The Toy & Action Figure Museum

Bam! Pow! Zowwie! The hero defeats the villain and saves the city from imminent destruction! What an entirely unexpected turn! Despite the predictability of classic superhero cartoons, there is something really special about this fundamentally American form of storytelling. A big part of its charm are the toys - brightly colored plastic figures that have been bringing superheroes, Jedi, and aliens to life for decades. But in an increasingly digital world, what are the value of toys and action figures today? Perhaps the answer lies in a museum nestled in Paul’s Valley, Oklahoma - The Toy and Action Figure Museum. Join us as we visit with Kevin Stark, the museum curator and owner of most of the collection found in the museum. Introducing himself as Tony Stark’s richer and cooler older brother, Stark is also a toy designer, band member, and artist.  Also in today’s episode, take a nostalgic trip into your childhood as we ask people on the street about toys they had and toys they wish they’d had growing up. And keep an open ear to learn about a few toys that ended up being more dangerous than fun - including a doll that literally ate children.  And we start our episode looking into an age-old question: How do supervillains choose their villainous personas?