Meet the Collector: Brooke LaDue

MCU admirers, assemble! If you have seen each and every Marvel Studios flick and series more than after, you are going to like what you see right here. Brooke is an Avenger admirer with a major soft place for Tony Stark. From Funko pops and Very hot Toys to motion figures, replicas, art prints, and pins, her assortment is crammed to the brim with all items MCU! These are her feelings about her interest.

When and how did you begin collecting?

I’m a single of all those folks who constantly have form of collected a little something. Even as a young child escalating up, ahead of I realized what gathering definitely intended, I was generally into the latest new point and preferred to surround myself with things associated to it.

As for my recent journey – in 2012, I noticed The Avengers for the initially time and fell entirely head in excess of heels for the OG6. Soon right after, I ran into a couple of Avengers Funko pops at Focus on. The relaxation is history!

What do you gather?

My primary target is everything and anything Iron Man.

My collection has evolved very a little bit about the yrs, commencing with The Avengers and growing into other Marvel characters, moreover a little bit of Disney here, a bit of Star Wars there… At the end of last calendar year, I made the decision I needed to downsize and devote most of my focus to Iron Person exclusively. I have a great deal of Iron Gentleman Funko pops, motion figures (this kind of as Marvel Legends, ZD Toys, and SH Figuarts), some replicas, art prints, metal guides, pins, and my favorite – Scorching Toys. If it is Iron Guy, I’m below for it!

What is that you love most about the Marvel Universe?

Quick. The people.

It’s really a minor bit funny that I bought into Marvel at all since superheroes and comedian guides/videos have in no way actually been my matter. But there is a little something exclusive about Marvel and the way the characters are created so very well and really feel definitely relatable beyond what ever superpower or magic they have. They sense human, even when they are not.

Which forthcoming Marvel film are you most enthusiastic for?

Perfectly, I really don’t hold up with the new Marvel articles significantly any longer these days. The older motion pictures are the place it is at for me, and my coronary heart is with phases 1 & 2 of the MCU. 

If I had to decide on a thing new, even though, I’m on the lookout ahead to the Armor Wars Disney+ series. Rhodey/War Machine is so underrated, and it’ll be truly good to see him get his probability to shine as the lead.

Who is your favorite character?

This is going to be a comprehensive surprise… Tony Stark! I could go on and on for days about all the good reasons why he’s my most loved. To maintain it transient, I like that he is these a serious, human hero, with flaws, imperfections, and all. No superpowers, no magic – just a person in a can attempting to do the suitable thing. He’s genuinely just one of the very best-designed characters in the MCU.

Which merchandise in your selection is the most specific to you and why?

Oh, this a person is difficult! It would have to be possibly my arc reactor replica (“Proof that Tony Stark Has A Heart”) – due to the fact it is one particular of my preferred times, and I adore the imagery – or my Warm Toys. The excellent and element of individuals figures are unmatched, but I respect them excess since it took a lot of tricky operate and devotion to incorporate them to my selection. I’m very pleased to individual them!

Do you have any unusual/tremendous exceptional items in your selection?

I really do not know if I would get in touch with anything at all in my selection scarce. I have a custom made Pepper Potts Funko pop that’s a single of a variety and pretty particular to me, so I guess it would be that. I also have a pair of fantasy pins from unbiased creators that were being a restricted operate, and these days they are pretty tough to come across.

What is the finest element about remaining a collector?

The joy it provides me. There are a good deal of pleasurable sections, like enjoying the thrill of the hunt, arranging my display screen, or taking resourceful pictures, but the finest component is remaining able to go into my area and see the physical representation of my favorite character(s). Just standing there and searching at it provides a smile to my encounter each one time. 

I’m also incredibly grateful and very pleased that I can enable myself to collect all individuals matters. I’ve worked extremely tough to get to the place I am in my lifetime appropriate now, and my selection functions as a great reminder of that.

How do you manage your selection?

I use the Billy bookcase from IKEA, and I couldn’t propose it adequate. It is quite well-liked between collectors mainly because it is so customizable. In phrases of exhibit – and I know this might be controversial for some people – I take every thing out of the box! So considerably much more pleasurable that way.

How a lot of Displates do you have in your collection?

So much, I just have a person that’s now on the way! I can unquestionably see much more of them in my long run, while.

Anything else you would like to share?

I consider it’s genuinely significant to emphasize that there is no right or mistaken way to accumulate. Some people prefer to total total sets when other individuals only get what they like some maintain points in the box, some others acquire ‘em out – the listing goes on and on. What ever way you select, that’s the appropriate way! The very best selection is your assortment, simply just due to the fact it’s yours. If it makes you delighted, that is all that matters – and under no circumstances enable any person else steal your pleasure.

Not anyone is likely to have an understanding of why collectors do what we do I’m no stranger to getting judged for it. But this globe we stay in can be this kind of a dim and frightening spot we want to appear for joy and peace anywhere we can. For me, that arrives in the form of amassing points I really like, and I’m endlessly grateful that I’m in a position to do it!

Last of all, I’m @brooklynscove on Instagram if you want to fall a stick to! 🙂

All images made use of in this submit are © Brooke LaDue’s, used with permission.