Captain Collector’s 2020 review
Thomas Sr. (Captain Collector)Last updated: 31 December 2020 approx. 3 min read
2020 was the Year of the Rat, so my year. I was born in 1960, in the Year of the Rat. But was it really? Was it really my year? It was a truly bizarre, somehow surreal year that passed rather monotonously and quickly, and yet lasted a very long time. I think every one of us will remember this strange year for a long time to come.
It began quite normally
The year began quite normally at first, the harbingers of the ominous virus were somehow already there, but nobody cared. That was to change very quickly, however, and by mid-February, when we opened our three-week AMAZING Comicshow, there were dark clouds in the sky.
We were lucky and were able to finish the show before the lockdown shut everything down. And then everything suddenly turned out differently from how I had imagined “my” year. Not only did the financial problems have to be mastered, the daily workflow also had to be adapted to the circumstances that were suddenly imposed on everyone.
Adapt or Perish
Humans are known to be the living beings on earth that can adapt best to changing circumstances. And we had to prove that. As the shop was closed for the time being, the online shop remained the most important source of income, and it slowly picked up speed.
That did mean extra work, though, a real flood of parcels came our way. So I did not run out of work, and I also used the time to list comics, action figures and other items in the online shop.
Spring clean
I also had the chance to do a long overdue spring clean and got our shop premises into shape. Of course the shop windows were not spared my urge to get things done either. All the “freshening-up activities” that had been neglected for a long time I was now able to work through bit by bit.
Clearing out was part of it too, of course, and through the relevant online platforms I sold larger quantities of paper, comics and science fiction paperbacks. And afterwards the shelves were still bursting full anyway …
Even after the lockdown and the various easings, business in the shop premises would not really get going again. The damage is simply done, we have to live with the consequences. In recent months, sales have clearly shifted towards the online shop.
Much as the Marvel comics have been reduced to meaningless advertising vehicles for Disney-style one-size-fits-all marketing, that is where the Amazing shop premises stand. It still has its place as a flagship and figurehead and will continue to exist in the future as well, but the real business now happens virtually on the online side.
What happens next?
AMAZING now belongs to Amazing Enterprise AG. With a new company, of course, absolutely … nothing changes. Everything stays as it was. Amazing is still a family business made up of my son Thomas, the Sparkojote, he is the head behind the business and the trading cards expert with a good nose for lucrative products.
My wife Caroline is the meticulous bookkeeper who makes sure the figures add up and the tax office is happy. And I will of course remain your friendly collector friend Captain Collector, who will occasionally put in his philosophical (or not at all philosophical) two cents on the most varied topics on this blog. And always entirely subjectively.
My very personal tip for 2021: buy comics that bring you joy. At the same time, keep an eye on what is trending. Future treasures might just be hidden among them.
Captain Collector’s comic wisdom
The Electrode Sitting Cuties Plush is weighted with microbeads, so it sits up when you put it on a flat surface. This palm-sized plush is a fun, charming way to show off a favorite Electric-type Pokémon originally discovered in Kanto!Measures about 4 ¾ inches tall and 6 inches longSits up easily on a desk, shelf, or other flat surfaceWhere will you set Electrode?Part of the Sitting Cuties collection—known as Pokémon fit in JapanIncludes Electrode Sitting Cuties Plush (other pictured items not included)Pokémon Center OriginalMore Details:Item Dimensions: 12 x 7 x 7 cmCountry Of Origin: Made in ChinaMaterials: All new material / polyester fiber / polyethyleneCare Instructions: Surface Wash OnlyRecommended Age: 4+ YearsItem Weight: 1.8 OZ
The Charmander Sitting Cuties Plush is weighted with microbeads, so it sits up when you put it on a flat surface. This palm-sized plush is a fun, charming way to show off a favourite Water- and Poison-type Pokémon originally discovered in Kanto! Measures about 18 inches tall and 10 cm wide Sits up easily on a desk, shelf, or other flat surface Where will you set Charmander? Part of the Sitting Cuties collection—known as Pokémon fit in Japan Includes Charmander Sitting Cuties Plush (other pictured items not included) Pokémon Centre Original More Details: Item Dimensions: 10 × 18 × 9.5 cm Country Of Origin: Made in China Materials: All new material / polyester fibre / polyethylene / polyurethane foam Care Instructions: Surface Wash Only Recommended Age: 4+ Years Item Weight: 59 g
The Jolteon Sitting Cuties Plush is weighted with microbeads, so it sits up when you put it on a flat surface. This palm-sized plush is a fun, charming way to show off a favourite Electric-type Pokémon originally discovered in Kanto! Measures about 16.5 cm tall and 14.5 cm wide Sits up easily on a desk, shelf, or other flat surface Where will you set Jolteon? Part of the Sitting Cuties collection – known as Pokémon fit in Japan Includes Jolteon Sitting Cuties Plush (other pictured items not included) Pokémon Center Original More Details: Item Dimensions: 16.5 x 14.5 x 8 cm Country Of Origin: Made in China Materials: All new material / polyester fibre / polyethylene Care Instructions: Surface Wash Only Recommended Age: 4+ Years Item Weight: 57 g
