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JORDAN: I'm in Detroit, Michigan,
on a last-minute mission for NFL legend Israel Idonije.
What's going on, bro?
The clock is ticking for me
to find some amazing action figures.
How much of this is for sale?
Oh, man! Is this sealed?
If I can keep my head in the game...
Oh, we're fighting over these.
...I'll get a consulting gig on Israel's upcoming toy line.
Jordan was at the top of our list.
JORDAN: But one fumble...
What are you looking for on something like this?
...and Israel might hand off the job
to another toy dealer.
I'm Jordan Hembrough.
For over 25 years, toys have been my life.
Found something I want.
My mission is to explore the globe...
Do you know how much I can get for this?
...finding fortunes buried in your toy chests,
at flea markets, auctions, and mega conventions.
I just touched a $17,000 toy?
[ Laughing ]
They call me the Toy Hunter.
-- Captions by VITAC --
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
I'm in Chicago, Illinois,
the backdrop for movies like "The Blues Brothers"
and the Michael Bay-directed "Transformers" films.
It's also the birthplace
to the snack rumored to outlive us all -- the Twinkie.
Step right up. Look at the toys.
I'm in town for the C2E2 Convention,
a budding showcase for artists,
fans, and toy sellers like yours truly.
You're all set.
Besides selling tons of toys at C2E2 this year,
I also have a meeting
with a very unsuspecting comic-book creator...
Jordan.
...about an exciting new business opportunity.
Awesome. How you doing?
ISRAEL: I'm Israel Idonije, and we're Athleta Comics,
launching our first book, "The Protector."
JORDAN: Israel Idonije isn't just
a superstar player in the NFL --
he also co-created his very own comic-book line
called "The Protectors."
It's about a group of athletes with super-human abilities.
This is Bart Sears, Ron Marz.
Hi, how are you? Hey. How are you, Ron?
So, what do you guys do on the line?
[ Chuckling ] Oh, really?
You the big guy. Okay.
Izzy came up with the story and the concept, and then said,
Yeah.
We're getting ready to launch a toy or an action figure.
JORDAN: Israel has a strong vision for "The Protectors,"
so if I want to help out on his toy line,
I'm gonna have to really impress him.
I see you got stuff up here.
Yes.
Jordan was at the top of our list for candidates
that we'll be looking at to be our toy expert.
Articulation is important, playability is important.
There are three key elements to think about
when designing a figure --
Articulation, costuming, and size.
All the toy companies now are mimicking the retro look,
and that's where I come in,
because I know what a lot of collectors are looking for.
I think the best way for me to sell myself
as a features consultant is to find loose figures
that I can use to show Israel what I'm actually talking about
when I say "articulation, costuming, and size."
The only problem is,
Israel wants to meet up right after the convention.
I'm gonna have work to do.
Yes, sir.
I set up a meeting with Israel in Detroit in just a few days.
And I'm gonna have to find three figures on the fly
before I sit down with him in order to sell myself
Thank you.
Detroit is the rough-and-tumble hometown of "RoboCop"
and "Home Improvement's" Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor.
So I couldn't think of anyone better
than Midwest toy expert Dave
to help me out on this last-minute trip.
DAVE: Welcome to snowy Michigan, sir.
I'm not only gonna need an extra set of eyes
to search for loose figures for Israel,
but I'm also gonna be on the lookout
for eye-catching display pieces for my store back in Jersey.
We have big.
I want big, breathtaking toys to really wow my new customers.
This is it.
...a notoriously awesome store run by a toy expert
known around these parts as "The King of the Geeks."
What's up, guys?
DENNIS: My name's Dennis.
I'm the owner of Wonderworld Comics.
We're a comic-book store
that's basically become a pawn shop for geeks.
Detroit was the boom town in the '70s, '80s for auto workers.
All the employees were making huge money,
and they bought their kids everything they wanted.
Around here, they call me the King of the Geeks.
