The Collector's Mentality

My Wife Thinks I'm Crazy Part 38

2009-09-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

Stephanie walked into the office while I was sliding one of my new CGC-graded Conan comics into a resealable bag. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Umm, putting these comics in bags," I said, stating the obvious.

"I can see that," she said, perplexed. "But why?"

"So the case doesn't get scratched," I said. The puzzled look on her face told me she was working another question in her head, one that would indicate that she clearly doesn't understand the things I do. So I held up a slabbed book in my left hand and grabbed another with my right. I mimicked putting the two together, trying to demonstrate that if they weren't bagged, the case would get scuffed up or worse.

"It's the comic that matters, right?" she asked. "And the shell thing protects that already. Why protect the thing that's protecting the comic?"

"That's true, but..." I started, thinking to myself, where does it end? Would I get a bag to protect the bag? Of course not, but I knew Stephanie wouldn't understand, so I changed tactics. "Look how great the book looks in the bag. Not sure what it is, but it really pops now."

She just laughed on the way out of the room. "You're crazy, dear. And I love you for it."

Why Oh Y do You Taunt Me So?

2008-05-20T16:48:00.000-07:00

I was able to say no to the Ex Machina oversize hardcover that collects books I already own. I was able to say no to the Gotham Central oversize hardcover that collects books I already own. But DC has bested me. I simply don't see how I'm going to withstand knowing that there's a Y: The Last Man oversize hardcover that doesn't grace my shelf. I just couldn't take it.

I'm excited about my decision to buy this one. No second guessing this one. I'll enjoy the book many times I'm sure because it's the best series I've ever read. But I have opened the door to double dipping, and what's good for the goose is good for this gander, so I'm afraid it's only a matter of time before I start wondering if an upgraded version of Ex and Gotham wouldn't be welcome after all.

Mmmmm, Covers...

2008-05-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

I've been known to buy comics solely for the covers. These books are never to be opened, just enjoyed behind a clean, shiny mylite2. Here's one I have my eye on today. I don't even know who the character is, but I'm considering adding it to my next order. It's the cover to New Exiles #9 ready to ship in August. Alexander Garner's colors are vibrant and enticing. I suppose the woman's face is a little too manaquin, but those colors...those beautiful, beautiful colors...

I also considered briefly the new Secret Invasion: X-Men #1, but then I realized that there were other characters on the cover other than Emma Frost. Once I spotted those other characters, I realized just how stupid the cover is and I crossed it from my list. Still, Emma's looking better than ever...

Of course, this is all fantasy. I won't buy either. Once you slap the title's logo on either of the books, they lose their luster. Besides, I have a house to buy.

The Final Chapter?

2008-05-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

I went to Barnes and Noble to pick up another Star Wars book. After looking over 5-6 copies, I found one I could live with. Nothing particularly interesting about the book or the purchase, just the fact that I still collect these damn books without reading them. And with 95% of my book collection in boxes in my garage, I'm not even sure I can use the whole "but the spines look so cool on my shelf" reasoning.

Then again, this is the final chapter in the "Legacy of the Force" series. Now's my chance to quite for good. [cue laugh track]

Just Say No

2008-05-07T16:25:00.000-07:00

Has it really been two weeks since I last posted? Time flies when you can't think about collecting. In the last couple of weeks, my mind has been focused on my new home pretty much non-stop, so not only have I not had money to devote to my hobbies, I haven't had time either.

But tonight I placed my order for comics shipping in July. I spent a whopping $41 with shipping. It's like, for the first time in years, I'm curbing my spending. Sure, I've spent under $50 before, but let's face it, anytime I did, it was more to do with the lack of interesting books and less to do with will power.

Not this time. Tonight I found plenty of books I'm interested in, I just decided to say no. And it worked. Who knew? So instead of spending money on comics, I'm saving it up so I can buy a lawn mower, or a new fridge, or the washer/dryer combo. Sure, it'd be cool to move into my new home with a bigger stack of things to read or a shorter list of cards on my list, but you know what? Buying a TV or patio furniture is more important right now.

Wait. Does this mean I've finally grown up? God, let's hope that doesn't last...

EDITED TO ADD: You know, it's funny. Despite all of what I said, I still managed to buy Savage Sword of Conan Volume 4. I still haven't finished volume 1 because I'm not even sure if I like it. So it's good to see that at least some things never change.

Third Time's a Charm

2008-04-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

Today is my third wedding anniversary. That's right, three years ago today Stephanie and I tied the knot. It's the best thing I ever did, no question.

While we've been planning a few events for tonight, we've also been fantasizing about what we're going to do with our new house. That's right, just last night we signed the final paperwork that set the whole home buying experience in motion. We close on June 12.

The last few days, with the house and the anniversary talk in the air, I've completely forgotten about collecting. Jumping on eBay to find more football cards, or dusting my first edition books, or soaking in my favorite Adam Hughes covers has been the farthest thing from my mind. Throw the warm Spring weather in the mix and you get a tempered collector's mentality. I'm looking forward to a much needed break.

Although I don't foresee adding to my collections in the coming weeks, I do consider it a necessity to make some more cuts. First thing on the chopping blocks: My Marvel run of Star Wars comics. After that, I feel the dam about to burst. In other words, I don't imagine moving into the house with any comic books.

Let the selling begin...

Buy High, Sell Low

2008-04-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

Trying to get rid of a few items to make room on my bookcase. For now, just a few unwanted hardcovers. Based on other eBay auctions, I'll be lucky to get even the cover price of one of these books, let alone price I paid for the bunch. But that's a risk I have to take with a home purchase in my future...

For those interested in what I'm offering up this first time around on eBay, check out my auctions.

Upgrade Central

2008-04-16T14:28:00.001-07:00

Noticed a bad trend happening over at DC. For the second time I've noticed an oversize hardcover of material already collected in tradepaperback. This time it's Gotham Central, my all-time favorite series set in Gotham City. But just like Ex Machina, I already own all of the trades. So do I need to upgrade my reading material?

I'm not even sure if this is really a collector's question. It's not the collector in me that is considering the upgrade. I don't feel this urge to own every version of the books I like. As far as the collector goes, all I care about is the first rendition of my favorite stories. For novels, that means a first edition hardcover. For a comic, that's the monthly issue. This is neither.

Instead, it's all about my preferred format. Book publishers make this so easy on me. I love hardcovers and I love the first rendition of a book. Well, those are one in the same. So for me, this is uncharted territory. I dig hardcovers and the oversize art, but does that equate to spending more money on the same story?

I skipped the Ex Machina hardcover collection, but I'll be tempted again once I actually see or hold the thing. Yet one driving factor will be whether or not DC will publish the rest of the material in hardcover, or will my bookcases always look stupid with a mix of hardcovers and softcovers of the same title?

I know it's all about money, but why can't there be a little rhyme and reason behind how comic publishers produce their collected material?

A Fond Farewell?

2008-04-14T16:46:00.001-07:00

So I'm reading through DC's solicitations for July 2008 when I'm suddenly thinking it's time to start buying more monthlies. I don't know why, exactly, it just feels like the right thing to do for some reason. When I notice that Catwoman is starring in Detective Comics, I think, what the hell? I might as well dive into a few series to see what's going on. Hell, maybe I'll start reading every issue with Catwoman in it.

Then WHAM! that dream comes crashing down when I read the solicitation for Catwoman #81 and I spot the last words on the marketing blurb: FINAL ISSUE.

Well that blows. I know the title isn't the best on the shelves, but ever since Brubaker took over, I really liked the character. So much so that I was considering reading more of her. I guess that won't be happening now.

