Christmas Village 2025

The Leader In Ruthless Sports Terrorist Entertainment
Or
I Am A Real American… Hero
 
We’ve reached that time of year! 

The Eighteenth Christmas Battle Village is the first time that it is a true, immediate sequel to last year’s battle. Once again, many thanx are due to Doctor Miller, my dentist (retired), reader (long time) and friend (current) for donating the “guest stars” for both last year and this follow up after his housing downsize!
 
Disclaimer #1) I didn’t bother checking exactly which trucks were used last year or where they were placed meaning I set them up based on memory. I only checked after all the figures were set up and it was too late to move them leading to some locational shifts in this "immediate sequel." So there.
Disclaimer #2) I have given up trying to find the proper stand for each figure. No one can read them except me while I am setting them up, and the figures barely can stay upright on them anymore anyway as they get older, and the joints get softer. This is also why so many are becoming left-handed as their right (and more and more often, left as well) hand is stretching beyond usability.
Disclaimer #4) There was a wrestling figure I didn’t use: one of the guys from Demolition. It was pretty badly made to begin with, and really beat up. I couldn’t tell which tag team member it was, and he didn’t make a good story element without his partner. 

Axe or Smash, I apologize.

Disclaimer #5) I'm almost positive there was a "Disclaimer #3" at some point. I know it wasn't that I am blatantly lying about never doing an immediate sequel before. I wonder what it referenced?

It Is Time.
 
The Joes and Cobras were completely overwhelmed on Sluttbordet Plateau last year by the invasion of the Miniature Marauding M.U.S.C.L.E. Men. Only by working together could the two groups of sworn enemies make any headway against their swarming attackers from another dimension. Technical experts from both teams joined forces to modify the "Fractally Advancing Reality Transmogrifier" carried by the G.I. Joe “High-Speed Extra-dimensional Search Ship” to send the tiny terrors back from whence they came.

 
The small size of their foes was found to have been caused by a shrinking effect as they were extracted from their dimension. Trying to combine a mix of Cobra and Joe equipment in the beam generator unfortunately damaged the "Universe Gyroscopic Location Yanker." While engaged in returning the M.U.S.C.L.E. Men home the transportation and embiggening ray accidentally locked on to the middle of a 1980’s World Wrestling Federation house show. And now…
 
PANDEMONIUM IS BREAKING LOOSE ON THE FROZEN PLATEU!!!!

More Christmas Music Trivia

Since I can’t help myself, and accidentally knocked out this list while making the new Halloween one, we return to Christmas Novelty Song Trivia this year!
 
Once again, since “can’t help myself” is genetic, Anabelle has concocted another Rankin Bass Marvel Figure Christmas Special Tribute. This time out, it’s the 1975, clunkily named The First Christmas, the Story of the First Christmas Snow, ("White Christmas" was taken. You'd think they'd have checked that.) Anyway, it stared Angela Lansbury, who I , sadly, do not have a Marvel action figure of.

Returning to Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 5 - New Roads, Tiny and Super

Part 1 , Part 2,  Part 3, Part 4

That clearance table (as many of them are) is a dangerous thing. One night the three of us found a two shipping boxes of a Star Wars Tiny Penny wave on there. Checking serial numbers first, Anabelle picked two, Rosa (hoping for a “Baduu” as she calls Grogu) picked one, and I grabbed one to add to the gang at work. After a Baduuless opening, Rosa (abandoning all enabling and joining the addiction) and I drove straight back to the store and bought seven more sets. We missed grabbing all of the serial numbers by one, but still got at least one of every figure in the wave. A scant few went into the “sell” pile. Anabelle added to her group.

Returning to Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 4 - When One Sale Closes Another One Opens

Part 1 , Part 2  , Part 3

Action Figure Sale History repeated itself, when we stopped to shop on the way home one evening. On the clearance table at the front of the same type of store I found the vastly reduced pit fighting Wookie in, was the deluxe, oversized, brand new (2024) Paz Visla (the heavily armed Mandalorian) figure with a huge discount putting it at WELL below my acceptable price for normal figures. It was not an impulse buy. I know full well about action figures leading to other action figures. Therefore, I went home and did a bunch of research on the site where the Mandalorian figure was in Beskar clad limbo. There I learned multiple other Mandalorians were also neglected by the purchasing public.

I stopped in on the way to work early the next morning…
AND THE ENTIRE CLEARANCE TABLE WAS GONE!!!
 
There was much swearing.
(Under my breath as I was in public and do have some class.)

 
I tried to look moderately sane approaching someone who worked there. They pointed me to the clearance aisle in the back of the joint, and the care that location takes with regard to merchandise in that classification was clear when I found Paz Vizla lying face down in some strewn about gardening supplies.

