Saturday 22nd March saw me take another trip to Memorabilia at the NEC in Birmingham - the show has really exploded into a place for all things Comic/TV/Movie related in the last few years and now has grown so big visitors from all over come to check it out.

My trip to the event last year was more of a browsing session as I was pretty sure trying to pick up Django Unchained figures would prove just a difficult a task as it sounded.

This year I attended with a purpose - to pick up any Preacher comics I could find along with a Jimmy Hart WWF LJN figure (MIB) for him to sign at next months Wales Comic Con. I also had my normal Back to the Future purchasing eye out!

Background Info on my search points -

Preacher is a comic book series created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon and ran from 1995-2000 and it would seem as if it is all set to become the latest TV series hit from AMC (who also make The Walking Dead). I've recently been purchasing the Preacher comic books in online auctions and thought I'd see what I could find at the show.

Jimmy Hart is the former WWF (WWE) Manager of numerous Tag Teams and Single Wrestlers - working with greats such as The Honkytonk Man and Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine, not forgetting the Immortal Hulk Hogan and Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake.

Back to the Future - Is and will always be my favourite film - no introduction needed there!

Upon arrival I started browsing with no sign of Preacher or Jimmy Hart's - I did find a couple of the Walter White Vamonos Pest Control Breaking Bad figures but at £35 a piece I knew I could get them cheaper away from the show.

Walking round I did see a lot of great things - A Back to the Future 2 poster magazine - which again at £20 seemed way too high. Planet of the Apes figures from the initial revamp of the series at £5 each (I was going to offer £10 for 3 if I found nothing else) but then as I was heading back towards the exit I thought I'd chance my luck and walk round one more time.

I found a seller who specialised in old movie posters - I had a look to see if there were and BTTF 2 one sheets - but no good. They then had their 'bargain boxes' so I browsed through - and was in luck......

First Out came these Jurassic Park : The Lost World Lobby Cards -

I've always enjoyed the Jurassic Park Series and knowing previously lobby card sets holding value in later years picked them up.

Next out of the bargain box came this Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull German Poster -

Not my favourite of the Indy films but something worth having - it may well be this gets framed and put onto the wall of my planned 'Man Cave' at some point.

Last up was something I was delighted to have found - initially I was convinced that they were Back to the Future 2 Lobby Cards from Germany - however the CIC Video sign suggested perhaps they should have been included with some kind of video promotion..... it wasn't until I got home that night I realised they weren't lobby cards as such......

The above photo isn't the best quality buy what it actually turned out to be was a poster size sheet of scenes from the film. Very unique and very cool - especially if your a BTTF fan like me!

These purchases lead to me walking round a bit longer - chatting to sellers and gaining new contacts.

Then on was pretty much my last stop of the day I found a seller who had Preacher comics I numbers! My aim of the day was done!

I purchased a number of the Preacher comics he had - I can't explain how happy I was to get them, those I picked up are in the picture below - 

My day was a success - I went with an aim and was able to complete it!

The Jimmy Hart mission continues but for my Preacher task I am now only 20 issues short of a full 66 comic set!

I toyed with the idea of attending a second day but with Wales Comic Con just a month away the pennies will be saved for that!

I'm certainly looking forward to the next Memorabilia later in the year - this looks set to be my new thing to do every six months now!

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!!