I just hope that Adam Hughes takes over the cover chores of another book before too long. At least he's giving her a nice send off. It's almost as if she's telling DC to kiss her well-formed ass.

What Exactly Are You Doing?

2008-04-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

I don't know anything about this Final Crisis thing other than the fact that DC has been leading up to this explosive, life-changing event for what seems like four years. But one thing I do know is that the cover to issue 3 is fantastic. It's downright spooky, and sexy at the same time. It's one of the few covers I've seen in awhile that makes me actually want to read the book to see exactly what the hell's going on.

And knowing me, I'll be buying it to find out. Then again, I'm doubting those red bars on either side of Wonder Woman will be on the final cover, so who knows if that will make the image better or worse. Only time will tell.

Saving Money with Previews

2008-04-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

My interest in comics hit an all-time low today when I placed my order for books shipping in three months. The damage came to a mere $52 with shipping. That's the lowest it's been since I started using DCBS a few years ago. And nearly half of that price came with Drawing Words and Writing Pictures, a how-to by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden (which should be a fantastic book).

You know, that isn't exactly true. Yes, that $52 is less than any other order I've placed with DCBS, but my interest in the few comics I did order is actually pretty high. So maybe that's the key? Instead of buying a bunch of comics I'm hoping will be good, I'll buy much less and focus on those that I'm much more positive will be solid reads.

Either way, I saved a few bucks this time around, and that's never a bad thing for a collector.

The Same, Only Different

2008-04-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

I was surfing Amazon.com this morning and found myself focusing on searching for any and all books devoted to the Green Bay Packers. So I emailed Jason.

"I've decided that I'm totally into buying books on the Packers," I wrote.

He wrote back, "You're just now realizing that?"

"No, I guess not, I just like thinking about it."

Anyway, in my search I discovered the soon-to-be-released updated version of Green Bay Packers: The Complete Illustrated History. I read the first volume and loved it. Now the question is would the information on the 2007 season and Favre's retirement be enough for me to buy the same book twice.

Any modern comic collector understands the variant craze. I'll admit that I've played the sucker a few times and paid out the nose for a comic that is a little more "rare" and features a different cover than the regular version. But this is different, right? This isn't some variant, it's just an updated history book. And wouldn't buying this put me on the edge of a slippery slope? If I buy this one, does that mean I have to buy next year's volume, too? In ten years, will I have 10 volumes of this same book?

Only time will tell, I suppose, but I'm guessing that anyone who's read this blog more than a few times already knows the answer to my questions.

That's Not Art, That's Just Cool

2008-04-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

I might be pulling further and further away from comics these days (don't worry, it's like a rubber band, I'll snap back before Marvel reveals who's a Skrull) but my football card habit just keeps on truckin' full steam ahead.

It's crazy how much I love the Packers. With each passing season, I get more and more drawn into every aspect of the organization. I find myself watching the news earlier and earlier, following the team's transactions throughout the off season. And with every passing year, my collecting gets more and more frenzied, too.

I posted not long ago that collecting comics is so subjective. We collect these pieces of art based on our personalities and what we find appealing. As you've seen, I'm currently learning that fewer and fewer comics strike my fancy, and I'm pulling away from collecting them altogether.

Sometimes my book collecting is at odds with my book reading, too. I'd say that about 30% of my first edition novels remain unread (it's probably more than that, but I hesitate to actually do the math). I have enough books to keep me busy for a few years, but I keep buying them to continually update my collection. At the same time, however, I'm not buying them for the sake of the collection either. It's not all about quantity. I don't get excited by the number of books I have. Instead, I buy them with the hopes that I'll not only one day read them, but that I'll enjoy the story, too. So yes, in other words, nearly half of my collection I have no idea if I actually like.

There's something off putting about that notion. I would never buy a painting with the hopes that I would someday grow to like it, yet here I am, with books and comics all over the place that have yet to strike a chord with me (unless you count my love for cool spines, but you get the idea).

Football cards are totally different. There's no artistic value to them whatsoever. They are 100% collectible items. I could make the argument that they have historical significance to football fans, or that the design work is artistic, but let's face it, I buy them for my collection and nothing more. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the hell out of 'em: putting them in sleeves, scanning them, posting them to my website, writing about them, talking about them, organizing them, reorganizing them. I get more mileage out of these cards then any kid who puts 'em on the spokes of his bike.

No, I buy a football card to cross it off my list. To finally be able to say I have a complete set. To be the first one on the block with the complete Packers master team set from this year or that brand. While many might scoff at the very notion, I think it makes the collection all that much more significant because there's no other point. It's a collection that doesn't try to be high brow, or intellectual, or cool. It's just a collection.

I think that's why the list of cards I own keeps growing. While I often second guess my book or comic collections or change my requirements for what I consider to be quality art, I'm always going to be a Packers fan and I'm always going to have this urge to buy cardboard. And I'm totally cool with that.

When you look at my comic or book collection, you'll know that what I read says a lot about who I am. My taste in art reflects my soul. For football cards, the collection says nothing more than the fact that I'm a huge Packers fan. Well, it might also say that I'm a little obsessive compulsive (what's the deal with buying the same card ten times, anyway?) and I need to get out of the house more, but you get the idea.

Nope, these cards certainly aren't art...but they're certainly cool.

Just Another Sucker

2008-04-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated my blog for awhile because I don't have much to say that hasn't been said. I'm tired of comics and I'm considering selling off the bulk of my collection; not only the trades and OGNs, but also the single issues. It's serious this time. I mean, I look at my collection and wish it would suddenly disappear. I'd rather have the extra space then these books filling up my bookcase and closet.

Of course, that way of thinking won't stop me from heading to Mile High on Wednesday and getting the new issue of Wonder Woman.

Yeah, it doesn't make any sense to me either. Then again, I never said anything I wrote or felt about collecting would make sense.

Actually, the idea of buying a book when I'm this turned off by comics makes my stomach turn a little. Sure, I'm hoping the Gail Simone story will somehow work for me, but the odds aren't in her favor. So yeah, it really doesn't make any sense.

But wait, it gets better.

See, not only am I planning to get that Wonder Woman, I'm also considering spending $50 on a book I know I won't like. Go figure. But something about the Star Wars: Luke Skywalker, Last Hope for the Galaxy hardcover collection has me intrigued. Not so much for any enjoyment I might get out of reading the book, but more about pure speculation. I know Star Wars fans are die hards, and I also know that most of the Marvel omniboo prices on the secondary market went through the roof before Marvel went back to press. I'm not sure if I'll pull the trigger, especially when I realize that every time I've bought something with the hope of turning it into a profit, those plans failed miserably. Plus that cover looks like crap. Sure, it's not the actual cover, Dark Horse is only using the image for "solicitation only," but what does that say for the actual cover?

Yeah, comics suck, but I'm still a sucker.

Spinal Injury

2008-03-31T14:47:00.001-07:00

Perhaps I spoke too soon about the latest Hard Case Crime cover. As it turns out, the spine isn't uniform with the rest. It's one of those books that contains two novels where you read one and flip the book to read the other. So the spine has the HCC logo on the top and the bottom.

My good friend Jason pointed it out to me. The only reason I hadn't noticed is that I was heavily medicated when I bought it. That and the fact that I haven't put it on the shelf yet. Now I'm not sure I even want to.

Stupid spines!

Never Judge a Book...

2008-03-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

I love these Hard Case Crime covers. Makes me actually want to read one of 'em. I'll have to try that some day.

