The Toys that made us
“It’s morphin’ time!”
Sound familiar? What ranger were you?
I personally had a full-on Power Ranger identity crisis as a kid. I liked the Blue Ranger, but I knew the limits of my intelligence. I liked the Red Ranger too, but I’m more of a lead-from-the-middle kind of guy. The Black Ranger? Way out of my league. Back then, society didn’t allow me to be the Pink or Yellow Ranger—but hey, maybe that’s changed now.
My crisis ended with the introduction of the Green Ranger. I realized I could lead if I wanted to. But mostly, I came to chew gum or kick ass… and they never had gum. So, I became the Green Ranger—tough, mysterious, but surprisingly emotional. I know.
Looking at a toy from your childhood can instantly surface a memory. Hopefully a good one.
When I see a GI Joe at a swap meet, I remember those epic backyard battles against Cobra HQ.
Bakugan? That takes me straight back, too.
So many iconic toys came from the '90s and early 2000s—and here in this space, we’re going to talk about them, play with them, and collect them.
Remember Legos? Who doesn’t. I truly believe almost every kid has a soft spot for them. Their popularity today is only growing. I mean—have you seen the Harry Potter Hogwarts castle set? Stunning. And expensive. I don’t own many Legos, but I do have a small, respectable collection.
How about board games? My personal favorite is RISK. Sadly, it's not super collectible, but it holds the #1 spot in my game collection. Making my nephew cry as I crushed his armies with two dice? That memory lives rent-free.
But looking through the lens of a collector, there are board games out there worth $100 or more—some highly sought after. I’ll be sharing some of my favorites soon.
And don’t get me started on Futurama action figures. Did you know a golden Bender Comic-Con exclusive sells for $400? Most figures from the early 2000s range from $25 to $150. Oh, and there’s a Futurama comic series too—issues go from $25 to $100.
Monopoly, anyone? There’s a Futurama-themed edition going for $125 used… around $400 brand new.
Here’s a throwback for you: Pogs.
Were you the best player at your school? Of course you were—we all were.
Well, time to get back into the hobby... or at least rethink it.
Vintage pogs can fetch between $50–$100, with themed sets like Jurassic Park or Power Rangers going for even more. And those holographic pogs? Nearly impossible to see the image, but if you nailed the angle just right, you could claim it was Wayne Gretzky.
An official tournament pad and game board will run you about $80 today. You can still find full sets floating around on eBay.
The point is: there is treasure everywhere. Whether you're a collector or a reseller, having the eye for value takes time and research.
And that's what this section of The Archives is all about—discovering the toys that hold value, either in dollars or in memories. Some will be worth flipping for profit. Others deserve a spot of honor in your collection.
Either way—we're here to dig them up.
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