23rd November 2013 - NEC Birmingham, England - the setting for Winter Memorabilia. I'd visited this event numerous times in the past but this was my first time there in 3 years.

It had certainly grown since my last visit - what had previously been a fairly low key spacious affair has now turned into a mass of comics,movies, TV and collectibles - with hundreds of people crammed into the rows of stalls, exhibits and cosplayers.

Needless to say I'm glad I payed it a visit!

My targets for the day were -

Breaking Bad Figures
WWF Hasbro
Django Unchained Figures

However I failed to find suitable items on all 3.

Breaking Bad figures remain in demand given how popular the TV show was - however the only option to purchase one at the entire event was for a Heisenberg Figure - at £35 I decided to pass - I have one of these I picked up for £20 off the shelf a few months back.

WWF Hasbro figures were also somewhat scarce - just a few battered Rockers and Legion of Dooms scattered about.

As for Django - well - they are way to hard to find. I have got some from other sources - but more on those in the coming weeks.

Anyway - whilst browsing one stall I couldn't help but notice a 'Hollywood Heroes' T-Shirt. It was busy with a camera crew and knowing the shirt I immediately clicked it would be something to do with the show Toy Hunter. I walked back past the stall 10 minutes later and the shows host Jordan Hembrough was on there.

It turns out he was in the UK filming for his next season.

I had a chance to speak to Jordan about Wrestling Figures and a few other bits and pieces - then got a photo with him.....

It was nice to meet him - and lets face it - he does have a job many of us who are in the collecting world would love! 

I'd like to say I brought loads of items at the show - however such is the way these shows are many of the items are just that bit higher than I want to spend.

I did make one purchase - some 1986 Remco Karate Kid figures - nothing too flashy - but a nice little addition!

I'm sure I will visit the show come spring next year - if anything its a day out - and you never know who or what you may see.

I have a few items I am awaiting to arrive - those of you who like Back to the Future and also Paranorman may want to keep your eyes on these pages in the coming weeks!

Finally - can I just put a quick congratulations out to Brian Adams who runs coolandcollected.com.

If you like pop culture check his site out.

Anyway - he ran a kickstarter campaign to get the cool and collected magazine made - and hit his target!

Be sure to grab a copy once it comes out!!

Firstly can I just say thank you to all those who contacted me asking when my blog was going to be back - I actually didn’t realise that people read this stuff so I will happily continue to write about my ‘Adventures in Collecting’.

Tonight’s blog is all about a collecting line that is very close to my heart -

WWF Hasbro wrestling figures

But in particular one figure - the one that started my passion for collecting this wonderful line

Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake

Some of you will know that I run the website www.thewrestlingcollector.com - it had a major overhaul last summer and I am currently in the process of updating it as all the old information was sadly wiped when the revamp took place.

The article tonight is centred not around one of the various 2-ups, prototypes or test shots I have uncovered - infact its quite the opposite.
It all about the regular release Series 1 Brutus The Barber Beefcake figure.

Any story behind it?
As it turns out yes. Turn the clock back to 1990 - and a 9 year old version of myself - a massive fan of WWF Wrestling (now WWE) - gets given a present…… what is it? Only a WWF Hasbro action figure - all the way from America.

Now - as it turns out this would be the first of many I got - the line actually hit the shelves in the UK shortly after I was given my Brutus figure - but still - for a short while I was the envy of the playground - once others got figures we’d have Royal Rumbles and matches in a homemade ring (until one of us got the Official Hasbro one) hence the battered appearance of this figure.

What is it?
Its as simple as it sounds - its just a regular Series 1 WWF Hasbro Brutus the Barber Beefcake figure.

Is it rare?
Brutus is anything but rare - he was mass produced however its worth noting that some Hasbro figures are more in demand than others (Such as the Green Card Series) so prices can be high on those as they are harder to find.

The prototypes, 2ups and test shots from the Hasbro line command huge prices in the secondary market.

Brutus can be found now for a couple of pounds and this particular one given his condition wouldn’t even get that much!

Will this figure be back?
Sadly not! The Hasbro / WWF contract ended in 1994 so no more WWF Hasbro figures will be made.

Where can I get him now?
Internet auction sites and car boots are probably your best bet for all your Hasbro related needs.

And another thing
The WWF Hasbro line is arguably the most collectable wrestling figure line ever produced. 20 years on the figures still sell and prove massively collectable with fans of all ages.

Its hard to see the demand for this line falling in the foreseeable future - if anything we encourage people to get involved in collecting this legendary line.

I have plans to do a big article on the WWF Hasbro line so watch this space. For now you'll have to make do with photos of my first ever WWF Hasbro figure - the legendary Brutus Beefcake.