Xbox Nerd Corps: Ed Webb

“I attended Zero Hour at the 360 launch, when the idea of personalized plates was new,” says Ed Webb, a 41-year-old Xbox MVP better known as SpaceGhost2K. “Time has passed, and the only personalization I’ve seen is people deciding which corporate plate they want on their ’box. That’s not ‘personal’ to me.”

“Personal” definitely nails the DIY spirit behind Ed’s incredible custom faceplates. Working with off-the-shelf paints, stickers, and mini action figures, the one-time Xbox Merchandise Field Rep thinks of his creations as “little vertical dioramas” that often focus on comics, movies, and TV shows. His works — which he frequently auctions away on eBay — are plastic tributes to fan-friendly franchises like Lost, Ghostbusters, and Star Wars.

“I’m a pop-culture geek, so for me it’s more about making someone say ‘I remember that!’ or ‘That’s my favorite’ or just making them laugh,” explains Ed. “I get a bigger kick out of putting something obscure on a faceplate — like the ‘Sylar’s Escape’ Heroes faceplate — that maybe eight people will ‘get.’ If there’s nothing to ‘get,’ it probably wouldn’t appeal to me.”

Some of Ed’s plates require inside knowledge, like the “Sylar’s Escape” Heroes plate (based on the Season 1 finale) or the Oceanic Flight 815 plate. On the latter, the front looks like the side of a jet airliner, but Lost fans will note the painted wreckage on the tail end, complete with a tiny toy survivor. (Or is it?)

On deck: an ambitious Manhunt 2 plate that includes a holographic eye, as well as a light-up Matrix of Leadership from Transformers. And maybe someday he’ll even find the inspiration to finally defeat his nemesis, Batman. “I’ve got paint masks and figures, but I just can’t get a mental image of a finished plate that I’m happy with,” he tells us. “I don’t believe it can’t be done; the muse just hasn’t whacked me yet.”

You're next! We love celebrating the superfans of Xbox, but it takes more than a cool tattoo or a custom license plate to make it into the Nerd Corps. If you think you have what it takes, send us an email and tell us why you deserve some extraordinary love.