John Arturo - When did you start collecting and how did you get into the hobby?
Bob Hoffman - I collected rocks, coins, toys, and comics as a kid, but it was 42 Entertainment's (Viral Marketing Co.) campaign for The Dark Knight in '08 that instilled in me the idea of collecting something again. A friend sent me a pic of the 'I believe in Harvey Dent' joker cards hidden in various comic shops to kickstart the campaign and I was hooked.
John Arturo - Why the Joker?
Bob Hoffman - I always loved watching reruns of the old '60s Batman show as a kid and the 1989 Batman movie blew 12-year old me away. The thing is, even though I would root for Batman, it was the Joker that always got my attention. even as a little kid, I remember thinking, "He's scary. They probably shouldn't be showing him on a kids' show. Why does he have a mustache under the make-up?" Fascinating sh*t.
John Arturo - Do you collect anything else?
Bob Hoffman - I'm a school teacher in the Middle-East and only make it home once a year or so. My wife and I spend most of our expendable income on travel, so one collection is enough for now. But...my friend's Pez collection does look mighty fine.
John Arturo - What is your favorite collectibles company?
Bob Hoffman - Hot Toys does some insanely excellent work, but my favorites are a little more 'quirky' or even childish. Toys today can feel like little pieces of art, but the older stuff looks made for children. It takes me right back.
John Arturo - What is your favorite part of collecting?
Bob Hoffman - Well, besides the anticipation of finally seeing it all displayed together, it's sort of brought my Dad and I closer together. I'm usually overseas, so the poor guy has to open, check, and store all the packages I receive in the mail, apologize to the postman, and email me with a description of what arrived. He collects badges though, so he seems to understand the low-grade addiction of collecting. Thanks, Pop.
John Arturo - What is the key thing you look for in an item you want to add to your collection?
Bob Hoffman - At first, it just had to be a licensed product. Then, I looked for well-done bootlegs. These days, I catch myself seeking out weird foreign market stuff, like a 'Jack Nicholson Joker rubber bath toy.' Seriously bizarre and awesome.
John Arturo - What is your favorite movie?
Bob Hoffman - I should say Batman '89 and The Dark Knight, but it's actually Joe vs. the Volcano.
John Arturo - What is your favorite piece from your collection?
Bob Hoffman - If you look at the top-center, you'll see a Japanese-made Billiken Jack Nicholson wind-up toy. It's probably between that and the statue (bust) right next to it of Joker holding a pin to a batman balloon.
John Arturo - What are some items you are most looking forward to adding to your collection?
Bob Hoffman - There's a Joker piggy bank and a Joker ceramic music box (both made by Mego, I think) from the '70s. They are rad. The hardest thing for me to find will probably be the Joker puppet that came in a set, sold through Sears back in 1966. The face on that thing is hideous- love it.
John Arturo - Finally, what is your favorite aspect of ComicBookMovie.com?
Bob Hoffman - It's gotta be the sheer volume of coverage they put out there. Even if I don't care what Aquaman looks like in his new tights, a few minutes later they've posted something right up my alley. This site is in my daily rotation.
Bob Hoffman -
I've started teaching a BA English Communications course using graphic novels. In reading up on the art form of comics, I keep running across the idea of superheroes and super-villains as incarnations of older mythologies and pantheons of gods. To me, the inverted relationship between Batman and the Joker (the knight and the trickster... or order vs. chaos) is the most original pair in superhero comics. When I collect something, I like to know there will be some kind of end in sight. That (and the money) is why I won't be hunting down all 50,000 Batman collectibles out there. But, the Joker seems manageable...and cooler.
Too bad my future kids are going to have to go through some awkward conversations with their friends, "...why does your dad have hundreds of creepy little clowns?" If you have a collection (don't worry about the size, it could be 4-5 items and that is still a collection right?) and want me to showcase it on the site, then shoot me an email at "admin at lethalfarce.com" I will shoot you a few questions to answer to go along with the images and once a week we will showcase a users collection on here.
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