Fact: With one exception, I haven't been out of Tucson in about four years.

Fact: I'm used to traveling a little more than this, and need it be said, my boredom factor was through the roof.

Fact: A good friend of mine has been pretty stressed out lately because of heavy work on the draft of a book for Osprey Military Publishing.

Fact: He recently completed that draft.

Fact: We needed a break.

Fact: The toy market in Tucson lately has been pretty dry, so we decided to take a day trip north to the Phoenix area, have some fun, and see what turned up (if anything). Besides, I've had this theory lately that Tucson gets the short end of the stick from a distribution chain that ends pretty much in Phoenix and we get their leftovers.

It was a very enjoyable day. Good weather, no rain, very mild for this time of year.

The first stop was one of the most productive. We stopped in Casa Grande, which is a community about midpoint between Tucson and Phoenix. It's big enough to have a Wal-Mart and a Target. The Target didn't offer much, but shockingly, the Wal-Mart turned up the best supply of DC UNIVERSE CLASSICS figures I've seen in a LOOONG time. What's shocking about this is that I didn't think Wal-Mart was even CARRYING this line just now, nor did we see any evidence of it at ANY other Wal-Mart ANYWHERE on the day -- not even shelf tags. Precisely what sort of insane fluke this was I have no idea -- nor am I complaining. They had figures from Series 2, 3, and 4, all in the same area. I came away with the Sinestro Corps version of Sinestro from Series 3, and Cyborg and Captain Atom from Series 4. Didn't see much DC Universe anywhere else at any store, including Targets.

They had also gotten in the second series of Incredible Hulk-based Marvel Legends figures. I wanted the Doc Samson figure from this assortment (just for the peculiarity factor if nothing else), and got him.

Another productive stop was a K-Mart in Phoenix. Tucson only has one K-Mart anymore, and its toy department is -- peculiar. At this one, I not only turned up one of the two remaining Transformers Real Gear Robots I needed, but also Black Adam from the DC Infinite Heroes series, whom I've been trying to find from the outset. Interestingly, there were several NEW figures I'd never seen before, so I'm thinking they held him back to include him with this refreshed assortment.

My friend knew of a toy collectibles shop in Phoenix called TOY ANXIETY. They even have a Web Site (www.toyanxiety.com). What causes the anxiety? Not being able to clean the place out. A TON of G.I.Joe stuff in this place, including more good condition loose-bagged figures than I've seen in years. Super-heroes, Star Trek, Star Wars, Planet of the Apes, some seriously obscure stuff. The first thing I saw when I walked inside was this amazing die-cast replica of the "Eagle" spaceship from "Space:1999". About the only area where this place was lacking was in Japanese product, but that's hardly worth complaining about. And the prices were surprisingly reasonable for collectibles. I managed to replace that 1997 Lady Jaye figure that I didn't even know was missing until I tried to find her for a retrospective for the G.I.Joe Club Newsletter a few months ago.

Several Target stores showed evidence of having their exclusive Marvel Legends assortment in. This is also something I have seen no evidence of in Tucson (yet). Unfortunately, there weren't any of the figures I wanted from this assortment available. All I saw were a couple of black-costume Spider-Man figures, and a Wolverine with a slightly glitchy paint job. One Target had the G.I.Joe Cobra Rattler aircraft, but I couldn't quite justify the $25.00 price tag after all those DC Universe figures. I'd like to get it at some point. This plane, however, has at least been spotted locally.

Snagged a "Super Legends" Power Ranger at a Toys "R" Us. The store was decent, but checkout was interminably slow because the customer ahead of us was asking some ridiculous questions about a doll she was buying for a granddaughter, wondering if the materials used to make the doll were really child-safe, wanting to take the doll completely out of its package (including snipping the twist-ties) to see if the child really liked it, etc, and wanting to pay for the doll partially off of several credit cards. The clerk was being, perhaps, overly courteous to this lunatic. It's people like this why I don't work in retail...

We also visited a number of bookstores -- Barnes & Nobles and Borders, mostly -- where I came away with a couple of books at good prices thanks to some coupons I had. Visited a couple of "Atomic Comics" stores, a Phoenix-based chain and an impressive one, but unfortunately, they were sold out of the one comic I needed (the new Deadpool #1). Still a cool store chain.

Lunch was at an "In & Out Burger" (those of you not in California or Arizona will not have heard of this place, but trust me, it puts the average fast food place to shame -- the burgers are delicious, the french fries actually taste like potatoes, and the prices are very reasonable).

Basically, we visited multiple stores and several malls in Phoenix, as well as the surrounding communities of Chandler, Scottsdale, and Mesa.

On the whole, a superb and much needed break for both of us!

what'd your friend get?

_________________

Sounds like a blast – I could use one myself if I have the disposable income again. As it is I'm fighting the urge to go find the latest DVD sets.

_________________

I try to hit Toy Anxiety every few months. They have some decent figures, but don't turn their stock over very often. If you hit them on the right day, though, they will have their full assortment of Joes out and they have pretty much every figure from the vintage line. I've gotten several decent deals there (they are the source of my cheap Bronze Bombers figs in recent years) but I think they are overpriced on anything that's pre '86 or was considered "rare" by the collecting community back in '02. But, overall, they still have the best Joe assortment in town on any given day.

_________________

Interesting. First report I've heard of Black Adam EVER. So I guess he does exist after all.

Man, I used to buy ALL my comics at the Atomic Comics across from Fiesta Mall in Mesa. Plus a few Joes. I was bummed a few years ago to find that the entire shopping center there had been vacated for some form of madness or other. Glad to hear they still exist out there.