The Gallade Sitting Cuties Plush is weighted with microbeads, so it sits up when you put it on a flat surface. This palm-sized plush is a fun, charming way to show off a favourite Psychic- and Fighting-type Pokémon originally discovered in Sinnoh! Measures about 17.5 cm tall and 8.5 cm wide Sits up easily on a desk, shelf, or other flat surface Where will you set Gallade? Part of the Sitting Cuties collection—known as Pokémon fit in Japan Includes Gallade Sitting Cuties Plush (other pictured items not included) Pokémon Center Original More Details: Item Dimensions: 17.5 × 8.5 × 8.5 cm Country Of Origin: Made in China Materials: All new material / polyester / polyethylene / polyurethane foam Care Instructions: Hand Wash Only. Line Dry. Recommended Age: 4+ Years Item Weight: 54.6 g
The Sceptile Sitting Cuties Plush is weighted with microbeads, so it sits up when you put it on a flat surface. This palm-sized plush is a fun, charming way to show off a favorite Grass-type Pokémon originally discovered in Hoenn!Measures about 5 ½ inches tall and 4 ¼ inches longSits up easily on a desk, shelf, or other flat surfaceWhere will you set Sceptile?Part of the Sitting Cuties collection—known as Pokémon fit in JapanIncludes Sceptile Sitting Cuties Plush (other pictured items not included)Pokémon Center OriginalMore Details:Item Dimensions: 14 x 7.6 x 14 cmCountry Of Origin: Made in China.Materials: All new material / polyester / polyurethane foam / polyethyleneCare Instructions: Surface wash only.Recommended Age: 4+ YearsItem Weight: 68 g
The Sceptile Sitting Cuties Plush is weighted with microbeads, so it sits up when you put it on a flat surface. This palm-sized plush is a fun, charming way to show off a favorite Grass-type Pokémon originally discovered in Hoenn!Measures about 5 ½ inches tall and 4 ¼ inches longSits up easily on a desk, shelf, or other flat surfaceWhere will you set Sceptile?Part of the Sitting Cuties collection—known as Pokémon fit in JapanIncludes Sceptile Sitting Cuties Plush (other pictured items not included)Pokémon Center OriginalMore Details:Item Dimensions: 14 x 7.6 x 14 cmCountry Of Origin: Made in China.Materials: All new material / polyester / polyurethane foam / polyethyleneCare Instructions: Surface wash only.Recommended Age: 4+ YearsItem Weight: 68 g
The Sceptile Sitting Cuties Plush is weighted with microbeads, so it sits up when you put it on a flat surface. This palm-sized plush is a fun, charming way to show off a favorite Grass-type Pokémon originally discovered in Hoenn!Measures about 5 ½ inches tall and 4 ¼ inches longSits up easily on a desk, shelf, or other flat surfaceWhere will you set Sceptile?Part of the Sitting Cuties collection—known as Pokémon fit in JapanIncludes Sceptile Sitting Cuties Plush (other pictured items not included)Pokémon Center OriginalMore Details:Item Dimensions: 14 x 7.6 x 14 cmCountry Of Origin: Made in China.Materials: All new material / polyester / polyurethane foam / polyethyleneCare Instructions: Surface wash only.Recommended Age: 4+ YearsItem Weight: 68 g
The Smeargle Sitting Cuties plush is weighted with micro beads so it sits upright when placed on a flat surface. This palm-sized plush is a fun, charming way to show off a favourite Normal-type Pokémon originally discovered in Johto!Measures approximately 18 cm tall and 12 cm wideEasily stands up on a desk, shelf, or other flat surfaceWhere will you place Smeargle?Part of the Sitting Cuties collection – known in Japan as Pokémon fitIncludes Smeargle Sitting Cuties plush (other pictured items not included)Pokémon Center OriginalFurther details:Item dimensions: 18 x 12 x 9 cmCountry of origin: Manufactured in China.Materials: All new material / Polyester fiber / Polyethylene / Polyurethane foamCare instructions: Surface wash onlyRecommended age: 4+ yearsItem weight: 64g
It's a Pokémon plush toy that expresses Pokémon character and comes in a size you'll love to collect!More details:Item dimensions: 15 × 12 × 7.5 cmCountry of origin: Manufactured in ChinaMaterials: Completely new material / Polyester / Polyethylene / Polyurethane foamCare instructions: Hand wash only. Machine dry.Recommended age: 4+ years
It's a Pokémon plush that brings out the Pokémon character and comes in a size you'll love to collect!More details:Item dimensions: 8.5 × 11 x 3 cmCountry of origin: Made in ChinaMaterials: Brand new material / Polyester / Polyethylene / Polyurethane foamCare instructions: Hand wash only. Tumble dry.Recommended age: 4+ years
The Muk Sitting Cuties Plush is weighted with microbeads, so it sits up when you put it on a flat surface. This palm-sized plush is a fun, charming way to show off a favorite Poison-type Pokémon originally discovered in Kanto!Measures about 4 ¼ inches tall and 5 ½ inches longSits up easily on a desk, shelf, or other flat surfaceWhere will you set Muk?Part of the Sitting Cuties collection—known as Pokémon fit in JapanIncludes Muk Sitting Cuties Plush (other pictured items not included)Pokémon Center OriginalMore Details:Item Dimensions: 14 x 12.7 x 10.7 cmCountry Of Origin: Made in ChinaMaterials: All new material / polyester fiber / polyethylene / polypropyleneCare Instructions: Surface Wash OnlyRecommended Age: 4+ YearsItem Weight: 90.7 g
The Qwilfish Sitting Cuties Plush is weighted with microbeads, so it sits up when you put it on a flat surface. This palm-sized plush is a fun, charming way to show off a favourite Water-type Pokémon originally discovered in Johto!Measures about 17 cm tall and 11 cm wideSits up easily on a desk, shelf, or other flat surfaceWhere will you set Qwilfish?Part of the Sitting Cuties collection—known as Pokémon fit in JapanIncludes Qwilfish Sitting Cuties Plush (other pictured items not included)Pokémon Center OriginalMore Details:Item Dimensions: 10 x 9 x 18 cmCountry Of Origin: Made in China.Materials: All new material / polyester fibre / polyethylene / polyurethane foamCare Instructions: Surface wash onlyRecommended Age: 4+ yearsItem Weight: 67 g