I own all the cool toys. I have all the best comic books.
When you're living the geek life,
pretty much all you can hope for
is to have the most toys when you die.
All right.
Yep.
Oh, this is huge.
JORDAN: Hopefully, Dave and I can find loose figures
that illustrate articulation, costuming, and sizing,
as well as a spectacular, large-scale toy for my store
amongst the thousands of goodies Dennis has back here.
DAVE: What'd you find up there?
Come here. Ahhhh ah-ah-ah.
Sort of.
It's not sealed, but it's open-complete.
It's the Boulder Hill playset from MASK, by Kenner.
1985.
Mobile Armored Strike Kommand.
There you go -- MASK.
Absolutely.
JORDAN: MASK combined the firepower of G.I. Joe
with the articulation of Transformers.
I forgot how big this thing was.
And no '80s toy line of that caliber
was complete without a kick-*** playset.
There it is.
Watch up here, ready?
[ Imitates machine-gun fire ]
The figures were some of the smallest figures that Kenner made.
They actually have some of the most articulation.
JORDAN: The MASK figures definitely illustrate
some classic '80s toy traits that I can show to Israel.
And the playset would look fantastic in my store.
What do you got to get on it?
I've got $450 on it.
$450 is basically retail.
I'm gonna need to pay closer to $300
if I really want to make a profit here.
What about $300?
Thank you.
[ Chuckles ]
Barbie's Olympic Ski Village.
Give me $60 and it's yours.
60 bucks.
Hey, Jordan, can you come here for a second?
I know we need some classic figures to show Israel.
I was thinking the ball-and-joint
and the hinge articulation in the classic Joes.
A classic G.I. Joe is the ideal toy
to illustrate the importance of articulation.
These figures burst onto the market in 1964,
and the dynamic gesturing Hasbro implemented
would suit Israel's line of toys perfectly.
I know this is usually about $100 toy.
Can you do 60 bucks?
Well, if I can help out the Detroit defense
It's your hometown.
...I'll do 60 bucks for Detroit pride.
Thank you.
Super.
Not only did Dennis give me a figure
to illustrate vintage articulation...
What do you think about these, too?
...but he also had an example for costuming.
Costumes are great.
And I picked up a few loose Kenner Super Powers figures
with some fun articulation details.
Right.
Dennis truly is the King of the Geeks.
If you stop buying, you start dying.
There really is no telling
what I'm gonna find in this warehouse.
Oh, no way! Is it in here?
No way!
Oh, I know what this is.
Oh, it's in there!
JORDAN: I'm in Detroit at Wonderworld Comics
searching for vintage figures that illustrate
the importance of articulation, costuming, and sizing
in an effort to win a job
from aspiring toy mogul Israel Idonije.
This might be a little big for him,
but it's perfect for my store.
Yeah.
This was done by Douglas Corporation, 1996.
Right before the re-release.
In 1997, the original "Star Wars" trilogy
was re-released with modern digital effects.
And of course, companies jumped at the opportunity
to produce modernized figures, playsets,
and products for a new generation of fans.
This was like one of those store display,
You could only win it.
It was a promotional item...
Yep.
JORDAN: In recent years,
there have been life-sized toy reproductions
that go way beyond plush Ewoks,
from large-scale Lego installations in Australia,
to Hot Wheels-inspired muscle cars.
When I had it in the front window, I had $400 on it.
I might be able to put him out to the right buyer for $450.
I can do $300.
Yeah, I'll do $300. All right.
JORDAN: I'm walking away from Wonderworld Comics
with great examples of vintage toy features
and a few awesome eye-catchers for my store.
Dave and I grab the MASK Boulder Hill playset
for 300 big ones,
and it should bring in $500 at the store.
I also picked up the Frito Lay Ewok plush for 300 bucks,
and for $450, a "Star Wars" die-hard
can bring him home and act like he lives on Endor.
Last but not least, I got three vintage action figures for $120.