Spring Cleaning

2008-03-29T07:05:00.001-07:00

Two things happened this week. First, I realized that most of the comics I read aren't very good. Second, I had surgery on my knee. As you can probably guess, that second one gave me plenty of on the couch, which translated into plenty of time to read more and more comics. I was hoping to find some that really turned me on to the format again, but unfortunately, what I found were more books to get rid of.

Of the 10+ books I read in the last few days, the only series I liked enough to keep and possibly read again was Catwoman. It started with Cooke's Selina's Big Score and continued in the Brubaker-penned series. These two really created a character I like, with situations that go much deeper than the typical superhero books. As a matter of fact, I plan to keep reading the book under the new writer (Pfeifer) because Brubaker actually got me to care for Selina, Slam, and Holly.

Other books didn't fare so well. While I enjoyed The Other Side by Aaron and Stewart, the story didn't have the emotional impact I was hoping for. I found myself thinking, "This part is supposed to make me sad." It was almost as if I could tell what the storytellers wanted me to feel, I just couldn't feel it.

There were still others that were decent reads but still left me feeling cold, such as Supermarket by Wood and Kristian, Filler by Spears and G, and Hazed by Sable and Rodriguez. Essential X-Factor Volume 1 made me realize I had bad taste as a kid, too. Right now I'm diving into the hardcover Superman/Batman titles I have. If I remember correctly, the first volume was pretty good, but the series went downhill from there.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this post. I guess I'm growing more and more disillusioned about comics everyday. My plan is to read every book I own and get rid of anything I don't plan to read again. On top of that, I've already read through the newest Previews and I won't be ordering more than a few books.

I should mention that there are plenty of great comics I won't be reading this weekend. I love Invincible and Walking Dead and The Goon and Y: The Last Man. It's just that those titles make up less than a third of my shelf space, and I'd like to believe that there's something more out there, even if it means I have to go out and find it.

Well, I'm off to read some more. I have plenty of reading material left to go through. I just hope I can find something that I like before my entire bookcase is stripped clean.

Comics Suck

2008-03-26T06:58:00.001-07:00

For the last month and a half, I've put aside all prose and focused my reading time on comic book tradepaperback collections and original graphic novels. Want to know what I found? That comics suck. At least most of them.

I know that sounds harsh. I also know that there are some great stories to be had in comic format. Unfortunately, those stories are few and far between. What I've found in the last month (and in the last five years) is that most comics are a fun diversion at best. And when it comes time to defend comics, everyone mentions a few key classics and moves on, continuing to read more and more garbage with the hopes that something new will come along that will fit in with those other greats of the format.

Unfortunately for this collector, I can't remember the last comic that grabbed me by the balls and wouldn't let go. The last comic that toyed with my emotions in such a way that I couldn't get rid of that feeling for days. Is it too much to ask for a comic story to make me feel something? To come away from the book changed in some way? Can't comics be good enough that they're more than just a way to pass the time?

I can think of a large number of novels and memoirs that impacted me in that way. I can think of an even larger number of movies. Sure, I realize that for every movie or book that strikes a chord for me there are 1000s that wouldn't, so in theory the same should hold true for comics. It just doesn't seem that way. It seems that bad comics are the norm, not the exception.

I realize that something else might be at play here. Maybe it's just that for movies and books, I've learned to pick and choose which ones I'm fairly certain I will enjoy and that the older I get, the better I am at picking winners.

With comics it's a total crap shoot. With comics, you can use Previews to order a book three months in advance, or you can base your purchases on word of mouth and reviews. With the former, you're basing your purchase on little more than assumptions because the solicitations give you very little to go off of. And don't get me started on reviews. I'm yet to find a comic reviewer who is unbiased enough to write a review that actually helps me make an informed decision. You get fan boys who love everything, or you have indie fans who love everything. Still others are trying to break into the business and would never go so far as to say which comics stink for fear of pissing off the wrong people.

Yet as my trade and OGN collection continues to grow with books I'll never read again, I need to put some serious thought into how I purchase these books. Using Previews isn't working for anything new. Sure, if I've read the title or writer before, I can be certain I'll enjoy this next volume. But for something new? How do you make an informed decision on a new comic?

I'm not sure what the answer is, but you can bet this month's order form will be anemic. After that, who knows. Perhaps it's time to do away with the whole buying new mentality, and only buy those key books that attain classic status years after they hit the shelves. The collector in me balks at that idea. I can't imagine how hard it would be to find pristine first editions that late in the game. But maybe it's time to quiet that part of me and focus on the reader, the part of me who loves comics and wants to see comics succeed. Of course, that might be a difficult proposition because the only way I can get back on that bandwagon is actually reading something good, and doing so consistently.

A Close Call

2008-03-19T15:28:00.001-07:00

Drove down to Mile High after work today just to get the latest issue of Catwoman (gotta keep my Hughes cover collection alive). Naturally, I had a look around despite the fact that I have too many trades and graphic novels already. Next thing I know, I'm this close to buying a Star Wars collection. Even went so far as to talk to Aaron and a customer about which series is the best.

Somehow, I talked myself out of it (okay, not really...the one I wanted wasn't a first edition), but then I was immediately drawn to the Catwoman collections. I was about to pick up one of them when I realized I never read the last one and still have it on my shelf, untouched.

It was almost as if I felt bad for driving that far for a single comic, so I was looking to buy more to make the trip worth it. Or maybe it's the fact that spending money is a habit, and only getting one $3 fix wasn't enough.

Regardless, cooler heads prevailed and I picked up just the one issue.

Whew!

Favre From Over

2008-03-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday. I’m in Boulder to celebrate my wife’s birthday with eating, conversing, and shopping. I’m already having a fantastic day when we step into the Boulder Bookstore. I have blinders on as I rush past the new fiction shelves and make my way for the newsstand. I’m a man on a mission. I mean, if any bookstore in Colorado is going to have copies of the Sports Illustrated Brett Favre tribute, it’s going to be in Boulder. They may be out of the latest issue of Vegetarians in Need or Fun with Tofu, but a football magazine should be readily available…assuming they ordered any in the first place.

I turn the corner just past the new fiction shelf and head for the magazines. My eyes are drawn immediately to the bottom row where I see, in all their glory, at least 20 copies of the Favre tribute. It’s as if I've died and gone to Cheesehead Heaven.

I spend the next 10 minutes looking at each copy, weeding out the obviously unacceptable ones and slowly narrowing down my choices until I have three copies to choose from. I look at these three with even more scrutiny. My attention to detail pays off as it turns out one of them has a slightly off-center spine. Just like that, I have the two copies that are going home with me.

I’m not done yet, though. I can’t head to the cashier without looking over the eight copies of the weekly edition of Sports Illustrated; it has a tearful Favre on the cover and features a story on Favre’s retirement so I might as well pick up one of those, too. It only takes me a few minutes to choose the best copy because all but one has serious spine damage. How this one copy managed to escape unscathed is beyond me, but it’s clear the Collecting Gods are smiling down on me today.

I’m all smiles as I walk to the cashier, yet there’s a tugging at the back of my mind. Something’s amiss. Disaster is looming. But the feeling is elusive; I can’t pin it down. Maybe it’s the excitement of getting my hands on these magazines, but for whatever reason, I discard my instinct to hide.

At the cash stand, the big woman with too much cleavage for a bookstore clerk pushes herself off of the counter with a huff. She takes one last slurp of her 80-ounce drink and puts it on the counter mere inches from my pristine magazines. The cold sweat on the plastic cup drips onto the counter.

