Hanshotfirst and The Holy Grail... of toy collecting

I have been looking forward to this coming weekend for approximately 360 days. It is once again time for me to get my full geek on and attend C2E2 (The Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo). From Friday until Sunday, I will have the opportunity to be immersed in movie previews, celebrity panels, photo opportunities, games, toys, comic books, T-shirts, art and of course crazy people in costumes.

In other words...

Heaven on Earth!

Yes this is heaven to me... I have problems.

When I first began attending these conventions, I was drawn in by the vintage and collectible toys. I used to be an avid toy collector. Now I am more of a toy browser. Although I still enjoy taking the walk down memory lane and checking out cool new versions of my sci-fi and fantasy favorites, with my kids' college bills right around the corner, I can't really justify buying things that will just sit on a shelf.

In fact, as soon as my learned to walk, I made myself a pledge. I vowed to never buy any toy I was not willing to let my children play with.

There is one exception to this rule:

The 1980 Kenner Star Wars Darth Vader's Star Destroyer Playset.

Wow! A Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock, and this thing... wait wrong story.

A few years ago I decided to make this toy my Holy Grail. I simply had to have it.

OK that sounds easy. Just go on Ebay. Find one. Select "buy it now" and pay for it.

But that is the problem. That is too easy. What's the fun in that? Half the fun of collecting is the hunt. To make it even more entertaining, one can set some strict parameters to increase the level of difficulty of finding the perfect piece. I did. I needed to find a totally complete set in decent shape for under $75.

Do you remember how special the Holy Grail looked in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade?
Ha! That was a trick question!

If you thought it looked all special and fancy, then you would turn to dust just like Walter Donovan did when he "choose poorly". It was just the opposite. Indy made a very big deal out of the fact he was looking for the cup of a carpenter. There was nothing fancy about it at all.

There is nothing fancy about my Holy Grail either. In fact, the Star Wars Darth Vader's Star Destroyer Playset super sucks!

Just look at this thing!