NRG - Ben 10

For awhile, I indulged myself and bought every toy that piqued my interest. It was your typical addiction. I was buying every action figure that appealed to me: the Superman marionette, Revoltech Hot Rodimus, Kidrobot's Morbo vinyl figure. And as soon as I had it, there was something else I wanted. They lined the shelves, they filled boxes. I had the most wonderful toybox I could have ever wanted.

Then I started to look around and understand what I was doing. It was an escape, but not the good kind. I was hiding from my problems and trying to fill a hole in myself with Made in China plastic.

I kicked the habit and have been clean for years. But that doesn't mean I don't still buy toys. I just try to stick to things that I'll really value. I've sold most of the collection I'd amassed and might sell a few more things. I'm just glad to have it pared down to the stuff I really, really like.

And now, with that sad introduction, I'd like to talk about my latest acquisitions, three different NRG action figures from the Ben 10 cartoon.

It's important to clarify that I'm not a fan of the cartoon. I watched the first few episodes, but didn't really like it. It's not bad, it just wasn't for me. I definitely like the guys behind it, Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, Steven T. Seagle and Joe Kelly, each of them an artist or writer for one comic book or another. And I like the concept: kid gets a watch that lets him turn into a different alien. This simple idea paves the way for what must be dozens of different characters and character designs.

Before now, my favorite was Four Arms. I don't know anything about him, I just love the design. Simple, classic even, but awesome. Maybe it's the red. Regardless, I got of his figures and it stands on my shelves.

NRG is different. The first time I saw him on the peg, he was just his green and dark green self with the red "eyes". Nothing remarkable. I'd guess he's one of the least popular characters on the show.

But he stands out to me because he reminds me of a character I designed years ago.

The resemblance is uncanny. They could be brothers, or the same guy with some plastic surgery. I loved the reminder so much, I bought him.

Then, with a new variation of the Ben 10 show, there came a new variation of NRG ... all blue! He is so blue and awesome. I don't know what it means, but I love the way it looks, so I got it, too.

Now, this is where I've become a little obsessive again. I couldn't say why, but I did a search of NRG on eBay, and found another one, this time all gold. Just gold, head to toe. (Not real gold, of course.) I found out this was a limited edition version of the 4" action figure, issues in Europe and Asia to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the show.

I bought him. He's really the closest to the design of the character I created, which I refer to as a MAU, because the MAU's are gold as well.

I still buy these toys and action figures, for several reasons. If it hearkens back to a toy I had as a kid, or is the exact toy. If it marks a significant even in my life, like the Reac Designer Chair and Grimlock I bought on separate trips to Washington D.C. Or if I just really like it and over weeks and months I never lose interest. And this is all tempered by cost and practicality.

NRG stands in a class by himself, though, as an almost representation of one of my own creations. Now I just have to decide if I want the 6" version with light up eyes. Time will tell.