Collector's Spotlight Vol. 26 (@offtheshelfpictures)
Welcome back to Collector Spotlight—a regularly irregular interview with a fellow Mezco collector where we get all up in their articulation, poke and prod at their shelves, and learn more about how they pose, play, and display.
This week, we’re heading north to Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, to meet Townshend, a lifelong collector, music fan, and toy photographer with a soft spot for Batman and a love for community. From paper route Spawn hauls to Rage Against the Machine–fueled diorama setups, Townshend’s collection is equal parts creativity, nostalgia, and family. Whether he’s customizing a van for the perfect shot, passing on Batman fandom from his dad, or photographing toys with soundtracks in mind, his shelves tell a story all their own.
Let’s dig in. 🦇📸
Q: How did you first fall down the rabbit hole of collecting?
A: I’ve been collecting toys my whole life, but the first figure I really remember chasing was McFarlane’s Spawn back in 1994. I saved up all my paper route money just to buy every figure in the first wave. I even dragged my parents around town to track down Clown/Violator with the rotating head.
Q: If your younger self could see your shelves today, which figure would blow his mind the most?
A: Definitely Atticus Doom. I loved skulls and monsters as a kid, so his eldritch-horror vibe would’ve been right up my alley.
Q: Your collection has some custom work in it—what’s the toughest project you’ve tackled?
A: I picked up the Ramen Toys Van for photography and quickly realized it wasn’t very camera-friendly. Getting figures inside without blocking the shot was a pain. So I ended up taking the whole thing apart, removing the roof, cutting out the passenger seat, and then trying to remember how to put it all back together. It doesn’t sound like much, but it was a big job!
Q: Do you collect with a specific theme in mind, or do you grab what speaks to you?
A: I usually lean toward Batman. My dad was a huge fan and introduced me to the comics when I was young. He’s gone now, but I like to think he’d think the figures we have today are incredible. That connection makes Batman pieces really meaningful to me.
Q: Speaking of meaningful—do you have a figure with a special story behind it?
A: Yes, my Mezco Ghost Rider. My wife and daughter surprised me with it for Father’s Day, so it’ll always hold a special place in my collection.
Q: You’re also big into toy photography. What usually inspires your shots?
A: Music, honestly. I’ll be listening to something, a song will spark an idea, and I’ll start imagining a scene for a figure. Other times, a random idea just pops in my head and I run with it.
Q: If your collection had a theme song, what would it be?
A: Bulls on Parade by Rage Against the Machine. It hits hard, just like a lot of superheroes do—it feels like perfect battle-scene music.
Q: What’s your favorite part of the photography process?
A: The setup. I love building out the scene and tweaking things until the frame nails the vibe I had in mind. That moment when it all clicks is the best.
Q: If your shelves came to life, which figure would cause the most trouble?
A: The Mask, no doubt. He’d be pulling pranks non-stop and probably making everyone break into a “Cuban Pete” dance number.
Q: Out of everything you own, which figure would you bring to a desert island?
A: Indiana Jones. He fits the environment, and once isolation got to me, I could at least hallucinate him giving me survival tips.
Q: What’s the best part of being a collector for you?
A: The community. Collectors and toy photographers are some of the kindest, most generous people out there. I’ve made great friends, gotten advice, and even had people help me track down missed figures.
Q: Last one: if you had to sum up the feeling of finding a new addition to your collection in a single word, what would it be?
A: Excitement! That’s what it always comes down to—pure excitement.
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