John Arturo - When did you start collecting and how did you get into the hobby?
Jay Casas - I started collecting Transformers when I was a kid. I had Transformer toys from Beast Wars, Beast Machines, Robots in Disguise, and Armada. I really liked robots over monsters and aliens that other kids collected in their youth. After I collected a hundred Transformers I started watching Mobile Suit Gundam Wing when it was airing on Cartoon Network's "Toonami" and I haven't stopped collecting Gundams since.
John Arturo - Your collection mainly consists of Gundams, what makes Gundams so special to you?
Jay Casas - In the television shows, Gundams are built to be far superior than any robot. It's not like Transformers where their are two opposing sides of robots fighting each other it's usually four or five Gundams going up against armies of robots and the Gundams always win. Each Gundam has different weapons and attachments that's why I have so many of them.
John Arturo - Do you collect anything else?
Jay Casas - I have a small collection of Blu-rays that consists of Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor, Tron Legacy, and Super 8. I want to expand my collection when the 2012 summer movies come out on Blu-ray. I started buying movie posters last summer and I have a Thor poster, a Prometheus poster, a Dark Knight Rises poster, and I just purchased an Avengers poster from Amazon. I also collect Marvel Comics, I don't have a hundred comics like some of the collectors you spotlight but I have some issues of New Avengers, Young Avengers and most recently Fear Itself. I'm really looking forward to Avengers vs. X-Men that's a huge Marvel event I can't wait for.
John Arturo - What are your favorite collectible companies?
Jay Casas - Bandai produces every Gundam toy line so I have to say I'm a fan of Bandai. I don't collect any Marvel or DC collectibles unless I really want to buy it.
John Arturo - What is your favorite part of collecting?
Jay Casas - I enjoy finding that one collectible that I really want to add to my collection. I'll order online or drive out of my way to find that one collectible if I can't find it anywhere else.
John Arturo - What is the key thing you look for in an item you want to add to your collection?
Jay Casas - I have to make sure it's not the same collectible I bought last week. There's a lot of action figures that look the same and I try and look for different items to buy.
John Arturo - What is your favorite movie?
Jay Casas - My favorite movie is Thor I really enjoyed that one. Marvel Studios has done a good job adapting their properties. I really like Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, and Captain America, but Thor stands out the most. The movie is set in Asgard and you get an idea of who the Asgardians are and why they have an all out war against the Frost Giants. You see Odin's vault with items from the Marvel Universe (especially the Infinity Gauntlet). Thor battles not just the Frost Giants, but the Destroyer and finally Loki at the end. I really like watching Marvel movies, my parents would take me to see X-Men and Spider-Man when I was a little kid and I haven't stopped watching them since. I'm looking forward to Ghost Rider, The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, Iron Man 3, and Thor 2 next year.
John Arturo - What is your favorite piece from your collection?
Jay Casas - I have this Mega Man X action figure that I haven't opened because it's a rare collectible. I like Mega Man because I use to watch the old Mega Man television show back in the 90's. I never could find the toys anywhere, they were always sold out and I called so many toy stores that I just quit calling and then they stopped making them. I found out that Bandai was making these new Mega Man action figures so I had to have them.
John Arturo - What are some items you are most looking forward to adding to your collection?
Jay Casas - There is a new Gundam series called Mobile Suit Gundam AGE and Bandai already released a couple of action figures so I'm looking out for one of those. I'm waiting on new Spider-Man and Avengers movie posters to fill my room with. I'm also waiting for Avengers vs. X-Men because those are my two favorite superhero teams from the Marvel Universe and seeing them fight each other is really worth the wait.
John Arturo - Finally, what is your favorite aspect of ComicBookMovie.com?
Jay Casas - CBM.com is by far my favorite website. I'm on it everyday and when I'm not on my laptop I check my iPhone for updates. I use to check SuperHeroHype and IGN for news but I prefer CBM because it's superhero news all the time. I check out every article daily because I'm a super geek for that kind of stuff.
If you want to know more about collecting statues/high end items, or just want to see what kind of interesting collectibles are out there, visit my statue devoted site Lethal Farce.
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 by clicking the "Contact Me" link here. 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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