I could probably sell them for $150,
but these are not for resale.
I need these to illustrate my ideas
on articulation, costuming, and sizing
so I can become the features consultant
on Israel Idonije's upcoming action-figure line.
I get a lot of this stuff at an old pool and toy store.
They would sell pool supplies by the summertime
Really?
Why don't you tag along with me?
Yeah.
Let's do it. Done.
I might buy a Speedo.
I'm a little skeptical
about a pool store having valuable vintage toys,
but when in Detroit, do as the Detroiters do.
Good, Joe.
JOE: My name is Joe.
My family bought JK Pools and Toys about 40 years ago.
We do a lot of retail pool business
and a lot of collectible toys.
Hey. Nice to meet you.
MIKE: My name is Mike. I grew up in this store.
I took over the toy part of the business a few years ago,
'cause my dad doesn't know how to work a computer.
Can I see some of those?
Yep.
Mego Bo Duke and Luke Duke.
JORDAN: Man, if this is the kind of inventory
How 'bout 60 bucks?
You got more?
We're always replenishing our shelves with old stuff.
All right, hang on. Hang on. I'll be right back. I'll be right back.
Yeah, we are.
Wow.
Hulk Heroheads.
Ninja Turtle knock-offs.
These aisles are full of wonderful throwbacks.
But there's nothing really eye-catching or gigantic
for my store.
I think I'm gonna have to dig deeper
to find the buried treasure.
Oh, man!
Starsky and Hutch!
Oh, wow.
Yep.
Star Wars, Star Wars, Star Wars.
These were the poster-art sets by Craft Master.
They were very popular back in the '70s and '80s.
You sit there on a Saturday afternoon
and you color it all in, and boom!
At the very end of the day,
you'd have, like, this piece of artwork hanging on your wall.
Oh, look. That one's amazing.
Travolta by himself.
Wow!
JORDAN: John Travolta was only 23 years old when he played
the czar of the Brooklyn nightlife scene
in "Saturday Night Fever."
The movie not only made him a star,
but the soundtrack also became a smash.
It was the top-selling album of all time,
with over 20 million copies purchased,
but was eventually topped
by Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in 1983.
"Jaws 2."
There are tons of poster sets here.
If I get a good bulk price on them,
they could be great displays and big money-makers
back at the store.
What do you got to get on 10 poster sets?
Do 20 bucks apiece.
Sweet.
Yeah, you bought your way in.
Oh, is that it? It was initiation?
Mm-hmm. This is it, guys.
DAVE: Oh, this is huge.
No.
Wow.
40 years of unsold toys in their original shipping boxes?
I think I died and went to 1970s heaven.
Oh, Dave!
What'd you get?
Oh, Gumbies!
Gumby and Pokey. These were by Lakeside Toys.
These were done in 1965.
They're rubber, bendable toys.
They've got a wire armature going up through the rubber.
Gumby and Pokey were characters created
by a guy named Art Clokey, okay,
and they were stop-motion claymation.
Gumby was created in the early '50s
and enjoyed success on television
with "The Gumby Show" until 1968,
when the character entered a decade of silence
before bursting back onto the scene in the 1980s.
Gumby came back in the limelight during "Saturday Night Live,"
when Eddie Murphy was on the show. Remember?
That's it.
Thing is, he brought back Gumby
as this wise-cracking, street-smart tough guy.
And he made him popular again?
Okay.
Just like he did with Alfalfa.
He's saying, "Alfalfa?" "O-tay," and "I've been shot!"
Okay.
You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?
Just saying "Okay." Not at all.
[ Sighs ]
JORDAN: These figures will be really cool to bring to Israel,
and as long as I can get them for about $10 apiece,
I won't feel bad about breaking them out of the package.
How 'bout I give you 10 bucks each?
No, $10 each because
no one's gonna remember these guys except for old farts like me.
True, you are old. Okay.
I'm old.
JORDAN: I'm dying to find more big items for the store.
