I love yard sales. As a kid the only money I had was from selling off old and unwanted toys at yard sales. Of course I would quickly turn around and buy more toys at other yard sales, but you get the idea. I do yard sales. I came across two Tomy Gacha Machines at a yard sale the summer before last. The people selling them didn’t have the keys to the coin drawers, but they had the keys to the toy hoppers. I was astounded to buy them for a mere $15 each. Normally these machines sell used on e-bay for about $200. But With out further thought, money was paid and the machines were hoisted into the back of my car. Over the next two weeks I poured over them. Lifting them up to hear the tell tail sound of full coin drawers. After taking one unit apart, I broke down and drilled out the locks. Eight tokens, three random disney fobs, and $20 in quarters. I sold the rest of the toy capsule to a local comic book shop for $12.
So $30 spent on Gacha machines minus $20 in quarters and $12 in simpsons & pokemon merchandise equals, happy me.
So now what do I do with the machines?
Why not sell comics?
Akatomago Manga was born. “Aka” means “red”, and “tomago” Means “egg” in Japanese. Or at least I think so. (Correct me if I’m wrong). The only thing I could get to vend properly in the Gacha Machines were Eggs. So I ordered a batch of 2000 Red plastic eggs. They come in two boxes, one box with tops and the other with bottoms.
Superball Diaries at Books Comics and Things near Georgetown shopping mall in Fort Wayne.
Superball Diaries at Books Comics and Things at Timecorners in Fort Wayne
The First comic under the Akatomago label (and so far only) is a short story I wrote about my childhood love affair with superballs. It’s called “Superball Diaries” and each comic comes packaged with a superball. Right now the only place to get these comics is at Books comics & things at Georgetown and Timecorners. OR if your lucky and I’m doing a convention you happen to be attending, I have a machine I lug with me. And I’m always happy to change your dollar for four quarters.
Last year at S.P.A.C.E. (Small Press and Alternative Comic Expo) I debuted Superball Diaries. I did ok. I was most moved by the kids who had the gumption to inquire about the machine and it’s contents. I even gave a few away to friends and a sweet little girl who very shyly ask “can I have an egg?”. I also dropped one into the Space Prize box.
You can check out my entry and a ton of other great comics at the S.P.A.C.E. prize web site.
That is a cool idea! It would be a-ka ta-MA-go if you want it to be “red egg” Been following you comic for a while! love your world and your art!
Isn’t that how I spelled it? or is it Two words?
Oh I see I spelled it Tomago in the post, but Tamago on the comic. got it. Thank you. ==:> )