What a journey it has been! On this day 10 years ago, I published my first article and database here on From4-LOMtoZuckuss.com and I never could have predicted what would unfold over the next decade. This is a rare moment for me where I take a moment to reflect on the events and experiences of the past due to the fact that Star Wars is omnipresent these days. It seems there is rarely time to consider accomplishments as there is always something on the horizon to prepare for, report on, experience, photograph, inventory and so on. But for right now, in the midst of preparing for the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, updating my Disney’s Droid Factory Build-a-Droid Guide and prepping for onstage celebrity interviews at Washington State Summer Con I take pause to celebrate the 10th anniversary of all of this.

The Origins

There are several origins to consider which led to where I am today. The origin of my Star Wars fandom came from being born in the mid-70s. I grew up with Star Wars through the peak of the hype and was blessed with parents who spoiled us kids terribly at every single holiday. The next origin surrounds when I would say I became a collector. While my Dad did take me to swap meets in the late 80s after Star Wars “died” to look for figures and toys I didn’t have, I wouldn’t have coined myself a collector even though I thrived off completing the cross-sales on the back of my Star Wars and GI Joe card backs. I believe my collector status emerged fully in the early 90s with the emergence of Star Wars Bend’Ems, Playmates Star Trek, and Galoob Star Wars MicroMachines. Then with the ‘95 launch and return of the 3 ¾” Star Wars line by Kenner (Hasbro) I was forever sealed as a Star Wars collector and have never looked back. And then there is the origin of From4-LOMtoZuckuss.com. I am lucky enough to be located in the Seattle-area which is full of incredible Star Wars fans and collectors. It’s through the talent within the local collecting clubs that I am a part of which inspired me to share my particular passion and knowledge with the world. In 2004, I co-founded the collecting club S.T.A.R.S (Seattle/Tacoma Area Rebelscum Society) to help collectors network and socialize in the Seattle Area and next year they will be celebrating 20 years! Then in 2013, when Star Wars was entering a lull following the less-than-stellar response to The Phantom Menace 3D, the collector sites I had always followed began writing less and less about Star Wars action figures and began focusing more on higher-end and non-action figure collectibles. So in response to not feeling satisfied with the amount of and type of content being produced I registered the site and sat down to share my thoughts and collection with the world wide web. 

The Road So Far

It was then with that May 21st, 2013 article (which I wrote with the mindset that no one was going to read it but it’s what I would want to read about collecting Star Wars action figures) that I began the road which has led me to where I am today as collector and part of a larger collecting community. I do feel that all of the accomplishments I have had throughout this time all comes secondary and pales in comparison to my most prized accomplishments of being married to an amazing educator, have two incredibly smart, talented and beautiful children and get to work everyday with middle schoolers who are still young at heart as their social studies teacher. All that I have done with my “hobby” or “jobby” as some call it, even though I have never monetized a single thing, has been in addition to working and raising a family and typically done late at night after the fam has turned in the for evening. I typically sleep 5-5.5 hours a night and have done so for the better part of twenty years. 

The result of writing some words on a collector blog and taking a few pictures of toys has opened so many different paths to me which I could not have predicted. First and foremost is my entry into podcasting via my good friend Jason Luttrull who after just a few episodes of the Galaxy of Toys Podcast invited me to become a co-host which has continued to this day. Galaxy of Toys celebrated their 10th Anniversary earlier this year. Jason and I met through SARLACC (Seattle ARea Lucasfilm Artifact Collector Club), which is the oldest Star Wars collecting club in the United State created by another friend Gus Lopez. In 2013, podcasting was still fairly new and therefore we were able to fill a niche for Star Wars collectors. This evolved into other shows, such as The Star Wars Spinner Rack which Jason and I created and hosted with Star Wars comics guru Carlos Esteban Munoz aka SWComics. And most notably was the formation of Toy Run: The Star Wars Action Figure Cast which I co-created and co-hosted with Criz Bee of then JediBusiness.com now GalacticFigures.com. We set out to create the best Star Wars action figure-themed podcast out there and based on the reception, I believe we were fairly successful. Rarely does a month go by, where I am not asked about bringing the show back. As fellow content creators know, it is incredibly difficult to produce weekly content, which we did for two and a half years. 

