Cracktastic Plastic

Click, click, click... let the ruckus begin! This week on Cracktastic Plastic, we’re cranking things up with Ratchet Joint Ruckus! We’re digging into our collections to show off toys with those wonderfully satisfying ratcheting joints — the kind that click into place, hold a pose, and make every adjustment feel just a little more mechanical. From hefty heroes and robotic relics to figures with joi...

We survived Halloweenapalooza … but our wallets may never recover!  In Halloweenapalooza Hauls, we’re showing off all the creepy, cool, weird, wonderful, and completely unnecessary goodies we picked up during the weekend. From toys and collectibles to oddball treasures we absolutely could not leave behind, it’s time to empty the bags and see what followed us home. Who scored the best find? Who spe...

This week, we’re getting soft, fuzzy, and just a little flocked up! The guys are digging into their collections to show off toys covered in that strange, velvety magic known as flocking. From fuzzy animals and furry monsters to characters that somehow look better covered in tiny fibers, we’re celebrating the toys that dared to get a little extra texture. Which figures nailed the fuzzy look? Which...

This week, we’re crossing the toy room borders! CORPS member Wildish Bill Fisher picked our topic: Trading Spaces! We all have our usual collecting specialties—but what happens when we wander into somebody else’s aisle? Does Jason have any G.I. Joe or TMNT hiding among the Transformers? Has Elgn let a Transformer or two sneak into his MOTU kingdom? And what has Mike collected that belongs in someb...

Take aim, toy fans — the Weapons series is back! This time, we’re pulling back the string and letting the plastic projectiles fly with Weapons: Bows & Arrows. From heroic archers and fantasy fighters to post-apocalyptic hunters, ninjas, warriors, and anyone else packing a pointy stick with a string attached, we’re showing off toys from our collections that know how to hit the bullseye. So nock...

Set your clocks, wind your watches, and fire up the time machine—it’s time for a Toybox Time Warp! This week, we’re showing off toys and toy-related items connected to TIME in all kinds of ways. From clocks and watches to time travelers, time machines, characters who bend the rules of time, and plenty more, we’re digging through our collections to see what the clock brings. No need to know what ye...

Small figures. BIG personalities. This week on Cracktastic Plastic, we’re shrinking things down and diving into the wild world of LEGO minifigures! Each of us is bringing some of our favorite little plastic people from our collections—heroes, villains, weirdos, rarities, and whatever tiny treasures we’ve managed to accumulate over the years. From iconic characters to obscure oddballs, these pocket...

Start your engines—Hot Wheels Havoc is hitting the track! This episode, we’re diving into the fast, colorful, and endlessly collectible world of Hot Wheels. From childhood favorites and wild designs to treasure hunts, strange castings, and the cars we just couldn’t leave hanging on the pegs, we’re showing off some of the Hot Wheels that have found their way into our collections. And joining us for...

This week on Cracktastic Plastic, we’re taking a short trip back to 2020-ish to show off the figures, vehicles, playsets, and other plastic treasures we picked up when the future felt a little questionable and retail therapy seemed like a perfectly reasonable survival strategy. These toys didn’t necessarily come out in 2020—they’re simply the ones we bought during that strange stretch of time. Wer...

Summer may be winding down, but we’re not ready to say goodbye without feeling a little blue! On this episode of Cracktastic Plastic, we’re diving into our collections to show off toys that are primarily blue. From heroes and robots to creatures, vehicles, and everything in between, we’re celebrating one of the coolest colors on the toy shelf. So shake off those Summertime Blues and join us for a...

It’s time to head Back to School… Cracktastic Plastic style! This week, we’re digging through our collections for toy-related school supplies, classroom collectibles, and toys that bring back memories of lockers, lunchboxes, pencil cases, and playgrounds. From character-covered notebooks and backpacks to school-themed action figures and accessories, we’re showing off the stuff that would’ve made g...

Tanks for the Memories! This week, we’re rolling out the heavy artillery as each host shows off different toy tanks from our collections. From realistic military machines to outrageous sci-fi battle vehicles, these toys are built to crush the competition—and possibly a few action figures along the way. So climb aboard, secure the turret, and join us for a tread-filled trip down memory lane. It’s s...