I must disagree on the In N Out though. Most over-rated burger ever. Totally undeserving of the reputation that they have inexpolicably attained, IMO.

_________________

BLASPHEMY!!!

This sentence is the ultimate FAILocaust.

_________________

In response to a few of the responses:

PaidLoad: My friend is not so much a toy collector these days as he is interested in military history. Any bookstore we stopped at, he was in the military history section. He has a particular enjoyment of the Osprey Military Series, and that is in fact the Series that he is preparing a book for. We probably hit almost as many Borders and Barnes & Nobles as we did Toys "R" Us, Wal-Marts, and Targets. So he came away with a few new additions for his book collection.

MacrossMaster: I can relate. There's a ton of DVD's I'd love to bring in someday.

Mike T.: I am inclined to agree with your assessment of Toy Anxiety. It's not a place where you're going to find a lot of turnover and new merchandise, but if you want to find stuff from a few years ago, some of it pretty obscure (like that line of Mego-esque Space:1999 figures from a few years back), then it's definitely the place to hit. I don't know if they had ALL of their G.I.Joe stock out, but they had a LARGE rack of loose, bagged G.I.Joe figures from traditional-style, a few newsculpts, and a bit of 25th-style, and a very generous supply of boxed vehicles and a few loose ones. I was suitably impressed.

Lance Sputnik: Yeah, I was shocked about Black Adam, too, especially at K-Mart, for pity's name. Interestingly, they had a refreshed assortment that included three single-packed figures that I hadn't EVER seen before, specifically a Qwardian Warrior, a Manhunter (Guardian robot, not Martian), and Hush. None of these were especially impressive to me, and Black Adam was NOT shown on the back of their cards, but as we thumbed through the display, here was Black Adam! I am of the opinion that for reasons unknown this character was held back to be included in this refreshed assortment. Once it starts hitting on a more widespread basis (here's hoping it does), Black Adam should be a little more available.

I was very impressed by Atomic Comics. We actually visited two different ones over the course of the day. I especially got a kick out of the life-size Silver Surfer statue in one store. Wish I could have found the one comic I was really looking for, but it was cool enough to visit that big of a comics shop. Tucson has a couple of decent comics shops, but they're not really conveniently located for someone like me who lacks a car, and my dealings with mail-ordering through Westfield have always gone well.

As regards In-and-Out Burger -- my first experience with one some years ago in California was NOT a positive one. The burger was so overcooked that I wasn't sure whether to eat it or resole my shoes with it. My opinion would have mirrored Lance Sputnik's. But a couple of months ago, this same friend convinced me to give it another chance, and we stopped at one here in Tucson. The place was mobbed at just short of 3:00 in the afternoon -- hardly either the lunch or dinner hour -- so I figured there had to be something to it. We had an excellent meal. The burger was fresh and not at all overcooked, and as I said, the fries were delicious. Given that I've pretty well had it with more widespread places like McDonald's, this is a better option. Lance, if your initial experience was a bad burger, you might give it another chance sometime.

Sheep.



Naa. I've been to several INOs both in Arizona and Cali back when I lived out west. Sure, you could expect an In N Out in Prescott AZ not to get it, but the one at the gates to Magic Mountain failed to impress me every time the burger snobs in my group dragged me to it. I would have been just as happy at Wendy's.

Next time I'm out that way I'm gonna definately check out that Toy Anxiety though. And maybe an Atomic Comics too, though it probably won't bring back the same feeling as the one I used to frequent every 2 weeks when I cashed my check from Sears, got my foot long Blimpie and went to pick up my holds.

_________________

Has anyone else ever had/tried a Red Robin burger? (Not made from little boys or actual birds.)

They have commercials that run on comcast cable here fairly regularly, even if the only one is a good ways north of the city in bfe.

_________________

Red Robin is good but it's too expensive.

I will say they have a tower of onion rings for an appetizer and it comes with this "Ranch house sauce" or something like that.

I would seriously dip everything I own in that stuff just to lick it off.

_________________

A few further responses :

Anyone planning to visit Toy Anxiety definitely needs to get driving directions. It's located in this very obscure little shopping center and even then tucked back in a corner of it. I didn't even notice the place until we were WELL in the parking lot, and probably still would've missed it if it hadn't been for the huge logos in the windows -- it's a little hard to miss a Batman logo and an Autobot logo that are that big.

PaidLoad: Never visited a Red Robin, although there is at least one here in Tucson in one of our largest malls. The food looks excellent in passing, and so does the atmosphere of the place, for those concerned about that sort of thing. I spoke to an employee once who happened to be on the same bus as me, and she said the food was delicious -- if you don't mind paying $9.00 for a fancy hamburger.

For those of you at RR with normal size appetites, you can get the Monster Burger (two full size patties), split em down the middle and take advantage of bottomless fries to make a meal for two for right around $11. Not too shabby if you gotta go.

_________________

verticle or horizontal split in half?

kidding. forgot about the bottomless fries thing. i also like great wraps, not so much for the wraps, but for the "fry bar" of seasonings you can use. on fries.

_________________

I like In and Out but I will concede to Sputnik that it is overrated. They always have long lines here no matter the time of day. I don't even both at noon or around 6 pm because the lines are usually out the door.

Red Robin is good not because they have great hamburgers but they have a pretty good variety with wraps, sandwiches, and burgers/chicken. Plus their appetizers are delicious.

I was in Carl's Jr (aka Hardee's) the other day after not going for a long time since the one near me closed. I have to say their $6 burgers have gotten a lot better and they had restaurant style fries (with the skin on the tips). Overall that place has become my favorite when I'm craving burgers.

_________________