Action Figures and Tiny Heroes

Some who know me are aware of my affinity for action figures. I know some of you are thinking how weird it is that an eighteen year old collects "toys". For me, action figures are more than toys. They are a representation of something more; they spark creativity and they incite joy in me. When I open up a package and pull out the action figure (Yes I open up my action figures. That's the only way I collect them...I am not in it for keeping them in little "prison cells" and selling them off for cash.), I like to admire the craftsmanship and the paint jobs. The way the paint blends or how the shading is applied takes a figure from lame....to DAMN! It's the beauty of how a company can capture the essence and likeliness of a superhero in something under four inches.With action figures, the possibilities are endless; I can recreate comic events or even create my own. For example, I staged an epic battle between the supervillain team of Thanos, Ultron and Red Hulk (also known as Rulk) and the heroic team of Adam Warlock, Beta Ray Bill and Iron Man. At one point in the fight I decided to mix things up by including Namor (the prince of Atlantis). It was he who ended the struggle by riding in the fray on a toy dolphin (one I got at a 99 cent store) and defeating the enemies with a trident. Action figures spark the creativity I need to write fictional stories; whenever I have writer's block, I take out my action figures and play a little bit...then...BAM! Suddenly, an idea jumps into my head and I run with it. My favorite thing about action figures is that I can share my passion of Marvel heroes and educate them about each hero or villain that I own. The moment when a child's eyes beam up when they pick up an action figure in my collection and instantly attach themselves to it makes me all the more happy to continue pursuing this hobby. Another amazing aspect about collecting action figures has to do with the thrill of the hunt. Due to the growing scarcity of the Marvel Universe toyline, it has become more difficult for me to get my hands on the newest figures that are "released". So when I stumble upon figures, I immediately jump for joy and a prideful feeling of success wells up in me. The only thing worrying me about collecting action figures is what happens next. What happens when I go off to college? I know I cannot take all forty-five of my figures, but I will take my favorites. I also worry about getting ridiculed by potential roommates or classmates; however, when my passion comes to life, all of my fears subside. There are always people who will disagree with what I may like, and I am okay with that. You never know, I may find a friend at college who also enjoys collecting action figures. That would be cool! Action figures are a part of me (even though they are fundamentally pieces of plastic), just like comics and my scars, they define who I am. With time, I will still remain the same. If I ever become succesful and famous, you can still find me walking down the aisles of Toys R Us looking for the latest Marvel action figures. So I leave you readers with these last words: Don't hate, just congratulate.