The Neil Collection: Where Star Wars Meets Batman

 This post is sort of a warning to all. Don't delay if you really want to preorder a collectible. This is an 'almost' tale of woe. In the 1970s, the Mego corporation produced a Batmobile to go along with their Mego 'pocket' Batman. All these years later, I still had my 1976 Mego Batmobile. Sure, it's missing the steering wheel and some stickers (not to mention a tiny amount of surface rust on the axels after years of heavy use), but I still got it. The bad news is that I had used the Batman 'pocket' action figure until it fell apart. My bad. Well, not really. That toy saw a lot of use as toys should. Be that as it may, Entertainment Earth and other store posted pre-orders for a new Batman action figure from McFarlane Toys, which was in the 4" scale. Now, I had checked out Ebay for a vintage replacements - prices were off the charts and beyond what I would spend. The McFarlane Batman seemed like an incredible option. I thought about it for a couple d...

  The Tie Fighter. It was the most vivid experience for me in 1978 when I saw Star Wars in the theatre. The sound of that starfighter was off-the-charts AMAZING!!!! The Tie fighter, which stands for ‘Twin Ion Engine’ fighter, Was the ship of The Enemy in Star Wars. The sound forever intwined with the Empire and its presence on screen. Sure, the X and Y-wing fighters made unique sounds, but the Tie fighters, when they showed up to the party, everybody knew the Empire had arrived. Honestly, in 1978, the sound production for Star Wars shattered every other movie experience I ever had. To this day, there have been few films that have been so groundbreaking (from my viewpoint). That Christmas, all the kids wanted a Star Wars vehicle. My friends gravitated towards the X-wing and Millennium Falcon. For me… I was all about the Tie! Even have Vintage Tie fighter pilots. Here is what’s left of the tie fighter I got for Christmas. I went on to learn that Mom went through quite the ordeal to g...

  The Corgi Batmobile! This is one of the first toys I saved, having received it from Dad and Mom when I was a kid during the 1970s. It was the Batmobile from the TV series. I remember vividly our watching the Batman series, whether seeing the horrifying Joker (hearing that laugh), the beautiful Catwoman (Julie Newmar broke a lot of hearts), or the Penguin and his hobbling, the show was an exciting time at that very important 'Bat Time' on that 'Bat channel'. Seeing Batman and Robin climb walls, fight villains (KAPOW), and ZOOM around in the Batmobile was always a thrill! I remember Dad giving me my Corgi Batmobile. Pictured here, it's clear my Batmobile was played with. Yes, it's a little distressing seeing it as it is today, but I would argue that I got a lot of fun out of that car. What's more, my Corgi collection has expanded to include one that is in amazing, original condition. It even has the miniature Batman that came with the Corgi Batmobiles. Addin...