Via my podcasting adventures and efforts, I was able to reach out to Matt Martin at Lucasfilm and get both my website and Galaxy of Toys Podcast added to Starwars.com as one of their official fan sites. Prior to this, I had reached out to Hasbro early in the site’s history and was able to get connected with their PR firm and approved as an official Fan Site partner. Back in the early 20teens, there were a lot less sites reporting on Star Wars collecting which made it much easier than it is today. Being a Hasbro partner has provided me with many opportunities including exclusive figure debuts, official fan votes and the ability to interview every Star Wars Brand team member in the last decade on many occasions. These interviews whether done online or in person at conventions are something I have always taken seriously in order to voice the feelings of my audience and fellow collectors. It has also brought with it, my fair share of detractors as they label the product Hasbro occasionally sends me as “Shill Boxes” despite the fact that I typically have 90% of what is inside already and that it comes with zero instructions on what to say or not say about it. But one thing I practice is not focusing on the negatives because when it comes to a hobby, it should be something which fills you with joy and not anger. I personally find it affirming to work with the company I have spent so much of my life, time, and money invested in. 

Name Drops

To avoid this reminiscence turning into the a novel, I’ll skip to posting my shout outs, appearances, and name drops in bullet form but first I’ll start with some special thanks to a few friends I have made along the way!

  • Jason Luttull aka Galaxy of Toys – For welcoming me to co-host Galaxy of Toys and other shows with you
  • Ryan Beise aka MrByZ’s Toy Reviews – Co-presenting with me at Emerald City ComicCon panels and co-hosting GOT
  • Matt Fox aka the original This Week in Star Wars – Co-presenting with me on the Collector Track at multiple Star Wars Celebrations and co-hosting GOT
  • Chris Moorehead – Joining me for backyard toy sales and co-hosting GOT
  • Jason Wood – Being my toy finder guru, friend of 20+ years and who introduced me to the Seattle collecting scene
  • Jon Gray & Mark Schroeder – Keeping me humble for 20+ years and daily discussions on Messenger about Star Wars toys
  • TRU OGs – Adam Murphy and Jeremy Heaton my Toys R Us brothers for life!
  • Steve James – Giving me the opportunities at Washington State Summer Con and Washington State Toy Shows, designing logos and merch for the site and letting me join you on your adventures
  • Mike Tarkin – Keeping Action Figure Therapy alive and well and for letting my join in the fun with The Sandcrawler
  • Jayson aka Yakface – Keeping me and the world informed and co-hosting GOT 
  • Craig Goldberg aka Yes Have Some Podcast – A huge thanks for inviting me into your extended YHS fam
  • Ryan Doell aka Toy Anxiety – My PNW brother whose support is not overlooked

Podcast interviews

  • I have been fortunate enough to interview the following in my podcast career:
    • Dan Curto
    • Mark Bellomo
    • Chris Fawcett
    • Chris Pirillo
    • Michael French
    • Daniel Pickett
    • Frank Diorio
    • Steven Sansweet
    • Jordan Hembrough
    • Jimmy Mac
    • Gus Lopez
    • Steve Evans
    • Stephen Hayford
    • Jayson Krebsbach
    • Tom Berges
    • Mike Tarkin & Dengar Dan
    • Bill McBride
    • Matt Fox
    • Kim Simmons
    • Lee Towersey
    • Mark Newbold
    • Corey Van Dyke
    • Phillip Reed
    • Paul Harrison
    • Dan Madsen
    • Victoria’s Cantina
    • Stephen Danley
    • Star Geek
    • Bantha Soup
    • First Order Transmissions
    • Brian Fulton
    • Fly Guy
    • Jon Gray
    • The Collector’s Hutt
    • Jedi Scavenger
    • The Vintage Rebellion
    • Super Awesome Geek Show
    • Scavenger UK

