Cool Collectibles We Had To Have in 2006

I hear/read it every year: that this year's toy offerings were worse than last. That 2006 didn't deliver. Bah! Humbug! 2006 delivered in spades.

I suppose one can acknowledge the Scrooges by saying that all is still not well in the toy industry. With it down to the big three (Wal-Mart, Target and TRU), the hunt for toys has gone south, but not sour. Internet retailers and e-traders are still smoking strong and by my last count, you guys and gals still collect toys. In other words, if a toy is to be had -- it can -- fairly priced via patience and the power of the net.

The toy industry proved resilient, but not totally bulletproof. We lost an incredible company this year with Palisades. We also recently grieved a talented individual by the name of Diane Kamahele.

Combined with the closing of the warm halls and intimate showrooms of the Toy Building (creaky, crammed elevators and all), the future points to a more open Javits Center double-feature: the International Toy Fair and the New York Comic Con, both held days apart this February. Don't worry, we'll be there for you to provide our concrete coverage, though the latter event is open to all.

Ah, we are getting ahead of ourselves. Toys! 2006 Toys! As an adult collector, I still scream like a little kid when I get something new and awesome. NECA's Balrog is one fine example, a package so big I thought I'd won a kitchen appliance. So many cool toys this year. An Intergalactic gaggle of Star Wars Clone Troopers, LOST became found, and RoboCop's ED-209 finally became a figure shelf fixture.

Toy Biz Marvel may be the new Hasbro of tomorrow, but hell if they didn't go out without a bang. Frank Kozik turned the designer scene on its head while the Four Horsemen invited fans to become designers. 2006 was an exciting year.

Over the next two weeks we will reveal our number one toy picks in nine unique catergories; from the best in designer vinyl to the finest in fantasy/horror. Scrooges take a good gander at our BEST OF 2006 and then tell me ONE toy you didn't purchase/want. We bought 'em all and our empty wallets are proof.

Enjoy and happy holidays from our family to yours.

- Jeff Saylor and the Action On-Line Staff