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JORDAN: Toys have been flying off the shelves lately.
That's $100. Thank you.
So I'm hunting high and low for toys to restock my stash.
[ Chuckling ] Wow!
But I've got company.
Hip-hop legend D of Run-DMC is along for the ride.
Toys rule!
And he's got his own agenda.
Got to get Captain America for me.
This is a whole nother level.
Ahh! Oh, my God!
I'm Jordan Hembrough.
For over 25 years, toys have been my life.
Found something I want.
My mission is to explore the country...
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.
New York City --
the glitz, the glam, the Comic-Con.
Every serious dealer has a booth here...
I love Princess of Power. I love She-Ra.
...not just in hopes of moving merchandise...
Thank you.
What can you do on Boba Fett?
I'll do $600 cash.
...but also to mix and mingle
with the crazy crowds that roll through.
$80.
Yeah, okay.
Thank you, brother.
You'll never know who you'll run into at Comic-Con,
but there's one person in particular that I'm expecting.
Yo, Jordan, Jordan, man, what's up, baby?
Yo, I know we talked on the phone,
but when I knew you was gonna be here,
I said I got to come see you in person, man.
I'm not much of a hip-hop head,
but even I know this is one of the founding godfathers of rap.
Sometimes I tell them when certain people ask
that DMC means "Darryl Makes Cash."
But most people just call me D for short.
JORDAN: Run-DMC was a pioneering force in hip-hop
in the early '80s and beyond.
The band's three members
were known as much for their chart-topping hits
as for their signature look --
fedoras, gold chains, and head-to-toe Adidas.
You're actually wearing one of my shirts, man.
Yeah, I had to get it online, man.
I can't come see you in person and not represent.
This is a true statement.
Did toys influence your music at all?
Oh, yes. I think the toys --
They took me away from all the problems
that I had as a little kid.
It was a form of escape.
There's a bunch of toys
that I had when I was younger.
Remember Big Jim?
I know Big Jim. Big Jim's awesome!
Yeah, and Big Jim had this camper thing.
Yeah.
G.I. Joe Astronaut.
Check this out.
Do you remember the little comic-book characters --
They had Spider-Man, they had the Hulk?
Mego rules.
Those toys are in me and your DNA.
Toys nowadays suck!
Yeah.
'Cause you remember in our era,
the toys were so incredible and creative.
I feel like a little kid right now.
You look like a little kid right now.
I have a camp for foster kids -- Camp Felix.
And what I'm trying to do
is show the kids that by using your imagination,
you're empowering yourself.
I just want to give those children the opportunity
to see some dope toys like I had when I was younger.
Yeah.
You know, I was getting ready to ask,
"Yo, by the way, can anybody come with you on a hunt?"
I don't typically take newbies out on the road.
So you're gonna come with me.
I'll come with you.
But then again, I'm going on a dig anyway.
I could show him the ropes,
and maybe we'll find something for his foster camp.
I'm in. I'm in.
All right, so let's do this, man.
I'll call you.
Toys rule!
Toys forever!
See you soon.
Lord, help me.
Sales are swift at New York Comic-Con this year,
so I've got some inventory to replenish.
I'm going to let D tag along on my next dig
right here on his home turf -- NYC.
Hopefully he'll snag a toy or two for Camp Felix
and I'll find some gems to restock my shelves with,
plus maybe land a new client.
Oh, my God! No way!
Nice to meet you.
I can't believe you brought this guy.
No, I was serious.
My name is Vinny, I'm from Staten Island,
and I love my Megos almost as much as I love my family.
Here we come.
I think you guys will find a lot of stuff
that you're gonna like back here.
It's kind of like an Easter-egg hunt.
Just start looking for stuff?
Just start looking.
JORDAN: Oh, wow, look at this place.
Vinny is rumored to be a total Mego maniac.
I can't wait to see what's hiding in these bins.
He got more over there?
Ahh! Oh, my God!
Hold on! I had all this!
[ Laughter ]
JORDAN: I need this ear later, man.
Yeah, Action Jackson -- I had this. I remember this.
JORDAN: The Action Jackson line of dolls
was put out by Mego Corporation in 1971,
their answer to Hasbro'*** G.I. Joe line of action figures.
Some remember Action Jackson
as a 1988 movie starring Carl Weathers and Sharon Stone,
but the Mego figure came first.
And before the action figure
came the real-life Action Jackson.
D: Yeah.
They won the title in '72 or something.