There's got to be something huge down here.
That's like a box up in the rafters,
See that?
Oh, man, he is up there.
Here you go. Oh, God! It's all filled.
Oh, my God.
I haven't seen these since the '80s.
Here. Oh, we're fighting over these.
JORDAN: I'm in Detroit for a big meeting
with professional footballer and budding toy designer
Israel Idonije,
and I'm also scouring the city
for jumbo toys to sell at my store back in Jersey.
These aren't jumbo, but they are seriously hard to find.
These are Stompers done by Schaper Toys in 1983.
They were battery-operated 4x4 vehicles.
Back in the 1980s, the 4x4 craze was still really, really hot.
Bigfoot, monster trucks, everything.
It had commercials where it going over branches and twigs.
Yeah, and the rocks, through the water.
They were the ultimate outdoor toy for boys.
You do 60 bucks on the four?
Thank you.
JORDAN: Dave and I made some good buys, but unfortunately,
there's not much here that fits the bill
Nah.
...so I think it's time to hop out of the pool and go dry off.
I scored 10 Craft Master posters for $200,
and I'll sell them back at the store for $50 apiece.
I also got Gumby and Pokey for 20 bucks.
I could resell them for $40,
but I think I'm gonna give them to Israel at our meeting.
And finally, I got four Stompers for 60 big ones,
and I'll price them at $30 a truck.
Dennis was an amazing tour guide for our first leg of the trip,
but it's time for Dave and I to head off solo
to our last dig before meeting with Israel.
Next up is Tim,
a collector Dave spoke with
who has supposedly turned his basement
into a shrine for pop culture.
Hi.
Yes.
I'm Jordan.
TIM: My name is Tim.
I'm an attorney by day and a toy fanatic by night.
Wow.
DAVE: Oh, wow. This is gonna be fun.
My collection includes stuff from the rock band Kiss,
as well as Star Wars
and anything '70s and '80s pop culture.
I'm a fan of the retro.
JORDAN: These toys have been displayed with extreme care,
which is usually a sign the owner is very attached.
How much of this is for sale?
Oh, there you go!
"For the right price." All right.
JORDAN: Only one way to find out.
[ As Mr. T ] I pity the fool who don't pay enough money for my toys!
This is neat. Ooh.
This is the Starsky and Hutch
radio-controlled Ford Gran Torino.
The first celebrity-type car.
It totally was.
General Lee would later be another.
K.I.T.T. from "Knight Rider," the A-Team van.
The Batmobile.
And you had the Torino from "Starsky and Hutch."
The Starsky and Hutch Gran Torino
was nicknamed "the striped tomato"
because of its iconic, eye-catching paint job,
which is pretty funny,
considering it was supposed to be an undercover cop car.
They remade "Starsky and Hutch"
with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.
And Snoop Dogg.
And Snoop Dogg was in it! Snoop Dogg played Huggy Bear!
Huggy Bear was a dapper, jive-talking informant
who became a fan favorite on the original TV show.
Who better to re-invent the role for the big screen
than Snoop Dogg?
$75?
I'm thinking more like 50 bucks.
Yeah, I can do that.
No problem.
That's awesome.
Bop-A-Bear, by Marx Toys in 1974.
This was like Rock 'Em Sock 'Em, except for it was bears.
And it makes a lot of noise, annoys adults.
Oh! Knocked you out!
Bop-A-Bear is definitely a classic,
but won't fetch more than $30 on the retail market.
Sure.
For myself. All right.
What are you thinking on the Pet Rock?
Sure.
I thought Tim might be a little more hesitant to sell,
but we're off to a good start.
Oh! Oh, I found what I want.
I know exactly what you're going for.
Sectaurs. These were all done by Coleco.
It's like a giant spider.
You put your hand in it like a puppet.
Sectaurs was like a combination
of "The Fly" and "Masters of the Universe."