Her nonchalance paralyzes me. If I were on my game, I’d make an excuse and pull back to get my bearings, to make a plan. But my judgment is cloudy. I’m not thinking straight. I can’t move. The collector in me is yelling to grab my magazines and run, to move over to the next cashier, the one who’s handling Stephanie’s books with care. Anything to save those magazines.

I hesitate. And just like that, disaster strikes. Only it does so in slow motion.

“Oh, Beckham is quitting?” the slob says, reaching for the magazines.

My heart plummets. What did she say? Quitting? Beckham? What?

Her large left paw slides under the spine of the top magazine, the green one. Her thumb presses down on the spine as her other digits push up from underneath, bending the magazine into an L-shape. The spine buckles. I can almost hear it scream as a white crease spreads across the pristine forest green cover.

“Oh, that’s just Favre,” she says, letting the magazine flop back to the counter as she turns to enter prices into the computer.

I’m numb. Her voice is distant, muffled. I can’t respond. All I can do is stare at what once was a perfect spine. I hand her my credit card, a zombie unaware of my surroundings.

The next thing I know, I’m outside with Stephanie, walking to the car.

“What’s wrong?” she asks with worry in her voice. “Honey, are you okay?”

“Did you see that? She totally bent the spine. Practically folded it in half,” I tell her. I’m not really sure where I am. I’m still in a daze.

I don’t speak again until the magazines are set safely in the backseat of the car and we’re reading a menu at some Latin lunch spot. I can’t read the menu; my mind is still fighting its way out of the fog. It takes awhile, but I finally start to get my bearings.

“Can we stop at another bookstore on the way home?” I ask.

Stephanie just smiles and says, “Of course.”

Ah, that’s better. Not as good as already having a nice copy, but it’s a start. This whole Favre thing is far from over, but at least I have a plan.

Where Are You Favre?

2008-03-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

I think Favre left the game too early, but who knew the Sports Illustrated magazine would vacate store shelves so fast, too? I mean, I'm living in Denver, Colorado. Why the hell can't I find this damn magazine? It's only been out for five days, and I've searched everywhere all week, stopping at a couple of different spots everyday. I've tried supermarkets, numerous book stores, sports card shops, you name it. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Not even a beat up copy lazy customers read in the store.

I know Favre has a big fan base, but are there really that many Favre fans that I can't find one single copy? Or is it more realistic to think that all of these magazines went straight to Wisconsin?

Good grief, I just want a nice, pristine piece of history. Is that too much to ask for?

Now That's Just Plain Savage

2008-03-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

When will I ever learn?

I headed down to the local comic shop today to pick up a copy of the new Wonder Woman. The previous Gail Simone issues were fantastic, and this is the last issue with a cover by Terry Dodson, so I figured I better buy it. I'm still not sure if I want to "collect" the title, and I'm also tossing around the idea of collecting Terry Dodson covers, so either way, until I make those decisions, I might as well stay current and enjoy the story, right?

So I'm at a comic shop buying a book for reasons that don't exactly add up, when the entire equation takes another turn for the worse. As I'm selecting the best copy of Wonder Woman 18, I spot a copy of The Savage Sword of Conan Volume 2, the new black and white collection from Dark Horse. Lucky for me, it's got several dings on the cover and spine, so I put it back.

Who cares, right? I can find the book later. Besides, I'm not enjoying the first volume that much anyway. Sure, the art's gorgeous, but the stories themselves are consistently weak, seemingly written from a template with little originality or drama. So putting the second volume on the shelf seems to make the most sense.

That's what I tell myself anyway, until I spot three more copies of the book on a shelf near the front counter. Naturally, the selection makes me stop, and I find one that's in good enough (ie perfect) shape. I flip through it, see that the art isn't as good as what I'm seeing in the first volume, and walk up to the counter to buy it. (Yes, you read that correctly.)

"Didn't I suggest you buy this book last week?" Aaron asks as he rings me up.

"Yeah, but I'm not done with the first volume," I say. "And it's not that good anyway."

"Then why are--" Aaron starts to ask, but I cut him off by holding up my hand and shaking my head.

"Don't ask."

As I walk to my car, I ask myself what makes me think volume two will be in any better than the first one and thus worth the purchase. The answer is nothing. Nothing at all. If anything, I'm sure I'll like it even less based solely on the art I saw while flipping through the book.

At this point, you might be asking yourself, "Then why did you buy it?" God, I have no idea. If I did, I wouldn't be writing this damn blog every few days.

Actually, that's not entirely true. There was a least one more factor at play that I didn't mention: the damn spine. That's right, I knew volume one on my shelf would look okay, but with volume two next to it, they would create quite the nice pair. And as they say, one book is just a book, but two is a collection.

Yep, it turns out I now collect The Savage Sword of Conan reprints.

Good grief, what's wrong with me?

First Edition Book Guy

2008-03-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

In The Simpsons Treehouse Of Horror VIII, The Homega Man, Comic Book Guy walks down the street reading a comic book. "But Aquaman, you cannot marry a woman without gills, you're from two different worlds," he says.

He spots a missile approaching, and says, "Oh, I've wasted my life."

To a minor degree, that's how I feel today. Only without the humor.

See, over at the Collectors Society, delekkerste started a thread about a first edition hardcover copy of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged he recently purchased. He tells the story of how important the book is to him, and how he not only purchased one copy, but he also picked up an upgrade because the first wasn't pristine enough.

I quickly threw a couple of comments into the mix, mostly about my growing collection of modern first editions. Two things happened not long after: The conversation turned to how modern firsts are practically worthless, and then I admitted to "collecting" Jodi Picoult.

Good Lord, I've wasted my life.

Don't get me wrong, my moderns bring me plenty of joy and I don't care too much about their value on the secondary market (after all, books are meant to be read, not collected, right?). I've always been content watching my collection grow one $25 book after another, but seeing the pictures of the Rand books was enough to make me second guess myself.

I've been reading and buying first editions for almost 15 years, and I've always wanted to own a first edition copy of one of the great classics, like Catcher in the Rye, or In Cold Blood. Hell, even a first edition of Ender's Game would be a special treat (especially since I have 20 or more of Card's other, lesser known and less expensive novels). So what the hell is keeping me from making one of those larger purchases? What's keeping me from becoming a true book collector who researches old volumes before making an informed purchase?

Is the power of instant gratification really so overwhelming that I can't save the money? I mean, think about it. On just one shelf of the bookcase behind me, I have 12 first editions I've never read. One shelf. I don't even want to count the others because my guess is I've read less than 40% of the books I've purchased in the last 10 years. Assuming I bought them at some sort of discount, the books on that one shelf cost me at least $200 not to read.

Don't get me wrong. I know that $200 won't pay for many of the books I'm interested in (the Salinger book sells for $10,000+), but wouldn't that $200 be better served as a down payment to something...bigger? Something more important than a modern book I can find at any used book store?

For example, what about those Barsoom books I've always wanted? My love of Edgar Rice Burroughs is no secret, so why not start a serious collection of Burroughs books instead of spending my money on Jodi Picoult or those damn Star Wars novels I don't even like?

At this point all I have is questions I don't know the answer to. I've asked myself these questions before, and nothing ever comes of it. My guess is tomorrow I'll surf some online book shops, research costs on a few books, and get as far as emailing a bookseller about a particular book's condition. After that, I'll go back to buying something inexpensive I won't read, then I'll BroDart the cover for its protection.