Live On-Stage Interviews

  • Thanks to the Washington State Summer Con and Washington State Toy Shows I have had the great honor to interview the following:
    • Peter Mayhew
    • Carl Weathers
    • Giancarlo Esposito
    • Ian McDiarmid
    • Ron Perlman
    • Temura Morrison 
    • Vanessa Marshall
    • Sam Witwer
    • Taylor Gray
    • Tiya Sircar
    • Brian Volk-weiss
    • Gus Lopez
    • Jordan Hembrough
    • Mark Bellomo
    • John Ratzenberger
    • Timothy Zahn
    • Katee Sackhoff
    • Emily Swallow
    • Mike Quinn
    • David Barclay
    • Corey Dee
    • Dickey Beer
    • Elizabeth Henstridge
    • Daniel Logan
    • Francios Chau
    • Ernie Reyes Jr.
    • Michael Bell
    • BJ Ward
    • Garry Chalk
    • David Kaye
    • Ian James Corlett
    • and many more to come this June 23-25th!

Special Appearances & Collaborations

  • Since the beginning of the site, I have enjoyed hanging out with fellow collectors on their respective shows and events
    • 2023
      • Washington State Toy Show (Celebrity Stage Host)
      • YHS & Toy Anxiety’s 3rd Annual Geoffrey Awards (Guest)
      • Cardboard Cantina (Guest)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)
      • The ToyNight Show (Host)
      • Geek.Dad.Life 2 (Guest)
      • Mandatory Mando (Guest)
      • Star Wars: Generation Skywalker (Guest)
      • Toy Anxiety (Guest)
      • Toying Around (Guest)
    • 2022
      • Geek.Dad.Life (Guest)
      • Washington State Summer Con (Celebrity Stage Host)
      • Emerald City Comic Con (Panelist & Press)
      • Washington State Toy Show (Celebrity Stage Host)
      • YHS & Toy Anxiety’s 2nd Annual Geoffrey Awards (Guest)
      • Boba Book Club YouTube Show (Guest)
      • Star Wars Celebration Anaheim (Collector’s Track Panelist)
      • Toy Anxiety (Guest)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)
    • 2021
      • YHS & Toy Anxiety’s Geoffrey Awards (Guest)
      • Toy Anxiety Podcast (Guest)
      • The Bad Bitches YouTube Show (Guest)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)
      • Our Blessed Rebel Queen: Essays on Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia (Pictured)
      • The Sandcrawler Podcast (Special Guest Host)
      • Washington State Summer Con (Celebrity Stage Host)
      • Washington State Summer Con Again (Celebrity Stage Host)
      • Midnight Mando YouTube Show (Guest)
      • Washington State Toy Show Live (Host)
    • 2020
      • My Star Wars Life Podcast (Guest)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)
      • Plastic Chats Show (Guest)
      • The Sandcrawler Podcast (Special Guest Host)
      • Midnight Mando YouTube Show (Guest)
      • Toy Anxiety Podcast (Guest)
    • 2019
      • Star Wars Insider (Article Contributor)
      • Star Wars Celebration Chicago (Collector’s Social Podcast Stage)
      • Emerald City Comic Con (Press)
      • My Star Wars Life Podcast (Guest)
      • Washington State Summer Con (Celebrity Stage Host)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)
      • The Sandcrawler Podcast (Special Guest Host)
    • 2018
      • Washington State Toy and Geek Fest (Toy Expert & Celebrity Stage Host)
      • My Star Wars Life Podcast (Guest)
      • Emerald City Comic Con (Panelist & Press)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)
      • Toy Run: The Star Wars Action Figure Cast (Co-Creator & Co-Host)
      • The Sandcrawler Podcast (Special Guest Host)
      • Starwars.com (Official Community Website)
    • 2017
      • Star Wars Celebration Orlando (Star Wars Space Club Showfloor Vendor, Collector’s Social Podcast Stage, Collector’s Track Panelist, & Press)
      • The Sandcrawler Podcast (Guest)
      • Stargeek – YouTube (Featured Panel)
      • Starwars.com (Official Community Website)
      • Emerald City Comic Con (Panelist & Press)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)
      • Toy Run: The Star Wars Action Figure Cast (Co-Creator & Co-Host)
    • 2016
      • Retroblasting: Star Wars Follies: Second Hand Sorrow (Special Guest)
      • Toy Run: The Star Wars Action Figure Cast (Co-Creator & Co-Host)
      • Star Wars Action News Podcast (Guest Host)
      • Chris Pirillo – YouTube Rogue One Unboxing (Guest)
      • Star Wars Collectors Galaxy Podcast (Guest)
      • Emerald City Comic Con (Panelist & Press)
      • Starwars.com (Official Community Website)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)
      • The Star Wars Spinner Rack Podcast (Creator and Host)
    • 2015
      • In a Galaxy – Television Documentary Series (self)
      • Super Awesome Geek Show Podcast (Guest)
      • The Star Wars Spinner Rack Podcast (Creator and Host)
      • Star Wars Celebration Anaheim (Official Podcast Stage & Press)
      • Vintagestarwarscollectors.com (Collector Snapshop)
      • Emerald City Comic Con (Panelist & Press)
      • Starwars.com (Official Community Website)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)
    • 2014
      • Retroblasting: Star Wars Follies VIII: AyecaROMBA! – The Magnificent 17 (Special Guest)
      • Hasbro (Official Fan Media Site Partner)
      • Star Wars: Collecting Cosmos Podcast (Guest)
      • Starwars.com (Official Community Website)
      • Emerald City Comic Con (Panelist & Press)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)
    • 2013
      • I.C.E. Seattle (Sponsor and Volunteer)
      • Galaxy of Toys Podcast (Co-host)

