Men organize South Coast Toy and Comic Show for Sunday
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If your mom threw out all of your comic books and action figures, you may not want to read this article.
These days little toys can mean big bucks. after amassing such articles for 35 years, Mark Gomes has a collection valued at more than $20,000.
This Sunday, the Fairhaven VFW on Middle Street will be the site of the South Coast Toy and Comic show, a convention that will attract collectors from throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. it is being held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is $3. that fee will be waived if you attend the event in costume as a favorite superhero or sci-fi character. There will be door prizes and free T-shirts designed by artist Roger Andrews. Food will be available onsite.
The event will also include guest artists — Frankie B. Washington, Juli Mayer, and Scott Hamilton — doing personalized drawings.
The comics and action figures on sale will span decades, from vintage to modern.
"Action figures aren't geared towards young people anymore," says Gomes, who is putting the event together with friend Steve Perry. "Companies are making them primarily for adult collectors."
Collecting has gone from playtime to passionate pursuit, an industry where participants vie for rare and valuable figures in top condition. Many optimum items are still in their original packaging with all of their accessories. A single comic book could be valued at two hundred dollars or more.
Gomes owns a fluorescent doll made in the image of a famous Japanese wrestler that is valued at approximately $300. the doll comes in a container that functions like a shoe box so he can remove the figure and preserve it without reducing its value.
"Back in the day, action figures cost about $1," Gomes says. "Today a rare one can be as much as $60. They're out of the price range of most kids."
Action figures come from a variety of genres. There are superheroes, science-fiction, video games, horror movies, and monsters. There are figures from the Ultimate Fighting Championship as well as a black market that sells "knock off" figures.
"The industry is very competitive," Gomes says. "It's a great feeling to get something that other people don't have. you always want to get whatever is new or done differently."
"As you grow older and begin to collect seriously the lure becomes the thrill of searching for the items you want," Perry says. "It can take years to find what you want, it's like the golden Grail."
Perry searched for four years before finding a Star Wars Yak Face figure. His collection is valued at more than $4,000.
"The best place to find an action figure is on eBay and the Internet, but you can also get them at conventions and flea markets," Gomes says.
Gomes is 45 and a lifelong resident of new Bedford. from 1993 to 1999, he owned Klassic Komics on Allen Street. that was where he met Perry. Perry is a 38-year-old resident of Dartmouth.
Gomes works at a day care center and Perry is a local businessman.
Gomes is anticipating upwards of 200 people at the Fairhaven convention. they are scheduled to have at least 25 vendors.
"The key to putting on a good show is to have tables that have different items," he says. "Variety is important because you don't want vendors competing with each other."
"There can be camaraderie between collectors," Perry says. "Sometimes you can help someone by finding a piece for them or vice versa."
Perry has attended conventions in new York City and Baltimore as well as throughout new England.
"People will go far out of their way to find what they're looking for. they can be very dedicated.
"Collecting is like having Christmas on a regular basis."
Men organize South Coast Toy and Comic Show for Sunday
Tags: mark gomes, doll, Men, span decades, event, figure