I was a little kid, but my mother went crazy.
So back then, the president of Mego
was actually a huge Knicks fan.
Who was the sixth man that used to come in?
Phil Jackson.
When he would come in to the games,
he would cause up trouble,
and they used to call him Action Jackson.
And that's how Mego came up with the name Action Jackson.
JORDAN: Basketball and toys have been alley-ooping for decades,
from Nerf's colorful basketball sets
to the slam-dunk arcade game "NBA Jam."
And this Mego man of action fits right into the lineup.
How much for Action Jackson?
This is crazy 'cause I had -- This is bugging me out.
This is a whole nother level.
Action Jackson!
Well, if you like it that much, the price is gonna double.
Hang on. Wait a minute.
Oh, right, 'cause I'm acting like I like it too much.
I'm conferring with my client for a second.
JORDAN: D is great, but this guy has no poker face.
This could be a real problem.
Oh, I know about things. Okay.
Stop saying you like it.
I don't think I learned how to haggle.
That's still new to me.
JORDAN: D is buying for the foster kids,
so let's hope he can get a good price out of Vinny.
What I'm trying to do with this toy hunt
is show the kids that whether you is reading a book,
whether you is playing with your toys,
whether you is writing -- It was all about creativity.
JORDAN: To the right collector, this could be worth $250.
But since D is buying for charity,
he definitely shouldn't pay more than $180.
What do you need on the three Action Jackson outfits
and the two dolls?
I'll tell you what -- $200, you can take the lot of them.
Just ask yourself, "What would Phil Jackson pay for that doll?"
$150 for the lot. That's what Phil Jackson would pay.
You said $200. I said $150.
$175.
Done.
Done deal.
JORDAN: Nice one, D.
I'm hoping that's not just beginner's luck.
You're getting good at this.
Oh, here's a bunch of Megos. Oh, wow. Look at this.
These right here, though...
This is what I'm trying to get for the kids.
JORDAN: The toy company Mego was founded in the 1950s
but only became a powerhouse in the action-figure market
a couple of decades later
with the 1972 release
of The World's Greatest Super Heroes line.
And these eight-inch figures actually repurposed
the original Action Jackson body form.
Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, Hulk, Iron Man.
Got to get Captain America for me.
How could you not?
JORDAN: The Captain America comic-book character
was the first Marvel super hero to appear on the silver screen
in 1944.
More recently, he's been featured
in several blockbuster films in the "Avengers" franchise,
played by Chris Evans.
Kids is familiar with all these characters now.
Yeah, well, "The Avengers" is really popular right now,
and Spider-Man is making another comeback.
I can use these toys from the '70s,
put it in front of the kid,
and see where he or she goes with it.
We got to let them exercise their minds.
How much for the nine loose Megos?
$300, and we got a deal.
$275?
All right, I want an autograph with this.
I will give you -- Oh.
And a picture.
JORDAN: D is snagging some awesome toys for his foster camp,
but this dig is a wash for me
if I don't get my hands on something cool
for my own stash, 'cause Comic-Con cleaned me out.
Look, here. This one -- Wait a minute.
No way this is what I think it is.
No! No! Really?!
JORDAN: My stock got wiped out at New York Comic-Con,
so I'm replenishing my stash.
Action Jackson! I had this.
DMC is tagging along
to buy some toys for his foster kids' organization.
This is what I'm trying to get for the kids.
JORDAN: But meanwhile,
I think I may have just found what I'm looking for.
JORDAN: No way this what I think it is.
No! No! Really?!
That is exactly what you think it is.
D: What is it?
It's Robin with a removable mask.
JORDAN: Robin was released in 1972 by Mego Corporation
as part of the original World's Greatest Super Heroes line.
D: Oh, wow.
Do you know how rare this thing is?
Of course.
And it was cheaper to make him with his mask painted...
Of course.
...than to add the accessory.
That's crazy.
That's not an original mask, though.
If it was, you know what that would be worth?
A gazillion dollars.
What do you have to get on him?
Honestly, I can't take anything less than $300 for him.
$300?
But it's not even a real mask. That's the thing.
This figure is probably the most sought-after Mego,
second only to the alter egos.
Really?
All right, I'll do $300.
You're killing me.
I got an event coming up. It might go at the event.
JORDAN: This is just the kind of toy
that will turn heads at a Comic-Con.
I'm really happy with today's dig.
D purchased two Action Jackson dolls
and three outfits for $175.
