Comment Time 5

 COMMENT TIME    NOVEMBER  1988
 IDEAL BATMAN
 It has just come to our attention that the Ideal batman figure was designed by Murphy Anderso. Murphy was an important comic book artist for DC during this time period. Batman and robin were sold in both painted and unpainted versions. The Other super Heroes in this series were sold only in painted versions and were made in Portugal. The villains were only sold unpainted. The only batman villain made was the Joker. The other villains were from other comics. Interestingly enough, one villain was actually a hero it was a being controlled by Johnny Thunders. An old toy of the ‘60’s.

  SHOWS
 If I had to recommend one show for collectors to attend it would be the OTSN in Chicago. The other shows are fun but the OTSN is entirely different. At the other shows you spend most of your time running around from table to table trying to find your goodies before someone else beats you to it. That happens at OTSN also but there is a more relaxed atmosphere on the Friday and Saturday before the actual show. The is due to the dealers opening their rooms for sales on those days. You can wander around the Hyatt and get lost looking to find a treasure. Or perhaps you may meet someone that you hav been in contact with and now have the chance to talk face to face. Next thing you know you ar sitting and talking about different subjects.
The best time I had at the show was on Saturday night when I went out to dinner with a group of fellow collectors and talked about the hobby. It was great fun telling about the great  buys that you made or the ones that you missed. We also discussed the history of this hobby. You almost wished that it would never end.
So, if you are looking for a show to go to that is out of your geographical region, this is the one.
 MISSING PERSON
 Walt Keener’s address comes back as invalid. Can someone send me a new one?
 THIRD MOST ASKED QUESTION AT OTSN
 Was about one of my competitors and his company. Well, the answer can be found in the August issue of Family Office Home Computing. It is a very informative article about him.
 SURPRISES
 A number of you have asked about our surprises and why we don’t reveal them. The answer is that I do not want to get your hopes up. We have had a number of hopes dashed in the last few years. An example is the Daniel Boone pioneer re-issues. A number of people thought that these would appear in re-issue form. So far, no luck. Hopefully they will come to pass and when we have samples in out hands then we will lwt you know. Also, I like to keep you guessing about what I am up to. It keeps thing interesting.
 Have a safe holiday and see you soon.
 INTERESTING ITEMS:
 Captain Gallant Gate and Walls………..excellent shape…….90.00.
 Crescent Robin Hood Figures….six figures in a crushed box…$ 50.00
 Big Ceasar by Remco   40 perfect figures, damage to the main mast CALL for details… ..$250
 ACW Ambulance Wagon Top…..dirty but the red cross is bright…….50.00
 Atlantic    rider being dragged by horse…mint   …$15.
 MARX WAGON RE-ISSUE …Complete with hitch and accessories. The body is gray, the horses are in brown and the cover top is in tan. Available with a driver….$ 20.00
 Sears Heritage Alamo….mint in box…..250.00

My comments

The Ideal Super Heroes was the first attempt to do superheroes in plastic. The super heroes were done painted in Portugal. I have not seen any information what company made them for Ideal in Portugal. The super heroes that were done were Batman, Robin, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash and Aquaman.  Batman and Robin also sold unpainted on a blister card with the Joker. The painted figures were sold on a card two to a card with two unpainted villains. Some reason Ideal did not do the villains painted.

Some of the villains that were done were Joker, Mouseman, Thunderbolt, Keyman and I believe Brainwave. Thunderbolt was not a villain at the time though he was made one later.  Thunderbolt was like a genie that Johnny Thunder could call on to help save the day. Johnny Thunder was part of the 40’s Justice Society. I knew about the character as I had gotten old All-Star comics at farmers market when I was a child.

There is one more figure to mention a giant robot that was only in the Justice League playset. The robot goes for big bucks and the complete Justice League Playset goes for thousands of dollars.  I think one Justice League playset went for $10,000.00. A collector on one of the forums recently mentioned he spent several hundred dollars to get playset box repaired.  The Justice League playset was a Sears exclusive which why it is so hard to find.  These toys were out around 1967 to 1968.

OTSN is still the premier show in the country. When Laurie and I went to it several years ago it was a shadow of its former self. This is happening to all shows due to the internet. Still it would be one of a few shows I would recommend to go to outside your normal show area (the others are Marx convention in Wheeling West Virginia, Plastic Warrior Show in London and German Plastic show in Germany).  Unlike most shows you can make it a weekend of plastic toy soldiers. Starting Wednesday, the dealers set up in the rooms and you can go room to room looking for treasures especially if you are the first one in. You can sit in the rooms and talk plastic; there are chairs out in front of the elevators where collectors sit and talk. The show itself is on Sunday and you get a few more dealers.  We do not get there due to a limited free time and high air fare.

One thing more, this show gets premier of new items. This year TSSD will be displaying their new Romans and Barbarians set which already causing a buzz and Barzso Collectibles will have a new playset as well.

Walt Keener past away several years ago, he was a great guy and one of the few plastic people that got to the legendary Marx auction I have talked about.

The third most asked question was about Jamie Delson and Toy Soldier Company. Someone clued me on the article I mention in Comment Time. It took me 30 days to track it down and found in used magazine shop at the Quakertown Farmers Market.  It gives the history of Toy Soldier Company to that point. People would complain on his high prices. I do not hear that much on Toy Soldier Company today.  I have many stories on dealing with Jamie, one of the best was he came up to me at show I was doing as a dealer and he said I cannot buy from you. Your prices are too high.  I laughed so much I fell to the floor laughing.  Jamie does these massive war games that are unbelievable. Delson has a video of one of his games up on his web site.

As we know the Boonesborough pioneer finally appeared. The mold had been with Superior Toys and was reacquired by Marx.  It is my nature not to boast and I have been disappointed over the years by the false promises of people.  I feel it is more fun to surprise people.