Collector's Spotlight Vol. 36 (@dark_realm_photography)

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.

Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jacob is a storyteller first and a collector second. From building intricate dioramas and learning 3D printing to creating entire worlds around his figures, every project starts with one simple question: "What's the story nobody got to see?" Get to know the creative mind behind the camera in this week's Collector Spotlight!

Q: Every great photo starts with an idea. Where do yours begin?
A: For me, it always starts with one question: "What's the story nobody got to see?" With Mezco's original characters, that's incredibly fun because you're not confined by an existing movie or comic panel. Characters like Atticus Doom or Doc Nocturnal feel like they walked out of films that somehow never got made, so I get to build those missing worlds around them. Licensed characters are a little different. I don't really like recreating scenes everyone has already seen. I'd rather create the moments we all wish existed. At the end of the day, I don't really choose figures—I choose stories. The figure is just the actor lucky enough to get the role.

Q: Tell us about the most ambitious project you've tackled.
A: I'd have to go with my Atticus Doom setup. The funny part is, it wasn't really about customizing the figure—it was everything around him. I had this vision of Atticus Doom standing behind an old merchant's counter, like he'd spent decades collecting cursed artifacts that absolutely shouldn't be sitting out in the open. The problem was...that diorama didn't exist. So, naturally, instead of taking the easy route, I decided to build it. That rabbit hole turned into learning 3D modeling, buying a Bambu Lab printer, printing the merchant stand...then printing it again...and, if we're being honest, printing it a third time because I kept finding things I wanted to improve. Looking back, I realized I didn't really build a diorama—I built an entire world around Atticus Doom.

Q: How did you first get into collecting and toy photography?
A: It all started with my son. After a shoulder surgery and a knee replacement, I suddenly had way too much free time and needed something to keep my hands busy. We started building little environments for his action figures, and I honestly had no intention of collecting anything myself. Then, while hunting for X-Men figures in a pawn shop, I stumbled across Mezco's Space Ghost and Deadpool. Space Ghost became a conversation piece for my office, Deadpool became my first photography project, and somewhere along the way I picked up a camera and thought, "I bet I can make this look pretty cool." Less than two years later, that little project turned into photography, 3D printing, diorama building, and an incredible community of creators and collectors. What started as helping my son became one of the most rewarding creative hobbies I've ever had—and that's exactly why my tagline is "I Bring Toys to Life."

Q: What's your favorite part of the creative process?
A: The storytelling. Everything else is just a tool. I love building dioramas. I love 3D printing. I love photography and editing. But none of those are my favorite part by themselves. My favorite moment is when all of those pieces finally come together and the image stops looking like toys on a table. That's the moment a story comes to life. I think of every figure as an actor, every diorama as a movie set, and the camera as the final piece that brings it all together.

Q: Has collecting changed the way you look at the hobby?
A: I used to think I was collecting action figures. Turns out I was collecting excuses to be creative. Every figure has pushed me to learn something new, whether that's photography, lighting, 3D printing, painting, or building miniature worlds. Looking back, the collection isn't really the thing I'm most proud of—it's everything I learned because of it. The figures got me through the door. The creativity and the community are why I stayed.

Q: Which figure in your collection means the most to you?
A: Space Ghost. I know he probably isn't the answer most people expect, but he's been my favorite for as long as I can remember. I didn't grow up with my dad at home, and like a lot of kids, I ended up finding role models in the people I watched on TV. Space Ghost and Joe Bob Briggs were two of those influences for me. Space Ghost wasn't just another cartoon character—he was part of my childhood.

Q: What's your favorite One:12 Collective figure?
A: Space Ghost. Memories. 🙂

Q: What's the one figure you're still chasing?
A: Oh boy...for me, it's Vapor Burner Edition.

Q: If one figure in your collection came to life, who would cause the most trouble?
A: Sparky Foreman. Without a doubt. Imagine Tony Soprano...except he lives in your closet, wears a loud suit, and occasionally asks why you haven't bought him another cigar. I don't think Sparky would actually destroy anything. He'd just quietly take over. Before long, I'd probably have to ask Sparky's permission before bringing another Mezco figure home.

Q: What's the first thing that goes through your mind when a new figure arrives?
A: Uh-oh. Because I've learned that buying the figure is usually the cheapest part. The second it comes home, my brain starts designing dioramas, ordering props, planning lighting setups, and convincing me I definitely need one more Amazon package to "finish the scene." The figure is never the end of the purchase—it's the beginning of the project.

Q: What advice would you give to new collectors and toy photographers?
A: Jump in with both feet and don't be afraid to ask questions. I think a lot of people wait until they feel like they know enough before they post a photo, build a diorama, or share an idea. Don't. This community is incredibly talented, but it's also incredibly generous. Every skill I've picked up over the last couple of years came from someone taking the time to answer a question I wasn't afraid to ask. Just start. Your first photo won't be your best...and that's exactly how it's supposed to be.

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