So in our Facebook Mecha fans and collector’s group Mecha Maniacs, we’ve began doing spotlights on our members. The first is known collector and owner of the shop Nate’s Toys & Collectibles, Nathan (Nate) Simmons! It was nice to sit down with someone I consider a good friend and get to know him even better. Check out the article below and feel free to join our Facebook group as well.
Kuma: We know you as a collector and e-tailer now but where did it begin for you? What are some of the earliest experiences you remember with toys and series? What were some of your favoritess?
Nate: As a kid in the 1980s and living in Japan, I grew up with Macross, Mazinger, Gundam and Dragonball. Later on Transformers was brought over, so captured my attention immediately. I remember my dad picking me up a Takatokou VF-1J Hikaru for my birthday in 1987 and loved being able to play with it and my RX-78-2. My first Transformer was a little G1 Bumblebee (which I still have). These series were the linchpins on what I would love into my adulthood.
Kuma: Now did you take a break at all from it growing up and get back into it as an adult or did you stay steady with watching and collecting throughout your lifetime?
Nate: I’ve collected toys and comics ever since I was kid, but when I joined the military, I took a break for about 3 years. I remember walking into a DVD Store in Bangkok Thailand and seeing Macross 7 on DVD. I immediately picked it up that reminded me of how much I loved Macross. That kicked me off back into collecting.
Kuma: That’s really darned cool considering a lot of us kind of break off into teenage and young adult shenanigans and then get back into it as more settled adults. Now I asked what some of your FIRST memories were but what series were the ones that have kept you into it this whole time?
Nate: Macross, Gundam and Transformers have always kept me in the game. Seeing the transformation over time from Takatokou to Yamato and now to Bandai DX always grabs my attention to my favorite VF-1J, VF-1S and VF-1A. As a big Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime fan, the Masterpiece and Third Party Masterpiece lines are the ones I stick with. But if it’s Hot Rod or Rodimus toy, I’ll probably buy it.
Kuma: It’s really neat that all three of those lines toy wise have had a similar progression over the years too! We’ve got some of your favorite Transformers and Macross Mecha/characters but what about Gundam? What are some of your favorite series and/or Mobile Suits?
Nate: I’ve always loved the original 0079 and the Zeta Series for the stories they had and the RX-78-2 and Char’s Zaku II were mainstays in my collection. But Gundam Seed & Gundam Seed Destiny’s Mech designs of the Aile Strike Gundam, Freedom Gundam, & Strike Freedom Gundam are my new favorites now.
Kuma: Very cool! And fast forwarding to today; you’ve opened up Nate’s Toys and Collectibles which looks to sell a variety of products that are more mid-to-high end collector oriented; what was your inspiration to get this started and what are (some of) your goals with it all?
Nate: In the early 2000s I used to own a Comic store that sold comics and collectibles, before comics took a nose-dive for a bit. As a collector foremost, I always wanted to find the best deals like everyone, but about 4 years ago it changed. I wanted to find things for other people, and help them find the good deals like I had found. Now that my kids are older, and we are more settled, it was time to start the collectibles business up again. What I try to do is offer things to all collectors, from Hasbro Retail to High-end Hot Toys or Bandai products so customers have access to things at great prices.
Over the years I’ve made a lot of friends in the toy industry, stateside and overseas, so it seemed logical now to put that to good use from a business perspective.
Kuma: That’s awesome and I’m really looking forward to seeing it grow. Is there anything else you’d like to let readers know? Any projects and the like that you’d like to share?
Nate: Over the next year, I will be expanding to get more import items in to help out the US Customers. Additionally, my business is International, so if people live outside of the US, I can definitely help them out as well. Additionally, I haven’t forget my Transformers comrades, so more Masterpiece, and 3rd Party Masterpieces will be coming soon. Lastly, if someone is looking for something and don’t see it on the page, I have a huge network of people, so I can probably find what someone is looking for.
Kuma: I’m definitely glad to read that your services will be available to such a broad range of collectors in terms of both preferences and location! Thank you very much for your time Nate and again, I’m really looking forward to seeing where this all leads to!
Nate: Thank you so much for having me, TJ.
Check out some of Nate’s collection below and don’t forget to stop by Nate’s Toys & Collectibles and do a little bit of shopping while you’re there!