After that, as I'm putting the new book where it belongs on the shelf, I'll question my reasons for making the purchase. And because the answer is too elusive, I'll smile at the new book's spine and just shrug.

The Real Reason I Buy Picoult

2008-03-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

"I still can't believe you bought another Jodi Picoult book," Stephanie said today as I showed her the newly organized bookcase.

"Why?" I asked, knowing full well where this conversation was going.

"You don't even like her," she said.

"Her books are okay," I said.

My wife just looked at me, waiting for me to admit the real reason I have three of her novels sitting on my shelves.

"Okay, do you really want to know why I bought that last one?" I asked. She responded in the affirmative, but her eyes told me she'd just as soon clean the toilet. "Because they look cool on the shelf."

"I knew you were going to say that," she said, walking over to the books and pointing at them. "I saw them and knew you'd like the fact they say Jodi Picoult real big, with the book title in the same font right next to her name on all three. You're such a sucker for marketing."

I just laughed. As she walked off down the hallway, I shouted after her, "But you have to admit, they do look cool right next to each other."

And they do. I might not be the world's biggest Picoult fan, but after buying two, I knew I'd be a collector just because they have a nice, unified spine design. They look great together. As a matter of fact, I can't wait to get more (although I'm hoping that future volumes are the same height...the spines look great next to each other, but it bothers me that each new one is slightly taller than the last).

Hell, the nice set design is the same reason I buy Ben Bova's "World Tour" books and that's why I have the entire Dune prequel/sequel series despite never having read a single one. That's right, I haven't read any of them, but they look great sitting next to each other. And the more I get, the better they look.

Same goes with the Hard Case Crime books. Of course, I've read a few of those, and they're great reads, but its the covers and the spine unity that keeps me coming back for more each and every month. I just love standing in front of that shelf, soaking in the cool, cohesive look of those spines.

Call me a sucker all you want, but I might be one of the few who gets extra enjoyment each time I look at my bookcase. As they say, don't judge a book by its cover, judge it by its spine.

Now That's Eclectic

2008-03-06T16:48:00.001-08:00

I had one of those experiences at the bookstore today where I had to pause and question my sanity. I stood just inside the entrance of my local Borders, turning copy after copy of Change of Heart over and around in my hand, trying to find the perfect copy, the one with the tight spine, snow-white pages, and flawless dust jacket. This OCD episode wasn't weird in and of itself, and neither was the fact that a 35-year-old man was looking to buy the latest Jodi Picoult book, although you might find both of them to be on the crazy side.

No, what was weird about today's trip to the bookstore was walking up to the counter with the Picoult book and a second novel I found just moments later. What an interesting pair they made. On the one hand, you have the Picoult novel, loved and praised by housewives around the world, and on the other, you have Zero Cool, the latest Hard Case Crime offering by John Lange, soon to be devoured by men seeking an escape into the darker side of crime. The cover of one book features a young girl standing in a room of soft, warm light, which gives off this feeling of both sadness and fright. The second cover features a half-naked "broad" and screams sex and dark, pulpy violence.

"Who the Hell am I?" I thought to myself, soaking in both covers as I waited in line. For the briefest of moments, I felt...dirty, like I was some sort of dysfunctional pervert. I looked at the Picoult cover and thought, "What would Jason think?" And then I looked at the Lange cover and thought, "What would Mom think?"

Don't get me wrong, I don't feel ashamed about the things I like, and even though my friends like to laugh at my taste, it doesn't bother me (neither does the questioning look the cashier gives me as she rings me up). Instead, what's a little off about this whole episode is that this weekend I'm going to slide that Picoult book onto a shelf where it will be surrounded by a detective novel here, a science fiction novel there, a horror novel right there, and a memoir over there.

Most readers (and collectors) I know tend to lean towards one, maybe two genres. But not me. I need to be all over the map. I can't pinpoint exactly what I like, and if a stranger were to look at my bookcases, he might wrinkle his brow or shake his head, wondering what this eclectic collection says about its owner. Meanwhile, I just shrug, being no closer to an answer myself, but content enough in the knowledge that I'm getting some level of enjoyment from each of the books in my rag tag collection.

A Legend on Cardboard

2008-03-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

As you probably already know, Brett Favre announced his retirement today. I'll admit to being a little saddened by the news. Was he really leaving? But I'm an adult, so after the initial shock wore off, I thought less about myself and more about the Packers future. Just how the hell will be Packers do anything next year with Aaron Rodgers under center? That's when Favre's retirement hit me. This could be a loss the Packers feel for years.

Then the whole retirement issue hit even closer to home: I didn't have nearly enough Favre cards in my collection. Not three minutes after hearing the news, and I was wondering if anyone would notice if I ran home and checked eBay before prices really go through the roof.

Naturally I calmed myself down and didn't skip the rest of the day at work to surf for Favre cards (of course, if they'd just let me access eBay at work it would be so much easier for all of us). But even as I spent the day reflecting on the great quarterback's career and how fortunate I was to see several of his games, not to mention how fortunate I was just to watch the entire Favre era from beginning to end, I also spent some time considering my collection, which as cool as I think it might be, just happens to be way too thin on Favre cards.

Why is that? How could a Packers fan who's been collecting cards consistently for nearly six years not have enough Favre cards. Well, see, at the beginning of the 2007 season, I sold off all of my Favre cards, at least those that weren't produced by Topps and SP Authentic, the two sets I collect year in and year out. I'll admit that even at the time, it felt funny letting them go, but I knew that it was for the greater good of the collection. It wasn't so much that I was getting rid of Favre cards, it was more about adding to my Packers collection.

I'm a team collector. I want every Packers card from Topps and SP Authentic that I can get my hands on, so it was somewhat liberating to sell those cards that didn't fit the specific requirements I had set for my collection, even if they were "rare" or had a piece of a Favre game-used jersey.

Now, however, I wonder if that's true. Sure, I love the fact that I have every 2007 Topps Chrome Packers card, but are 5 Brandon Jacksons and 8 David Clowneys really worth even one Favre jersey card?

At the time, definitely. The thrill of the hunt had me by the balls, and being the first to show off the rainbow set was kinda cool. But now that I look back and the excitement of those stupid colors has worn off, I think I would rather have a handful of Favre cards.

Sure, my collection is nice, tight, and focused now. And not many people have the entire rainbow of 2007 Bowman Chrome Packers cards (not even me, apparently...why the hell did I never finish that set?). But now the best Favre cards I have are a graded 1991 Topps and a handful of his SPA gold cards numbered to 25. Not all that exciting. Not when you consider that Favre is the greatest QB to wear the green and gold.

So even as I type this, I search eBay for Favre cards to buy. The analyzer in me is screaming for me to at least first buy those expensive Favre autographs that are on my list, so that way I'm at least sticking with the standards I've set for my collection. But those are costly and hard to find, so I'm not sure if that will satiate my desire to do something in Favre's honor right here, right now.

Oh, I got it. I can start another collection. Yeah, that sounds about right. It's the least I can do to pay tribute to Favre for all the excitement he's given this Packers fan.

How Many Times Must I Buy This?

2008-02-28T16:14:00.000-08:00

I'm heading to Florida for an extended 4-day weekend of relaxing, eating fish, and visiting Stephanie's parents. I don't have any reading material for the plane (or rather, nothing I'm willing to risk damage to by taking it on a plane) so this afternoon I headed downtown to the used bookstores on Broadway to see if I could find any Edgar Rice Burroughs books.

