really cool items here.