Shout Outs

  • Tom Berges aka IGrewUpStarWars for designing my first site logo among many other site related merch, traveling to Death Valley filming locations and co-hosting GOT
  • Criz Bee aka Galactic Figures for co-creating, editing and co-hosting Toy Run and co-hosting GOT
  • David Edwards for keeping S.T.A.R.S. alive and well
  • Dan Emmons aka Star Wars Collector for keeping me inspired
  • Jason Yang aka Work More Or Less, Ryan Beise, Amy Sjoberg, Mark Schroeder, Steve James and Jason Grohoske for assisting in Hasbro Brand Team interviews
  • John Boyega for posting a pic of my boy Finn playing with Finn
  • Scotty White for being an awesome Pop Culture Spirit Guide
  • David Koechner for letting me help write your TED Talk
  • William Shatner for giving me one of my most memorable moments on stage
  • Jay McDowell for letting me feature your work on the site
  • Dave Filoni for the Ahsoka doodle 
  • Toy Shiz for great chats and doing the lord’s work for toys
  • Jay Glatfelter aka Geek.Dad.Life for always being quick with breaking toy news
  • Dan Larson aka Secret Galaxy for being my number one stop on YouTube every single day
  • Pixel Dan for being meticulous with his visual guides and enthusiasm for toys
  • William aka Action Figure Checklists as the most outstanding and valuable social pages out there
  • Brain Volk-weiss aka The Toys That Made Us for putting toys in the limelight 
  • Kevin Feige for following me on Twitter

Now my apologies to any I have overlooked while sitting here at the computer at 11:38 PM this Saturday evening. I know all of the above is merely a fraction of the amazing interactions and incredible people I have met over these past ten years. It has been a time of so many highlights, a few lowlights but absolutely a life improving endeavor full of great collectors, fans and friends. 

My many thanks to all the readers, followers and listeners over the years and as I start my second decade, I hope to continue to share it all with you. 

May the Figures be with you,

Jake