The lot has a resale value of $300.
He also bought nine loose Megos for his foster-camp kids
at a bulk price of $275,
which could fetch up to $525
if they ever end up back on the market.
And I dropped $300 on a super-rare removable-mask Robin,
which I bet I can turn around for $545.
We got to make a Mego DMC doll.
I don't know. You better be careful. That might be tricky.
[ Laughs ]
All right.
JORDAN: I've never seen a guy as excited as D was today.
Ahh! Oh, my God!
Now it's my turn.
I'll keep my eyes peeled for toys for D on my next dig,
but I'm seriously hoping to restock my store
after the madness of Comic-Con.
Steve and I are headed to a first-time seller's basement
that I hear is chock-full of amazing toys.
Let's see if he delivers.
Hey! How's everything.
I'm Jordan.
Nice to meet you.
My name is Joseph.
I collect toys from TV shows and movies
that I watched in the '70s.
Hey, why don't you guys come on in? I got a lot to show you.
All right, cool.
[ Chuckling ] Wow!
A basement piled high with dusty, unmarked boxes?
This should be good news
for my goal of replenishing my toy stock.
This is very, very cool.
[ Laughs ]
This is Ideal's Star Team Star Hawk spaceship.
1977.
The Star Hawk is a battery-operated spaceship
that had a motorized hatch and various cool blinking lights.
That was their answer to "Star Wars."
It was.
R2-D2, C-3PO, and Darth Vader.
Only they called them Zeroid,
ZEM-21, and the Knight of Darkness.
The Star Team.
As cool as the Star Team was, the line was overshadowed
by Kenner's official Star Wars toys.
But Ideal had its share of massive hits, too,
including the Evel Knievel line
of action figures and stunt vehicles
and the Rubik's Cube.
Yeah.
How do you feel about 80 bucks?
I'd feel better with $85.
$85 is fine. Awesome.
Joseph!
[ Laughs ]
One of my all-time favorite space toys.
This could be perfect for D's foster kids.
Oh, my gosh.
He's gonna flip when he sees this.
Hey, toy fans, check out travelchannel.com
for the latest in my toy tricks and tips.
JORDAN: Steve and I are on a dig in Brooklyn
restocking our inventories after New York Comic-Con,
and I've also just uncovered something really promising
that might be perfect for DMC's foster-camp kids.
Joseph!
[ Laughs ]
One of my all-time favorite space toys.
Oh, my gosh.
Space: 1999 -- the Eagle spaceship.
This was Mattel, 1976.
Before Star Wars figures, before Millennium Falcons and X-Wings,
there was the Space: 1999 spaceship
with its little figures.
And before all of that,
there was the epic film "2001: A Space Odyssey."
Director Stanley Kubrick actually threatened legal action
against the creators of Space: 1999
because he felt the title was too similar to his.
This is cool for Darryl.
This whole ship is, like, all modular.
You can take it apart. See that?
Pop the top in here.
The thing I loved about this as a kid --
At 2 1/2 feet long,
this spaceship was practically as big as I was.
The box does have some condition issues.
But the main artwork on the front of the box,
which is the most important, is still pretty good.
That could be mounted on a wall and hung as artwork.
Oh, my God.
You're like a car salesman.
"Want to buy a spaceship? Hey, it's a great spaceship.
Only been to Mars once."
$185?
In this condition,
this toy would usually go for a little over $200,
so there's no way I can pay $185 for it,
especially since I'm only reselling it at cost
for D's charity.
How about $160?
Yeah, $160 sounds good.
$160. Thank you.
That's a great piece, man.
STEVE: Oh, look at that.
Here you go. Look.
See what?
Oh, my God.
JORDAN: This is the Fort Apache Play Set from Louis Marx -- 1968 --
and it came in a tin carry-all.
Wow.
You got all these horses, and for some reason,
you got one donkey in the midst of it.
You always got one ***, right?
I got one, too, right there.
There you go.
JORDAN: Fort Apache Play Set creator Louis Marx
owned what was once the largest toy company in the world,
landing him on the cover of Time magazine in 1955,
a distinction he shares
with three costars of the "Fort Apache" movie --
John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and Shirley Temple.
This I want to get for Darryl
because with these kids these days,
I guarantee you they have not seen something like this.
$140.
Look, see this? This is me.
I'm running away from your price.
I'm like, "You got to be kidding me."