Of course I found plenty. I wasn't at Fahrenheit Books for more than three minutes before I had reading copies of books 4 through 8 of the Barsoom series in my hand. I was scanning the rest of the ERB shelf when it struck me: I had books 1 through 6 in a box somewhere in my garage. All I needed to do was open the right box and there was no need to buy most of those reading copies.

Not only that, but this would be the fifth time I bought this series of books. I read the set as a kid, then again in high school, then again in college, and once more a few years ago (these copies are the ones in the box somewhere). Why the hell couldn't I just keep the same copies and read them more than once? Why did I find myself buying the same books over and over again? Or perhaps the better question should be, just how many copies of these damn books must I buy?

I didn't have time to answer that. Instead, I hurried over to the rare paperback corner and found some fine Ballantine first print copies of books 6 (The Master Mind of Mars) and 9 (Swords of Mars). Now these were two books I had no problem buying: I've never had copies with these covers, they were in great condition, and they were first prints of these versions. Perfect.

When I noticed the 50% off sign in the window, I knew I wouldn't be digging around in my garage any time soon. With seven Edgar Rice Burroughs books in my hand, I headed for my car. Of course, before I made it there, I stopped by two other bookstores and found the first three books, too.

When I got home, I poked around online and found a whole bunch of other versions of these same Mars books: different publishers, different cover art, different cover pricing. There are at least 5 different covers from at least 3 different publishers (the UK versions might be the coolest), and I know I'll eventually have them all. I just need to do some research first. See, with books this old, there's no readily apparent marks to distinguish a copy as a first print. At least, not that I can tell.

Yep, it looks like I have plenty of research to do. Not to mention more books to buy. So I guess I have the answer to my question, after all: "at least a few more."

Good Guys Finish...Never?

2008-02-25T12:35:00.000-08:00

I spent some time this weekend thinking about which comics I might want to start reading again, and of course, that led me to thinking about which titles I might want to start collecting. Thankfully, I didn't get far. Why? Because after tucking my new Adam Hughes comics into their plastic cocoons and sliding them behind their brothers and sisters in the closet, I poked around my other boxes of comics. And what did I find? A whole bunch of incomplete sets.

That's right. In all of those boxes of comics I'm currently "collecting" I found a whole bunch of unfinished runs. Star Wars: 80% complete. Warlord: 80% complete. John Carter: 30% complete. And the worst of the bunch? Further Adventures of Indiana Jones: 97% complete. That's right, 97% complete. All I need is the last issue, #34. Good grief. I need one more issue? That's it? One?

Why the hell couldn't I finish that set? After years of "collecting" that title, why am I still without that one book? Is it expensive? No. Is it rare? No. So what gives?

I'll admit that my collections are rather modest. I just want to own some mint copies of the books I read as a kid. Because I read most of my comics in the early 80s, none of these books are particularly difficult to find and none will put too big of a dent into my wallet. Maybe that's part of the problem? Are they so easy to find that it somehow makes the "hunt" unfulfilling enough that the notion of still hunting is way more exciting? Would putting the collection to rest be so anti-climatic that it's not worth my time to actually do so?

I've stated before that the new stuff is often more important than the items I already own, but it looks like I'm taking that idea to the extreme. Not only are the things I haven't bought more enticing, but the collections I haven't started are even more so. Why else would I be looking into new things to collect when I haven't got a single complete set in my comic boxes? (Don't even get me started on my Packers collections or my book collections. Those are even worse, with one incomplete set after another.)

For now, I've managed to temper my lust for new things to collect (unless you consider my request for help finding the artist to do my next Dejah Thoris commission). My hope is that I can keep my desire for new things under wraps until I can at least get closer to finishing some of those sets.

And who knows. Maybe if I actually finish something, the feeling will be so overwhelming that I can't help but try it again. Just don't hold your breath...

I Bought a Comic...

2008-02-23T19:16:00.000-08:00

...okay, I bought seven. Well, nine if you count the trades I picked up, but who's counting? And I gotta say, it felt great. I walked into Mile High Comics and for the first time in ages I walked out with more than the latest Previews. Buying books online saves a lot of money, but there's nothing like talking with a friendly, knowledgeable clerk (Aaron is one cool cat) about comics and then actually holding something physical when you turn over the money instead of getting an email that says you'll get your merchandise in 7 to 10 days.

So what would bring this comic collector out of hibernation? Adam Hughes. The man's got talent, and I couldn't see my Hughes Catwoman collection fall short of completion. I owed it to my collection, right? Or maybe it's something else entirely, something closer to what Aaron said: "So you just like girls with big boobs?"

Before we go down that path, let's take a step back for a minute and look at what drove me to stop collecting monthlies in the first place. Nearly a year ago, I realized that monthlies had fallen out of favor with me when I realized I had a stack of unread comics. Those books ended up in white boxes and I read the arcs I already owned in tradepaperback form. I liked reading the entire story in one sitting, so what was the point of the monthlies? Within a few months I sold all but what I considered my essential comics, and it was clear I had broken the comics collecting habit.

Flash forward to football season. In the heart of the NFL playoffs, I was scurrying to buy up every Green Bay Packers football card I could find. Ebay was loaded with 2007 Bowman and Bowman Chrome cards I needed for my sets, and I was quickly getting over my head with expenses. Football cards aren't cheap when you're buying 10-15 a week.

I needed money to support the seasonal expenses, so I turned to my comic collection and decided to trim the fat. The Packers were heading to the NFC Championship game, and all that mattered was football. Aside from my near-complete runs of Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Warlord, and the graded John Carter books, I could get rid of anything in my collection. Or so I told myself.

I quickly sold my graded X-Men books. And then my Spider-Man issues. No big deal, really. Not when I knew this additional money would help pad my Packers collection. I was running out of books to sell, but next on the chopping block were all of my Frank Cho books.

I pulled them out and went through them to determine exactly what I had. God those were lovely covers. Cho really knows how to draw "real" women. Did I really want to give those up? I considered this for a couple of days before deciding that Hell yeah I wanted to sell those books. I needed that new Brandon Jackson autograph. So off went those comics with covers of big breasted women with large thighs. No harm, no foul.

Of course, I still needed some money, and the only thing substantial I had left was my box of Adam Hughes comics. Just as I did with the Cho books, I cataloged my Hughes books. Along the way, I really soaked in the art of each cover and I knew it would be hard to part with them.

Still, I began checking eBay for recent auction values. They were hit or miss, and I wasn't exactly sure how much to expect from the 50+ comics I had. One night, as I was looking at some recent sales, I found myself looking at newly listed items, too. And just like that, in the blink of an eye, I went from selling to buying.

"Ooh, Catwoman 74. That's a nice cover. Why did I stop buying that series? And wait a second. I never bought Red Sonja 8, the one with the Hughes cover. How could I have skipped that."

I spent the rest of the week figuring out which recent Hughes covers had hit the shelves during my absence. The pain of the Packers loss to the Giants was still weighing heavy on my chest and here I was making the switch from football cards back to comics.

Now here I am preparing to put this stack of Catwoman and Red Sonja books into Mylite 2 bags with fullback acid free boards. god it feels good to be back. Yet as I think that, I turn and see that I still haven't put away the recent football cards I got in the mail last week.

Oh well, football season is over, right? Those cards can wait another six months. For now, I have more comics to buy...

It's Been Fun...

2006-09-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

I'm going to take a page out of my buddy Sean Maher's blog and call 'er quits. For now anyway. It's not something I want to do, but I'm not a big fan of doing anything half-ass, and with so much on my plate right now, I simply can't give this site the attention it needs. My goal is to be a published writer, and while this has been great experience, it's only holding me up from my real goals (if I ever want a signed first edition of my first book, I need to write that book first).