Returning to Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 3 - It Is a Group Effort

Part 1 , Part 2

This crystal clear problem was once again enabled by the loves of my life. I mentioned I had been stalking the price of a Marvel Legends box set of a new Black Suit Spidey and a collection of his foes (2022) for several reasons
A) The version of "Symbiote Spider-Man" I have from my earliest days of collecting isn’t an official Marvel Legend.
B) I always liked the villain Human Fly, for some reason.
C) Silvermane featured prominently in the Zeb Wells run on Amazing that no one but me liked.
D) Molten Man was shiny. (Yes, this is a valid reason, haven't you been paying attention?)
E) Honestly, I have no idea who Razorback is, but a giant figure of a dude with a wild boar on his head fits my idiom.
F) As should be crystal clear by now, I still have a problem.

Returning to Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 2- Space Is a Premium

Part 1

Ironically, Christmas itself tends to be one of the rarest times for collection expansion. This is because of the evil action figure black market people and New Jersey’s action figure armpit status. The figures often sell out instantly, or have skyrocketing prices, or are only available through certain shifting outlets, or can occasionally be found through lucky “Thrill Of The Hunt” style auctions.
All of these combine to mean telling anyone about a figure I’m looking for is almost always pointless unless they buy it “RIGHT NOW!!!”

As should be crystal clear by now, I still have a problem, which is also a burden.
 

The holidays are, however, a time for remembering collections, due to the Christmas village. Even Anabelle’s Squinkies from the dark past got a starring role.
 

Returning to Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 1 - The Problem Persists

A couple of notes before starting:

A) Jeff the Landshark is almost always on the Rotating Marvel Shelf, because the three of us (mostly the two of us) can't help ourselves.

B) There will be multiple "all of them" pictures where I regularly (and many would say foolishly) assumed, "Well there won't be any more additions to that shelf."

C) As should be crystal clear by now, I still have a problem.

It’s been a little over a year since the survey of my addiction driven collection.

Unsurprisingly it has grown. 

When last we left the gang, I was celebrating the wonderous arrival of Doctor Octopus. It was well over a month later that he and the rest of the Sinister Six  (the "creepy old men" as Anabelle calls Spider-Man's foes) could proudly grace the living room's Rotating Marvel Shelf.

Transformers Rewatch Original Season 2A

Season Two Part One DVD Set- 

I forgot about the cool but terrible CGI Optimus Prime on the menu page.

Transformers US Generation 1 Rewatch- Introduction

The Transformers cartoon was the lynchpin of my teenaged afternoons. Prior to that I began watching it when if first appeared on Sunday mornings, while syndicated animation was figuring out what to do with itself. 

Note- I'm pretty sure it was Sunday morning, but I can't find a reference that doesn't say "Saturday Morning" or "Weekdays." Maybe Sunday was only G.I. Joe? Being a teenager that early in the morning on weekends led to grogginess, but syndication was also highly variable back then. Your mileage may vary.

Regardless- the main viewing was after school, frequently with friends.

Bonus Holiday Toy Displays for This Year

Wait folks, the Christmas Displays aren't over yet!

Christmas Village 2024

America's Highly Traiiiiiieeeeeeee WHAT ARE THEY?!?!!

Or

Cobra, A Ruthless TerrooooOOOOOOH IT'S PULLING ME UNDER!

Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 10 - Happy "Ending"

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9

So…
 
This happened.
 

Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 9 - The Legends Live On

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

There are three reasons the collection will continue to grow. This is irrespective of how hard it continues to be finding new figures at what my old man brain considers "acceptable prices."

These three are not counting the obvious reason- 

"As should be crystal clear by now, I do have a problem."

The first is the “feature” of the addiction leading to the tuning various websites into awareness of it, as highlighted by the AIM Scientist Supreme.
 

Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 8- Master Class in Justification

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

With the Minor Acquisition Path reviewed. It is time to move on. The Major Acquisition Path that began with US Agent (2022, in case anyone forgot) is connected to the idea that, as the collection expands, there is always a “Location” for a character…

Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 7 – Intermediate Level Justification

Part 1, 

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

The Cosmic Marvel shelf continues to get far denser than I originally planned due to store closing sales on Kree and Skrull themed two packs (2021), and the sale of the entire Kree Sentry (2019- purple and silver robot in the back corner) Captain Marvel build a figure line featuring those same races of aliens.

 

Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 6- Introduction to Justification

Part 1, 

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

While also K-Mart priced, and with an awful neck joint, Black Widow (2004) was too important to skip, being connected to both the Avengers and Daredevil. Taskmaster (2016) is a frequent villain in my comics, ensuring I grabbed him on sale much later. This was important as they both provided movie justification for when the two pack of Natasha’s on screen “parents” went on sale. (2021) Although, they both fulfilled “NEED”s anyway. The Red Guardian was hilarious and came with an action figure of himself. (As should be clear by now, “NEED” has a widely varied definition.) Melena was equally important as Rachel Weisz and I share the exact same birth date. Granted, she looks infinitely better in a white cat suit. (Again… widely varied.)

