So no matter what anyone claims, they’re a geek. Everyone is passionate about something. We just use the work “geek” when we don’t understand or share in that passion. Yesterday I decided to take a moment and see a part of geekdom that was new to me… kinda. I attended a day of Power Con in Columbus, Ohio. Power Con is a toy enthusiast convention. Enthusiast is another work for geek, that doesn’t sound derogatory. Now most of us have been toy enthusiasts at some point in our lives. We all played with toys. We liked one toy over another. We learned the mythology behind the characters, or created the myths in the time before cartoon based toys. Power Con takes this to another level. A playground for the “kidult” who is into action figures and toys. Ask me about comic books and I have a passing knowledge of creators- writers, artists, inkers…. I can discuss with you Bob Kane vs. Bill Finger, or Stan Lee vs. Jack Kirby. I can look at a Warner Brothers cartoon and tell who the director is just by the style of Bugs Bunny. These are areas that I know, in the realm of toys- I’m lost. Which was why I decided to attend. I was curious. Beforehand I had a chance to talk with a friend who is more into this than I am. I heard about various design companies and their origins and specialties. I knew I was clueless, and after that conversation I realized just how clueless I was.
Nostalgia plays a role in this, as does pop culture. However these aren’t the toys of your childhood, and if they are, they are now “collector’s items.” I looked around the hall and found that there were a few different kinds of exhibitors: resellers, companies, designers and “other.” The resellers had what you might think of as a flea market, antique mall vibe. They had lots of different items trying to appeal to whoever walked by. Expensive stuff was in cases, other stuff was just on shelves. It was in these booths I realized I was out of my element, time period wise. Anything that I recall having as a kid… was in a display case, or priced way beyond my stop and think point. The majority of items tended to be from the 80’s and 90’s… so Masters of the Universe, Thundercats, Star Wars, etc. G.I. Joe was gnome sized compared to Barbie. My little brother’s era of toys. My G.I. Joe could date Barbie and was in a case, mint in box for over $400. I found a few things that sparked my interest, but by the time I returned to the booth, they were gone. This was good, because I don’t need to add to the hoard.
Companies were mostly independent groups who had their own following. Many companies seem to have adopted, the designer sneaker way of selling- drop an item online for a limited time, take orders and then make only that number. They become rare and expensive so the next round, more people will buy in hopes that they will make it rich. There were a few companies that I guess were “dropping” product at the con so like Lorcana at Gen Con, the line was extremely long. The difference was it didn’t seem like there were limits to what you could purchase. Double decker wagons, flatbed carts, people dragging boxes were common place. Now let me make it clear- these are not your typical action figures. These are pretty much works of art, not signed or numbered, but highly detailed in every way with multiple points of articulation, and changeable parts to be able to pose in anyway possible. I was happy with “kung-fu grip.” Some companies were there just to show what they had done, and get you excited about what’s next. Pre-orders available soon.
Designers in some cases had booths where they showcased what they had created for whatever company, this was like artist alley at a comic con. Seeing the displays of drawings and sketches was neat. Some newer designers had brought samples of things using the tech available, so 3D printers and other maker skills were definitely at play. Some very cool things, but my old brain looked at many as not for a traditional “toy” audience. Do I really need a demon with three heads looking like it just stepped out the ferry on the River Styx? It did have multiple points of articulation so think of how it could be posed on the bookshelf!
The other consisted of the group of guests and community groups, so cosplayers, clubs, etc.
All in all, I can see the appeal to a certain segment, but I went for only a few reasons. First, deciding what I want to focus on I had decided the Rocketeer, Star Trek, and maybe if something from my youth jumped. The Rocketeer was easy, Fresh Monkey Fiction had been talking about their “Longbox Heroes” series and had gotten the license for Rocketeer action figures based on the comic. Sadly, I had missed the pre-order dates, but thought I would take a look and ask. This was my initial reason for going. I got to see the figures, but they had only produced enough for those who had ordered them, and those were still on a boat heading to the U.S.
Star Trek wise there are a few different things- action figures of different sizes, props and ships. I knew a friend was into Mego action figures and found a booth that only had those of various vintages. I texted a photo to him and picked up a couple that he wanted. I decided to buy a Gorn, just because. I saw some of the larger scale ships,but nothing I really wanted since I have no idea where I would put them. A few prop/toys but nothing that jumped. A few things from my era, but my holy grail would probably be the disk firing phaser (that didn’t look at all like a phaser and would be pulled from the market for being too dangerous if they tried to release it today).
So as far as the con went, it was interesting to dive into a different area of geekdom. I relegated myself to the dealer hall, because, while the panels would be interesting for someone in the know, I was not someone in the know and had no idea which panels I should attend. Similar to my early Comic Con experiences. I only spent part of the first day there, so I know I missed a lot, not only in my inexperience, but also in not taking the time to scour each booth. There were some interesting things, mostly on the design side. If I were still in a classroom this could have been the starting point for a engaging design unit and I would have needed a wagon to get out of the hall. So fortunately, I now temper my decisions and if the idea of a lesson pops into my head, I slowly walk away. I may look on eBay if I get bored just to see what things are available and the cost… I know Con prices are usually geared for the “rube” and may not reflect actual value. I’ve been to my share of LEGO conventions.