In 1987, master of parody Mel Brooks decided to take on science fiction. He had previously parodied other genres like horror (Young Frankenstein), westerns (Blazing Saddles), and history (History of the World Part I). But it wasn’t until his son Max’s tenth birthday party that he figured the science fiction genre was ripe for parody. Why? Little Max had a Star Wars-themed birthday celebration.

The 1980s were the golden age of action figure toy lines. If you grew up in that decade, memories of toy line commercials, full toy store racks, and toy line-inspired cartoons are abundant with flashes of iconic franchises like He-Man, Transformers, M.A.S.K., and Thundercats. Each toy line had its unique appeal and memorable designs, accompanied by loyal followings. However, the 1980s-era 3 ¾-inch G.I. Joe...

May 4th has transformed from a pun shared among a few into a staple date within pop culture, now embraced by millions worldwide. It has become a day where fans celebrate the rich history and anticipated future of the most expansive franchise in entertainment history. May 4th is… Star Wars Day. But why was May 4th chosen as the annual date to celebrate Star Wars? Let’s do a deep dive into the origins of thi...

George Lucas’s Star Wars changed the landscape of cinema and pop culture, the movie licensing industry, and the toy industry as a whole, leading to arguably the most successful toy franchise in history when you factor in such elements as longevity, sales revenue, cultural impact, and lasting collector interest in the secondary market. And it all started with the original 3 ¾-inch Star Wars action figures t...

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, the action figure toy industry was booming. The now-legendary run of action figure and vehicle toy lines like Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Transformers, He-Man, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles led the charge of marketing executives looking for secondary profits from studio and network intellectual properties. Even disappointing box office performers like Waterworld, Battlefield Earth, Dune (1983), Wild Wild West, The Shadow, and ...

No two vintage toy collectors are always alike. Each one has their target toy lines — usually drawn from embedded nostalgic memories from childhood. Toy collectors will also have varying personal budgets for their collections. Some are willing to splurge while others have to be more frugal. In the end, vintage toy collecting is whatever the collector wants it to be — a casual hobby, a dedicated mission, or even a healthy (and sometimes unhealthy) obse...

For some, it’s a flicker of images from childhood — memory snapshots of holding pieces of plastic shaped like fashion icons, soldiers, rebel fighters, masters of the universe, transforming robots, ninja turtles, or cuddly companions. These snapshots and vivid memories are the result of perhaps the strongest equivalent to any drug or stimulant in life — nostalgia.