Ahmed Abdoo

1- What is it that you collect? 
Mego's, Captain Action and pretty much anything vintage superhero or sci/fi related...!!!

2- What was it that brought you to collecting?
When I was 4 years old my dad started buying me comic books and we read them together and then shortly after I started reading them avidly by my self...my mom and dad bought me every comic related toy there was and I loved it...the loved carried over into adulthood and has never left me...I now share that love with my son...!!!

3- When did you start collecting?
I started to recollect vintage rare items in 1989 when I discovered there were product lines I never knew existed...for instance I collected all the mego's I could get mmedy hands on as a kid...little did I know that there were variations and foreign released mego items...when I discovered this as an adult(Thanks to John Bonovita) I went CRAZY trying to find it all...!!!

4- When did you start displaying them? 
I have always displayed them...as a kid I would create elaborate dioramas of all the characters and vehicles in action...I loved looking at it and every couple of days I would redo the set up to display a new battle...!!! What good is to have awesome rare collectables and not be able to visually enjoy them...I hate the idea of keeping stuff stored in a closet...DISPLAY IT AND ENJOY IT YOU MEATHEADS...!!! ☺

5- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your collection? 
Trial and error...I set them up so many times that I finally figured out which was the best way to enjoy them...for me it's the custom lighted cases...I love the showcase look...!!!

6- Which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why? 
I have to say that the custom Flatts are my favorites...#1 because they are so realistic and #2 they are very hard to come by...!!!

7- What is the oldest item you own? and the one with the most value? 
The oldest Items have to be the Captain Actions figures from the late 60's...if you look through the collection pictures you will see many rare valuable pieces...remember value is relative to each individuals perception...!!!

8- What inspires you to purchase an item to add to your collection? 
COMPLETION...!!!! FULFILLMENT...!!!!

9- Where do you make most of your purchases from? ebay seems to be a favorite with collectors these days, are you an ebayholic? 
Ebay has been very good to me over the years...specially when it first launched...those were the golden days...!!!!

10- Is your collection insured? 
Yes

11- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection? 
"WOW that's AMAZING...!!!!" Or "How cute, look at all the little dollies...!!!"

12- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? could you tell us about that? 
I used to love toy shows and conventions but unfortunately ebay has put an end to all that...there just isn't enough good stuff to be found at shows these days...!!! I do however like Swap meets and Flea markets and Estate Sales...those are the places to get the goods...!!!

13- Most collectors today go on what they call a toy run, do you participate in that as well? And what are your favorite spots? Do you have a routine? 
I used to have toy runs back in the late 80's to early 90's but not anymore...!!! It seems like collecting was still a secret thing back then and prior...nowadays as it seems EVERYONE is a collector and everything is collectable...it sort of takes the fun out it...!!!

14- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed? 
This is a touchy subject with me...basically do what you want...but if you're a kid I think you should tear it open and play with it...I mean that is what we all did as kids...there is nothing more disheartening to me than to see a kid with a toy MIB...it's a great waste...the reason why any of us adults even do this is for the NOSTALGIA and if we didn't read the comics and play with the toys we wouldn't have any NOSTALGIA to talk about...!!!

15- At what stage do you think your collection will be at 10 years from now, do you think you would have grown tired of it? 
One thing is for sure...time changes all things...families, finances, responsibilities, and economies make these choices for us...if we are all smart, careful and LUCKY we will be just fine...!!!

16- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection? 
Don't collect to make money or profit...do it because it makes you FEEL GOOD and you ENJOY IT...!!!! Also only collect things you really enjoy...!!!