But rest assured, I'll still be buying. Always hunting and buying. Heck, I just spent $50 on the bay last night, dabbling in the graded football card market for the first time. So believe me, I'll never give up, never surrender.

Thanks to all of those who supported me in this endeavor, especially during my time of need known as the month of Cold Turkey. I learned a lot, but let's face it, haven't changed one damn bit. But that's okay, I'm pretty damn cool already.

The Collector's Mentality. It's been a fun ride. One that'll continue for the rest of my life, it just won't be written down.

Take care,
James

Back in the Saddle

2006-08-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

“How does it feel to be buying again?” Stephanie asked yesterday afternoon.

“You must’ve read my last blog entry,” I said, knowing that I hadn’t yet talked to her about my recent binge on eBay and at DCBS.

“No, I can just hear it in your voice.”

”What does that mean?” I asked, sure that my voice hadn’t changed one bit.

“You sound happy. I figured it was because you finally bought something.”

That woman knows me too well. And I love her for it.

Remember that Hornung autograph card I bid on while in a drunken stupor? I failed to win the auction. Make of that what you will.

After four stores and over 50 books, I finally found a copy of Hunters of Dune that had the autographs. Along the way I also bought the new Star Wars paperback, Bloodlines, which I’ll never read, and Lombardi and Me, which I will.

Lucky for me, the limited edition Dune copy I picked up is numbered 7580. I always like to have my serial numbers end in 0. Unfortunately, however, I could only find copies with the blue ink. There are 6,999 other copies signed in blue ink. Now the question is will I hunt down one with green ink (2900 copies), purple ink (74 copies), or red ink (26 lettered copies). I certainly hope I look no further, but with me, don’t count out a set of all four.

Cold Turkey: A Wrap (Mmm, Cold Turkey Wrap...)

2006-08-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

“As we know from Mel Gibson, when you're drunk, your true self surfaces.” At least, that’s what my buddy Jason thinks. I’ll let the fact that he’s never been drunk slide for the time being because I think he has a point. For me, I guess it just goes to show that once a collector, always a collector.

On the one hand I’m a little disappointed in myself. Not so much for faltering so close to the finish line, but more because I had the setup for the perfect story. A collector gives up everything he knows for 30 days only to be put to the real test mere hours before the experiment concludes. Does he finish strong and resist temptation, or do his weaknesses get the better of him?

I guess we’ll never know since my weakness turned out to be a combination of Captain Morgan’s rum, Coke, and eBay. While some men get drunk and cheat on their wives or get DUIs and curse the Jewish community, I hop on the computer and spend money buying cardboard. Who knew?

“At least you learned some things about yourself, though,” Jason said, as if consoling a recovering alcoholic who recently picked up the bottle. “It was an interesting experiment. I look forward to your further thoughts about it in your blog. Your conclusions. Whatever...”

What’s odd is that despite caving in Saturday night, I didn’t do a damn thing differently on Sunday than I had the rest of the month. I was expecting this mad rush of spending around town. Sure, I had a slight interest to hop on eBay or head to the local comic shop or bookstore, but I didn’t feel the urge I normally have while bored on the weekend. Then again today I passed right past a Barnes and Noble and a Borders on my way to lunch, and I didn’t even second guess my decision to pass right on by.

Of course, then I got home this afternoon. Within 30 minutes of walking in the door I had won two auctions on eBay (Packers card sets) and placed my next month’s DCBS order ($145 after shipping). At first I felt a little sick to my stomach, like a binge eater knowing he’s going to regret everything he puts in his mouth. I couldn’t stop myself.

No, that’s not exactly right because I didn’t want to stop myself. And why should I want to? This is what I do. This is who I am. I’ll admit, it felt awkward at first. Like riding a bike after your broken leg finally recovers. It might’ve taken me a little longer to click that Bid Now button, but once I did, I knew I was back.

Once a collector, always a collector.

This is my 100th post on The Collector’s Mentality. What better way to celebrate my anniversary on my collecting blog than with a post about my first purchases in almost a month? What better way to say “Hell yeah I have the collector’s mentality; what are you gonna do about it?”

When I created this blog, I set out to learn a little about myself and hopefully have a spot of fun along the way. I’ve certainly done both, and I hope you have too.

Cold Turkey: Day Twenty-Seven

2006-08-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

Last night some friends and I went out to help a friend celebrate his upcoming marriage by getting him drunk. Of course, as with most bachelor parties, the entire crew got drunk too. I was no exception. It was a great time, and it was nice just to hang out with my brother, which I don’t do nearly enough.

When I got home, I wanted to avoid the dreaded bed spins so I grabbed a bottle of water, popped a couple of ibuprofen, and hopped online to waste some time by checking my email and getting the scores and highlights from the night’s preseason games. Although I admit to being a little fuzzy on the details, I remember two things happening after I surfed ESPN.com. First, I remember reading my eBay watch list, which, after almost a month of going cold turkey, only had one auction listed. The second thing I remember was checking my email and finding one from eBay that stated I was the current high bidder on that damn Hornung card.

D'oh!

So here I am, Sunday morning, debating what this means. I guess technically I’ve officially lost the bet I had with myself. Regardless of circumstance, I bid on a collectible and that’s not allowed by the rules I created for this experiment. At the same time, though, I’m wondering if I can go back to eBay and cancel my bid and consider myself still in the mix. I mean, I was drunk. Can’t fault a guy for slipping up after a few too many captain and cokes, right?

Then again, if I do just accept defeat, that’d mean I can finally end this silly thing and go to the comic shop or pick up that Dune book.

So what’s the consensus? Is it still on, or did my drunken mistake only prove that I indeed couldn’t go a whole month without buying a collectible?

Cold Turkey: Day Twenty-Four

2006-08-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

Bloody Hell. The collecting gods have proven to be a jealous, vengeful lot. I’ve wondered when they’d play a role in my abstinence. From the looks of it, the time is now. Just as I began to feel like they would let me off the hook for my little experiment, they’ve brought in the big guns to force my hand during these final days, days filled with weakness and temptation.

Remember that Hornung card I mentioned yesterday? The one I’ve had on my to-buy list for three years? The one I’ve only seen once during that span? Well, the collecting gods have played the cruelest of jokes by making the auction for said rare card end just hours before my collecting fast comes to an end. Those bastards!

Of course, my good friend Jason, a fellow collector who doubted me from the beginning, is getting a kick out of it. “Oh, man, that's rich,” he said this morning. “An essential purchase is tempting you at the very ass end of your abstinence. If you purchase this little card, you fail, right? No ifs, ands, or buts about it, no ‘Close enough.’ If you buy that thing, you've failed. Hahaha. Oh, I can't wait to hear what you do.”

Not only are the gods against me, but so are my friends.

I of course has several excuses for any decision I were to make. “Yeah, it would be a failure if you look at the calendar, but not if you look in my heart,” I said, wondering where that saccharin, new age crap came from.

“Let the rationalizations begin!” he shouted.

Bastard!

I’m at a loss. I honestly feel that I’ve kicked the collecting thing. I’ve proven to myself that I can live without. Or at the very least, I can live without having right now. Yet here I am facing the ultimate temptation. If I buy that Hornung card, it’ll be as if I spent the entire month proving just the opposite of what I set out to do in the first place: to show that I don’t need anything. But fuck it all to hell; do I really want to hunt for that card for another three years just to prove a point? I mean, it’s only three hours. If I lived overseas, it’d already be 30 full days.

