Collecting Classic Comics: how the world changes
Jan 24, 2017 14:26:52 GMT -5
Paste Pot Paul, Farrar, and 1 more like this
Post by brutalis on Jan 24, 2017 14:26:52 GMT -5
Having this morning purchased digitally 40 issues of Lee Falk's The Phantom from Amazon it occurs to me that the ways we collect and cherish our beloved comic books has evolved and change form the traditional "floppies" we scrounged for through used book stores, comic book shops, yard sales, thrift stores, comic book stores and convenience stores. There are so many ways to get comic books now that if you told us back in the day we would have laughed loudly.
There are entire internet sites devoted to providing "free" issues of series. You can by printed floppies or trade paperbacks or omnibus. There are electronic subscriptions. You can purchase individual issues or trades or collections for reading devices like the Kindle. Comic books can be scanned into PDF's or bought on CD-Rom for playing on a computer. You can store your comic book files on a computer, a Kindle or on a thumb/jump drive to carry with you any and everywhere. If you can't afford back issue floppy pricing you can collect TPB's or Omni's. There are (mostly) affordable reprint series and even TPB/Omni's selling out may be reprinted.
The ways we consume comic book's has continued to evolve, grow and expand yet there still seems to be less and less comic book reader's with each new generation. Those once hooked though truly are the most devoted, loyal and faithful readers who adore our comics. I have multiple versions of many series from the original monthly floppies to collected TPB's and a select few Omni's of scarcer series (MOKF anyone?) and have purchased electronic individual issues or series based on cost. I have CD-Rom's that have been downloaded to my Kindle and jump drives to carry complete 1970's Archie/Jughead/Betty & Veronica issues to read whenever i wish. I have the complete Star Trek CD-Rom for the same reason with all of the issues from Gold Key, Marvel, DC and Malibu. Today's purchase of the Phantom was a total no brainer at roughly $3 for 8 issues i got 39 issues for $12 which i might never be able to find or afford to purchase.
We are in a true golden age where you can find almost whatever comic you could dream of when before the limit was how far would you drive or bicycle in your city? Now comic book buying has few limits since you can by from tons of Internet Stores and comic sites. My town has gone from having over 20 comic book stores and 40 book stores and 60 used book stores to only having a dozen comic book shops and if lucky 4 actual book stores and maybe a dozen used book stores. I continue to support the local but as these places dwindle and finding what you seek becomes more difficult i find myself willingly searching the internet for the most affordable/cost effective ways i may find to continue collecting and enjoying my love of comic books.
I am proud of my collection in all of its various formats and what matters most to me is having them to enjoy and read over and over in the years to come. some of my friends are amazed at all the ways i have my comics and some "get it" and understand and wish they had a similar way to collect things they enjoy and others are confused by my collection and collecting habits/addiction. Why would i go to the trouble of collecting monthly floppies and then buy again in TPB form? Because i support companies, artists, writers continuing to create comics. I can of course and have sold off many of the monthly floppies so that i have less to store and more to enjoy. It is why the new electronic versions area joy and yet there are those oh so special floppies i shall never part with for sentimental purposes and the pure joy found from hunting them in my youth to build my collection. Electronic is convenient but doesn't replace holding that comic in my hands. It is an alternative to use and explore when wanting to see old or new things i wish to read.
In the end they are all only possessions meant to deliver us simple joy, fun, happiness and pleasurable entertainment for the mind, heart and soul. Yet i will never stop collecting in some way or form no matter how old i get or how strange and odd it may seem to others. My passion, my drug of choice is and shall always be for my comic books. How about you all and your collecting?
There are entire internet sites devoted to providing "free" issues of series. You can by printed floppies or trade paperbacks or omnibus. There are electronic subscriptions. You can purchase individual issues or trades or collections for reading devices like the Kindle. Comic books can be scanned into PDF's or bought on CD-Rom for playing on a computer. You can store your comic book files on a computer, a Kindle or on a thumb/jump drive to carry with you any and everywhere. If you can't afford back issue floppy pricing you can collect TPB's or Omni's. There are (mostly) affordable reprint series and even TPB/Omni's selling out may be reprinted.
The ways we consume comic book's has continued to evolve, grow and expand yet there still seems to be less and less comic book reader's with each new generation. Those once hooked though truly are the most devoted, loyal and faithful readers who adore our comics. I have multiple versions of many series from the original monthly floppies to collected TPB's and a select few Omni's of scarcer series (MOKF anyone?) and have purchased electronic individual issues or series based on cost. I have CD-Rom's that have been downloaded to my Kindle and jump drives to carry complete 1970's Archie/Jughead/Betty & Veronica issues to read whenever i wish. I have the complete Star Trek CD-Rom for the same reason with all of the issues from Gold Key, Marvel, DC and Malibu. Today's purchase of the Phantom was a total no brainer at roughly $3 for 8 issues i got 39 issues for $12 which i might never be able to find or afford to purchase.
We are in a true golden age where you can find almost whatever comic you could dream of when before the limit was how far would you drive or bicycle in your city? Now comic book buying has few limits since you can by from tons of Internet Stores and comic sites. My town has gone from having over 20 comic book stores and 40 book stores and 60 used book stores to only having a dozen comic book shops and if lucky 4 actual book stores and maybe a dozen used book stores. I continue to support the local but as these places dwindle and finding what you seek becomes more difficult i find myself willingly searching the internet for the most affordable/cost effective ways i may find to continue collecting and enjoying my love of comic books.
I am proud of my collection in all of its various formats and what matters most to me is having them to enjoy and read over and over in the years to come. some of my friends are amazed at all the ways i have my comics and some "get it" and understand and wish they had a similar way to collect things they enjoy and others are confused by my collection and collecting habits/addiction. Why would i go to the trouble of collecting monthly floppies and then buy again in TPB form? Because i support companies, artists, writers continuing to create comics. I can of course and have sold off many of the monthly floppies so that i have less to store and more to enjoy. It is why the new electronic versions area joy and yet there are those oh so special floppies i shall never part with for sentimental purposes and the pure joy found from hunting them in my youth to build my collection. Electronic is convenient but doesn't replace holding that comic in my hands. It is an alternative to use and explore when wanting to see old or new things i wish to read.
In the end they are all only possessions meant to deliver us simple joy, fun, happiness and pleasurable entertainment for the mind, heart and soul. Yet i will never stop collecting in some way or form no matter how old i get or how strange and odd it may seem to others. My passion, my drug of choice is and shall always be for my comic books. How about you all and your collecting?
