Ben AKA Bigfoot
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My birthday is November 10, 1980.
2) How long have you been collecting TMNT and what prompted you to start?
By growing up in the 80’s, the TMNT cartoon seemed to be my gateway into the collecting aspect. It started out as me as a kid asking Mommy if I could get a toy, every time she said yes, it was TMNT related! I got to the point where I had to earn my money or do chores, and TMNT stayed on my list of things to spend money on.
I remember middle school and how playing with toys was no longer cool. Collecting sports cards, comic books, foreign money, and playing video games became my new hobbies. TMNT comic books gave me my fix that needed and that I missed out on pre-cartoon. I was by no means a comic collector and only have a couple. I read them, and shared them with friends. Years went by and TMNT faded away, I had girlfriends, jobs, and finished college.
In 2003, just when TMNT were making a comeback, I met my fiancé. She was a gamer girl when we met and she new all about fandom and all that other geeky stuff. Because of this, I probably feel more free to go as wild as I do with TMNT/eBay purchases these days
3) What specifically do you collect (toys, comics, etc.) and how large is your collection?
Everything!
4) What is your favorite piece in your collection and why?
My favorite piece in my collection these days would have to be my small sub-collection of error figures and/or cards. I have several figures in the wrong package, figures without or with the wrong accessories, and mislabeled packages.
I opened my toys when I was a kid, but was so grateful to have them that I didn’t want other kids playing with them. It was very seldom that my parents could afford to buy me “extra” toys, and when they could, I did the best I could to take care of them. I had a cigar box that my grandfather had given me, that all my accessories went in as soon as I opened a new toy. Since I started re-collecting in 2003, I have left everything MOC, and displayed them on pegs just like they hang at the store. It is kind of like my own all TMNT toy store. I even have store signage that gives it that retail look.
Top 5 Most Wanted:
– MOC Scratch
– Graded First Edition/Print #1 comic book
– Any cool action figure with another language on the packaging.
– Any movie prop.
– A poster from the cover of first NES game, autographed by everyone ever involved with TMNT.
All pics are sweet customs made by Ben!