The kids will go nuts over this,
but I can't ask D to pay over $100,
which means I can't pay over $100.
Do 100 bucks?
Yeah.
JORDAN: Let's see if there's more where that came from.
This is actually --
This is something I'm actually looking for for Darryl.
I know Big Jim.
Big Jim's awesome. ♪ Big Jim ♪
JORDAN: Mattel introduced the hugely successful Big Jim line of toys
in 1972.
It included an array of manly men like Big Jim and Big Josh
and a sports camper that looked suspiciously like
the Barbie Malibu Country Camper,
also by Mattel.
Is he in there? Oh, there he is. Here he is.
[ Laughs ]
All right. I want to get this for Darryl.
How much for Big Jim?
I was thinking maybe $80.
I think $80 is lofty.
I'm not much of a haggler.
Okay, neither am I.
What? I'm shocked.
No, I don't like to haggle.
I change my mind a lot.
You do realize that doll not included.
80 bucks with the doll.
And the eagle.
Thank you.
JORDAN: What a take.
I paid $85 for the super-rare retro Star Hawk,
and I'm thinking I can get at least $100 on it.
I also grabbed a bunch of toys
perfect for the foster kids at Camp Felix,
which I won't make a profit on
because I'm passing them along to D at cost.
Joseph gave me a hard sell on the Eagle I spaceship,
but I talked him down to $160.
It's worth around $200.
I bought the Fort Apache Play Set for $100,
even though its value on the open market is double that.
And I put down $80 for the Big Jim camper,
which usually goes for around $150.
Thank you.
I hit the jackpot on toys that D may want for Camp Felix.
I'll offer them to him at cost.
And if he goes for that, I've landed a new client.
I'm headed over to D's rehearsal space now,
and I'm gonna offer him the whole lot.
[ Rapping indistinctly ]
We just got to run through it another 150 million times,
and we'll be good.
Yo!
What's up, Jordan?
What you got, man?
I got the rest of your toys, man.
Let me show you what I got, okay?
This is cool stuff.
You wanted really cool toys from the '70s for the kids.
Oh, my goodness. I don't believe you got this.
This is the Fort Apache Play Set from Louis Marx.
Oh, my goodness.
This is insane, man.
Want to keep going?
Oh, my God.
You found it. This is sick.
Kids in the camp is gonna have a ball with this.
Big Jim was by Mattel.
But you know what was cool about this?
It took you away from G.I. Joe.
G.I. Joe was so military.
Sometimes you just wanted a normal guy.
Right.
All right, I got one more.
Space: 1999. This is just crazy.
When I was little, 1999 was so far away.
Here's Marton Landau. There he is.
There's Barbara Bain.
So, Jordan, how much does stuff like this go for?
Here's the thing. A lot of this stuff can go for big dollars.
But, of course, I'm selling these to you at cost.
Space: 1999 -- $160, which is good.
Big Jim van -- For you, I'll do 80 bucks.
The Fort.
100 bucks.
JORDAN: I'm totally nervous quoting D prices on these toys,
because if he doesn't buy,
I'll actually end up in the red
and with one less big-name client.
JORDAN: I'm at DMC's rehearsal studio
with a pile of toys I've purchased
for the kids at Camp Felix to play with.
I've dropped hundreds of dollars on the haul
hoping D will take the toys off my hands at cost.
Otherwise, I'll have to eat the loss.
So, Jordan, how much does stuff like this go for?
Here's the thing -- A lot of this stuff can go for big dollars.
In my everyday life, if I were going to, like, other collectors
and everything, I could probably get a lot of money for it.
The good thing is I know it's for the kids.
I know they're gonna take it out and play with it.
JORDAN: I've laid it all out for D,
and I hope he says, "Yes, I'll take it all."
I'm offering these toys to him at an incredible price --
wholesale.
I won't be earning a penny.
I'll do it.
And this is a great bunch of stuff for the kids.
That's what's most important.
It is. It is. Thank you.
And do me a favor. Call me again if you need stuff, okay?
Will do. No, I want the Big Wheel.
I'm gonna start riding the Big Wheel onstage.
Are you really? All right.
[ Laughs ]
D: Today, oh, it was amazing.
I think everybody should go toy digging
because it'll always excite the little kid
that will always be in us.
That's hustling right there.
[ Laughs ]
JORDAN: Do you have a toy that you think should be featured on our show?
Go to toyhunter@travelchannel.com
to submit your toy today.
You never know. We might take the hunt to you.