My love for action figures or toys, as they were back then, began before I can even remember. My parents had very little money. My dad was a fireman, who worked multiple jobs and my mother was a college student. Our lack of funds never stopped my parents from buying me what my little heart desired. I look back now and think about what they gave up to please me and I feel conflicted. I feel so loved that they would put me first and on the other hand I feel guilty because I never stopped asking for more. That is something for me to ponder later. There were so many great toys back then but, I will only name a few.


I was born in 1982 and the first toy I fell in love with was He-Man. The cartoon came on directly after General Hospital. I would sit in front of our huge console TV that was as big as a couch with only a 19 inch screen, and stare blankly. I could not wait to see what new character would become my latest toy must have.


I could not wait until we made the bimonthly trek to Wal-Mart so I could grab my next prize. I had so many figures that I could not name them all.
The only one that got away from me was RamMAN.

There were so many great figures.


The castles and playsets were great too.



I remember the Christmas I got Eternia. It was one of those great Saturday Christmas', presents and cartoons.

There were some cool vehicles too.


Check this out... How awesome is that?

There is no telling how many countless hours I spent playing with He-Man and his friends. I said earlier that I never had a RamMan; I bought one off ebay with my very first post college paycheck.

The next thing that took control over me was also a cartoon, a Saturday morning cartoon.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles took over my life like a drug. I loved these things and I also had a large variety of them as well.

My mom came home with these guys one day and my life was never the same again.


Here are some of the best:




Man, those were great. I never grew bored of playing with them. I just grew to think I was too old.

This may be one of the greatest playsets of all time.


Surpased by none other than,




I loved the turtles like nobodys business. Those guys ruled my life.



I spent alot of time in my life playing with Ghostbusters as well.



Some of the figures became too odd for me.


The best was the firestation. It was one of those great playsets of yesteryear.

Pretty close, huh?

The final toy to really alter my childhood was
.

This was the last toy group that I got really into. I played with them right up until junior high. Then I was so into sports that I had little time to play. I also did not want my friends to find out either. That was a strange time in my life. Many of you know what I am talking about.









Here are some Honorable Mentions:

Terminator 2 Judgement Day Action Figures


Thundercats



Superhereos



I spent alot of time in my childhood playing with these kinds of toys. I can still remember my dad begging me to go outside and play but I was content sitting at the kitchen table playing away. I still walk down the toy aisle today looking and praying for that day when I can play with those toys again... with my kids of course.