This week on Cracktastic Plastic, we’re putting our best foot forward with an episode called Feet Fetish! From hooves and talons to wheels, claws, suction cups, and other bizarre bases, we’re showing off the toys in our collections with the most interesting feet. Kick off your shoes, mind the toe cheese, and join us for a truly soleful celebration of action figure anatomy. We also spotlight From t...

Every toy collection has a few pieces that make people stop, stare, and ask, “Why does that exist?” This week on Cracktastic Plastic, we’re digging into the strangest corners of our collections to show off our weirdest toys. From bizarre designs and questionable concepts to wonderfully odd figures we simply couldn’t leave behind, these toys may not be normal—but they’re definitely memorable. We al...

This week on Cracktastic Plastic, we’re digging deep into the toy boxes, display shelves, storage bins, and possibly the emotional damage closet for Oldies, but Goodies! We’re showing off some of the oldest toys in our collections, including childhood survivors, vintage favorites, and the plastic legends that somehow made it through years of play, moves, yard sales, and questionable storage decisi...

This week on Cracktastic Plastic, we’re raising a glass to one of the weirdest, most wonderful corners of toy collecting: cups, glasses, mugs, tumblers, and whatever other drinkware somehow found its way onto our shelves. From fast food promo cups to cartoon mugs, character glasses, novelty bottles, and plastic sippers that probably should have been washed more carefully in 1988, we’re showing off...

As June winds down, we’re letting the bugs out of the toy box! On this episode of Cracktastic Plastic, we’re digging through our collections for all things creepy, crawly, winged, stinging, slimy, and suspiciously articulated. From heroic insect-themed characters to monstrous mutants, rubbery little weirdos, bug vehicles, bug accessories, and toys that make you ask, “Why did I buy this?” — we’re c...

This week, we're celebrating the dads, mentors, guardians, and father figures who helped shape the worlds we love. From wise leaders and tough-but-fair commanders to adoptive fathers and unlikely parental role models, we're showcasing the action figures and toy lines that gave us some of the most memorable father figures in pop culture. Whether they offered guidance, protection, discipline, or the...

In honor of Flag Day, we're celebrating the most famous flag in toy collecting history: the legendary U.S.S. Flagg! From aircraft carriers and pirate ships to speedboats, submarines, hovercraft, and everything in between, we're diving into the best boat toys ever made. Whether they sailed the high seas, patrolled dangerous rivers, or somehow fit in a bathtub, this episode is all about the watercra...

This week, we’re sharpening our collecting skills and diving into one of the coolest accessories ever packed in with an action figure: swords! From legendary blades and oversized fantasy weapons to futuristic energy swords and everything in between, they’re each bringing some of the best toy swords from their collections to show off and discuss. Which toyline produced the greatest blades? Which sw...

We’re officially halfway through the collecting year, which means it’s time for a little “Halfway Heat Check!” In this episode, the guys look back at the biggest toy wins, surprise pickups, sleeper favorites, and maybe a few purchases that didn’t quite live up to the hype. Think of it as a midyear report card for our collections before the big year-end awards roll around. What’s been worth the mon...

Last Saturday, the crew loaded up the van and hit the road for #JaysDay, an all-day toy hunting adventure through Des Moines with Elgn, John Tipton, Chris “Turnip” Simmons, and the family — including stops at all three Jay’s CD & Hobby locations in search of retro treasures, hidden gems, and questionable purchases we definitely didn’t need. Then, with Memorial Day setting the tone, Elgn and I...

This week, we’re strapping in and blasting off with an episode dedicated to Backpacks & Jetpacks from our collections! From action figures loaded with removable gear to outrageous rocket-powered accessories that somehow made perfect sense in the ‘80s and ‘90s, we’re digging into the coolest wearable toy add-ons ever made. Whether they were built for space travel, underwater missions, ghost bus...

This week on Cracktastic Plastic, we’re celebrating the real MVPs—moms! In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re digging into our collections to spotlight all the mom-related toys we can find. From iconic cartoon moms to action figure matriarchs (and maybe a few questionable choices along the way), it’s a tribute packed with nostalgia, laughs, and a surprising amount of maternal energy. Will these figures...

This week, it’s Toy Pitch Meeting time—because clearly the world needs another toyline, and we’re just the geniuses to make it up as we go. We’re talking genre, action features, names, and maybe even letting the audience steer the chaos. Will it be brilliant? Questionable? Accidentally amazing? Yes. We also spotlight Saturday Morning Toys during our Store Tour segment and talk about whether it’s a...