About Collecting

Summer 2008 edition

If you are just beginning to collect fantasy pieces, or you’ve been collecting for a while, you’ve come to the right place! The below is World of Magic's opinion based on many years of collecting.

A reminder to keep all the packing materials that come with your collectible (this helps the piece retain value). And stock up on retiring lines BEFORE they retire. Keep checking out the on-line auctions as many collectibles and retired lines are still available. Some collectibles like Faerie Glen continue to add new lines while retiring others. This is also true for particular artists like Nene Thomas and Jessica Galbreth - their fairy lines are produced by Dragonsite.

It's almost time for Comic Con 2008. Running from July 24 - 27th in San Diego, you never know who is going to turn up so if you get the chance, go! So far, the list includes Ralph Bakshi, Ray Bradbury, Jim Butcher (Dresden Files), John Howe (artist; LOTR with Alan Lee & PJ), and Stan Lee - and that's just the short list. Lots of previews, premieres, and exclusives!

Lots to celebrate like new Indiana Jones (after 19 years!), and lots of collectibles including stuff from the previous three movies as well as new stuff.

The new Batman (The Dark Knight) movie is coming out on July 18, 2008 so keep checking out the Superheroes page as well as the Home page for these collectibles. Starring Christian Bale, Gary Oldham and Heath Ledger (as the Joker) with director Christopher Nolan again at the helm, this should continue the Batman franchise in fine tradition.

The Pirates of the Caribbean movie trilogy has been completed (at least we think so) but there are still a lot of collectibles out there. The Tonner Doll company has created dolls in the images of Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom). New dolls include Elizabeth as a bride and a pirate.

The Harry Potter book series is now complete but there are still 2 movies to go. There is a ton of Harry Potter merchandise as well as an interest in collecting the books (first editions, signed copies, etc.). Signed first editions can run you into the thousands so do your research before purchasing! Wands from Harry, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, Dumbledore, Malfoy, McGonagall, Neville, Mad Eye Moody and Voldemort are available on the Harry Potter Wand page. Tonner dolls continues its Harry Potter line with the trunk set, Draco, Dobby and Quidditch. New plush including the Monster Book of Monsters, Crookshanks, Fawkes and more are available on the Harry Potter Collectibles page.

2008 is halfway through its movie releases including Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian, Iron Man, Indiana Jones 4, The Incredible Hulk, Hellboy 2, Journey to the Center of the Earth, a new Mummy film and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (11/08) and Twilight (12/12/08).

2009 is shaping up to be yet another year of sequels and re-makes as well as some translations from book to movie. In the latter category, Inkheart starts out in January 2009 with stars Brendan Fraser, Andy Serkis, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent. Also in the books to movie category for 2009, Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones, The Illustrated Man, The Historian, Dragonology and Elfquest. Re-makes include Toy Story in 3D (10/2/09), Astroboy, The Birds, Escape from New York, Highlander and My Fair Lady (with Keira Knightley). Sequels includes Austin Powers 4 (from Dr. Evil's point of view), Goonies 2 (starring all the originals as adults) and S. Darko (following Donnie's sister). Some notables for 2009 and 2010 include the new Tim Burton/Johnny Depp partnership Dark Shadows (J. Depp should be fabulous as Barnabas), a new Star Trek (5/8/09), Power of the Dark Crystal (a follow up to The Dark Crystal; director Genndy Tartakovsky should do this justice - Henson company and Brian Froud still involved as they were in the first), Bunraku and Castlevania (don't know how this will translate from game to the screen but we'll see) and Watchmen (3/6/09) based on Alan Moore's graphic novel.

The Hobbit will be coming to theaters in 2011 and 2012. Rumor has it that James McAvoy may be playing Bilbo but it's looking fairly certain that Sir Ian McKellen will reprise his role as Gandalf. From the Hobbit blog: Del Toro will move to New Zealand for the next four years to work with Jackson and his Wingnut and WETA production teams. He will helm the two films back to back – telling the story of “The Hobbit,” and its sequel, which will deal with the 60-year period between “The Hobbit” and “The Fellowship of the Ring,” the first of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. For more information, check out http://www.thehobbitblog.com/. Anticipate more merchandise as well a renewed interest in the book (first editions in particular, signed copies are extremely rare as J.R.R. Tolkien only signed books for family and friends). Still available are Lord of the Rings merchandise including new 12" figures, Premium Format figures (new Galadriel added to this line) and Dioramas from Sideshow Toys. If you can, try to order in the first wave as many of the Exclusives go very quickly.

Many of the doll makers are adding their 2008 lines and will be coming out with their fall/holiday dolls. Check out the Cool Dolls page for more.

And, as always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Wishing for peace in 2008!
Your Friends at Worlds of Magic