Sadly, a Florence Pugh Widow figure has not gone on sale yet to complete the set. I have hopes for Thunderbolts. However, I'd rather have one with the vest in the Black Widow movie. That was a really cool detail. They joked about it being an obsession but the idea that it was the first thing she bought for herself after a lifetime of brain-washing was sweet.
 
As should be crystal clear by now, I do have a few problems... including overthinking.

Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 5- Harbingers and Hardships

Part 1, 

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

As much as I am offended by the price increases, I do have an exception to the sale rule.

When travelling, they don’t count as full priced parts of my collection, but rather souvenirs!

Trips to Disney World and Colorado netted: 

The Enchantress (2016- Villain in Secret Wars and key to the Thor run I started collecting comics with), 

Puma (2019- Featured prominently in the Spider-Man Wedding issues - a key event of my early Marvel reading time) 

and 

Silver Sable (2019- Not really any kind of key, but she’s… really shiny!)

As should be crystal clear by now, I do have a problem.
 

Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 4- Price Hikes and Hunting

Part 1, 

Part 2

Part 3

Toy Biz finished their license with two final build a figure waves featuring MODOK and Mojo. (2006) The era of “hard to find” figures was kicking off. However, the prices were still low, and MODOK is incredibly goofy and ridiculous thus rendering him awesome. Therefore, when the love of my life, and my enabler, came back from shopping one night and told me she saw boxes of them being unloaded in an aisle at Toys R Us, I jumped in my car and drove to the mall. The excitement of finding the whole MODOK wave still in shipping cartons led to the purchase of the Mojo wave as well.

 
As should be crystal clear by now, I do have a problem.

 

Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 3 – The (Marvel) Legends Build

Part 1, Part 2

In spite of various six inch scale acquisitions, I wasn’t planning on building an actual Marvel collection.

At least not yet. 

Addicts never do.
 
The series of decisions made in short succession indicates that “not planning on an actual collection” concept wouldn’t last for long.
 
With “room” on the book shelves now that all the little figures were away, I had been debating on beginning to collect Marvel Legends in earnest, based on comic book ads and inserts for some upcoming lines having characters I cared about due for release. I was mostly looking at characters from my main Marvel reading years- members of Daredevil’s world (which I will call "Marvel Knights" to annoy those who know better) and appropriately timed Avengers, like the Iron Man Silver Centurion and other members of the West Coast team

.
 
Aside- I could SWEAR I saw that armor listed as “Silver Sphinx” when it was first coming out. And yet I cannot find any evidence of this being accurate. Even the oldest stuff I have calls it “Silver Centurion.” Can one generate a personal Mandala Effect? 

Maybe I blew a fuse in my brain.

 
However, I was debating between starting down that comic book-based path, or starting to collect Eighties era professional wrestling figures. Yes, I had begun an equally focused path down the rabbit hole of renewing an obsession in that world.
 
I decided to let it come down to what I would find in a store together first. After much comparison shopping, I was unable to locate a Rowdy Roddy Piper and a Junkyard Dog in the same location. However, I did locate a Sabretooth and Colossus (2003), which I knew would go well with the brown costume Wolverine (2004) due out shortly.

Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 2- Dawn of the Superheroes

Part 1

While I do accept (And often embrace) my problem, I do enjoy placing the fault of my out-of-control Marvel Figures collection squarely on my sister’s shoulders.

Part of me feels this is well deserved payback for the multiple, "Saaaaaa...llllllyyyyyyyy" incidents over the years.

Due to the success of animated Superhero shows and the comics explosion of the Nineties both Marvel and DC were pumping out action figures by this point. I would look at them at stores but was sticking with what I had.
 
Then one year, when it was time for me to be the annual pain in the butt and regularly ask my sister, “What did you get me for Christmas,” she would constantly answer “Marvel Figures.”
 
She was so deadpan about this that I was convinced she was telling the truth.
 
She was not.
 
She found this hilarious, and for the next MANY years, that would be her answer as any gift-based holiday approached.
“Marvel Figures.”
 
This was her go to gag for a long while.
 
By the time I finished college, I was used to this.
That’s when she actually got me some Marvel Figures for my birthday.
 
She was right, it was hilarious.
 
However, I can now blame her for that gift leading to the raging addiction that stands before me now.
 

I do not remember which figures she got me; they were whatever she found on sale. I do know one was “Exploding Ghost Rider” because I learned falling off the top row of my bookshelves made the “explodey” feature a permanent one.