It mixed a dash of genetic, insect experimentation
and a sprinkle of the battle between good and evil
in an unfamiliar, sci-fi world.
The Sectaurs line really didn't do too well.
Yeah.
These Sectaurs are big action figures,
so I'll be sure to grab one for my meeting with Israel.
What a minute. Wait a minute.
Oh!
You didn't tell us you had it hidden back there!
Really?!
Forget the action figures -- this is a big toy.
JORDAN: I'm in Michigan in an effort to earn the role
of action-figure features consultant
for Israel Idonije's upcoming toy line.
I'm also hunting for eye-catching, jumbo pieces
to sell in my store back in Jersey.
And what I just spotted is gigantic.
This is The HYVE playset, 1984, Coleco Corporation.
Everything's inside of it.
Completely sealed.
Everyone from Barbie to He-Man had multiple playsets,
and finding them sealed is rare.
But the Sectaurs HYVE isn't just rare --
it also happens to be humongous at nearly three feet tall.
Yep.
You have a giant destruction ball,
Yep.
A set in this condition could sell for upwards of $500.
This is exactly the kind of toy I need in my store,
but only if I can get it at the right price.
What are you looking for on something like this?
$450?
I'm more like $250, I got to be honest with you.
Can you do anything to sweeten the deal?
Sure, I think I have a couple of duplicates.
Dargon with Dragonflyer
and General Spidrax with Spiderflyer.
So, you could do the set and I'll do $325?
We can do that.
Thank you.
No problem.
JORDAN: I just scored the mack daddy of 1980s playsets.
Not bad for a short-notice toy hunt in Michigan.
I appreciate it.
JORDAN: I bought the Starsky and Hutch remote-control car
for 50 bucks, and it'll speed away for $90.
And Dave crushed me at the Marx Bop-A-Bear game for $15,
and I'll put it out at my store for $30.
And last but not least, I got a bundle of Sectaurs,
including the humongous HYVE playset, for 325 big ones,
and they could sell for upwards of $700.
It's game time for my meeting with Israel Idonije,
and as if the pressure wasn't already on,
we're gonna be talking toys at the home of the Detroit Lions --
Ford Field.
This play is incredible.
Let's hope I can keep my composure on the field
and score a touch-down with the loose figures I got for Israel.
How you doing?
Good seeing you, dude. Good seeing you.
Hi.
I'm shooting to be Israel's consultant
on the action-figure features on his upcoming toy line,
so I brought examples
of articulation, costuming, and sizing with me.
Super.
I think vintage detailing is the way to go,
and if I can get Israel to agree, I could get this gig.
Okay.
This cloth costume
is really what collectors are looking for right now.
You think that'll still connect with our fans?
I think it will because the costume
actually adds sort of this quality aspect.
Plus, if you can put them in different costumes,
I like that. I love it.
The old G.I. Joe play plan was to have one or two dolls,
and then have lots of outfits and a lot of accessories for it.
As they tried to build in all sorts of articulation
in the arms and the legs --
You want to get like in your three-point stance,
get ready to go, you can get down.
You need to get up and block a kick...
Israel is starting to respond very positively
to our ideas for his toy line.
Increase the playability...
I really hope he picks us as consultants for his design team.
I got to say, I really appreciate you guys being so prepared.
You've definitely done your homework,
and just having such creative ideas,
it really is a perfect fit.
I can't thank you guys enough.
ISRAEL: Meeting with Jordan and Dave today
really just got me pumped up,
and I can't wait to get things started.
Thank you for the opportunity, I mean really. I'm excited.
JORDAN: Dave and I were able to find some loose action figures
for Israel Idonije on the fly,
and just scored an amazing consulting gig
for his new toy line.
I also reloaded my inventory with big toys
to fill my shelves at the store,
which should keep my customers coming back for more.
Do you have a toy that you think should be featured on our show?
Go to Toy Hunter at travelchannel.com
to submit your toy today.
You never know -- we might take the hunt to you.