Argh! Collecting gods, why have you spited me?

Cold Turkey: Day Twenty-Three

2006-08-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

So, that Dune book release date came and went with nary an urge on this collector’s part. I’m still considering it, but I can hold out heading to the book shop for another week, no problem. More even. Amazing how those quick “buy now” impulses just fade away when you don’t give into them right away.

But there are a couple of things on the horizon that might tempt me as I come down the home stretch. The first includes a couple of graphic novels: The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobsen and Ernie Colon, and Lost Girls by Moore and Melinda Gebbie. I’m interested in reading both but haven’t made a move on either because I didn’t feel an urge to have them right this instant. Until now. Turns out there’s talk of second prints on both, and with 9/11 flying off the shelves around the country and with Lost Girls being pushed heavily, I’d be a fool not to go out and buy a copy of both as soon as I can.

The other thing I see that might tempt me at the final hour of this damn thing is an autographed Paul Hornung card numbered to only 25. According to an email I got, it’s on eBay right now (I can’t access eBay at work, or I’d already have checked). This card has been on my list for over three years. This is only the second one I’ve seen since I started hunting. I’m just hoping that it’s a ten day auction so its purchase can be made next month to ease my conscious and prove those naysayers wrong. If not, will I let this one slide through my fingers just to prove a point? Not bloody likely.

Cold Turkey: Day Twenty-One

2006-08-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

Twenty-one days into my experiment and I’m finally seeing something I might be interested in enough to test my resolve on this whole cold turkey thing. And honestly, I don’t even see that happening.

On Tuesday, Hunters of Dune hits the stands. It’s part one of the final chapter of the Dune saga, which alone wouldn’t be enough to pique my interest (especially since it'll be on the bargain table in no time). Sure, I want to buy a pristine copy of the book so I can not read it just like the other Dune prequel books, but what makes this one somewhat special is that there are 10,000 signed and numbered copies randomly sent out to book stores.

I don’t know what to expect. Can I wait another 10 days before I head to Borders and Barnes & Noble to hunt for my autographed copy? Or will there be other freaks out there making that mad rush the hour the book hits the stands? I might have to go to the bookstores tomorrow just to get a lay of the land. If they are readily available, I have time. If I find one in five stores I visit, then I might need to break my collectible fast and move on with my life.

Cold Turkey: Day Sixteen

2006-08-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

I make myself sick. Here I am not purchasing any collectible for a full month and instead of saving money I’m spending it hand over fist. That pisses me off. Instead of going into my next paycheck with well over $200 in my “extra money” account, I’m heading down the home stretch with less than $10.

Why? How could this happen? Because I’m lazy, weak, and I can’t say no to woman giving me puppy dog eyes. Here, let me explain….

In the last eight days, I’ve eaten breakfast or lunch at work 12 times. At roughly $4 a meal, that’s $50 right there. Instead of waking a few minutes earlier and making lunch or eating breakfast at home, I’ve spent an extra $50 I shouldn’t have been spending. Just because I’m lazy I’ve managed to whittle away any savings I might’ve had doing this stupid experiment.

Of course, I can’t blame my belly for everything. No, for whatever reason, I decided August was the time to buy boxer shorts and socks. God, when did clothes no one else sees become so expensive? Eight socks and four boxers for $30? That’s fucking ridiculous. Of course, if you look at the receipt, you also see deodorant, cleaning supplies, and the new NCAA 07 Xbox game. Guess which of those items piss me off the most. Instead of comics and cards, I have cleaning supplies and underwear? Bullshit!

Then there’s my wife. She recently quit her job to follow her dream as a freelance writer. I knew this meant less money to be throwing around by going to the bar, eating out, or just spending cash on the weekends. What I didn’t realize was that our desires to do such things wouldn’t slacken or that I’d be the one picking up the tab from here on out. That’s not a big deal. Not really. You need to have some fun and I love going out with Stephanie. But when it’s an unexpected expense that tops $100 in a mere five days, it becomes a problem.

So yeah, I’m grumpy as all hell today. But what really sent me over the top was realizing that I sold some comics for $50, too, and I’m still out of any savings I was expecting to have from the first half of this cold turkey month. You want to know the best part? Picturing what I traded those comics for. Did I sell my Batman comics for socks and underwear? One night out with friends? Food at work?

There’s just nothing like giving up something you love, something that’s been a part of you for a very long time, and have nothing to show for it.

Cold Turkey: Day Fifteen

2006-08-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

Half way through this silly little experiment and these weird feelings keep coming to the surface. I’m not sure I’ve ever cared less about collecting than I do right now. At every stage in my life, I’ve collected something. Books, comics, Star Wars merchandise, sports cards, whatever. Now, though, I’m so not interested.

I know, I know. You’re thinking that I’m a freak. How can I stop calling myself a collector when I’ve only gone without for a mere two weeks? You’re probably right. This is just a minor glitch in the system. I’ll be back to my old ways in no time. But I’m hoping to remember what I’ve learned so that I come away from this experiment with greater knowledge of why I do certain things and how to keep them at bay if my habits aren’t helping me in any way.

For example, I think the greatest thing I’m taking away from this so far is this feeling of freedom. As it turns out, I don’t need to buy that next issue of Batman or X-Men. I’m still going to be the same person if I don’t have every issue from Ed Brubaker’s Catwoman run. Comics and books are supposed to be art and entertainment, not some form of addiction.

And let’s face it, that’s what they were to me for a very long time. When you tell yourself you don’t want or need something, yet you go out and buy it religiously month in and month out, that’s a problem. Considering, even for a brief moment, that you’ll be incomplete if you don’t have the next fix is just crazy talk. It’s addiction, pure and simple.

An addiction I’m kicking. I’ll always have that urge to buy and to hoard, and I can promise you my need for perfect condition will never lessen. But that need, that anxiety I felt when planning my next purchase, all of that is going away...at least for now.

The Great Comic Dump

2006-08-11T07:14:00.000-07:00

It's time to sell sell sell. I'm so not interested in comics right now that I'm putting up all of my recent DC modern books for sale. You can see the first list here. If you want some cheap books, email me, leave me a comment, or post in the thread.

My buddy Jason yesterday said, "I predict big feelings of regret next month or next year. Sure, you're in the passion of the comic-dump NOW, but wait till that passion no longer consumes you. Are you a little caught up in the moment?"

To that I say hell no. Collections and graphic novels are my prefered way to read comics now, and I can still buy older back issues to curb my appetite for a comic collection. I don't need 100s of moderns taking up space.

So no, I don't think I'll regret The Great Comic Dump. If anything, I think I'll feel refreshed and maybe even liberated.

The Marvel books will be up later this month....

Cold Turkey: Day Eight

2006-08-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

The mass liquidation is on.

I just got done selling 32 comics: 12 issues of 52, all 7 issues of Infinite Crisis, plus the Countdown issue, and the 12 most recent issues of Ultimate Spider-Man. I made next to nothing, which kinda sucks, but right now all that matters is the room I’ll be affording myself.

Batman, Detective Comics, Captain America….they all must go. At the end of next month, the only moderns I want to have in my possession are those with a cover done by Cho or Hughes. Everything else is gone.

How’s that for cold turkey?

Aside from actually wanting to get rid of comics, another odd thing happened today. I got a copy of the graphic novel, Closer, by Antony Johnston and Mike Norton. It was pretty much beat to hell. You name it, holes, dings, scratches, dents…this copy had ‘em all.

No, no, that’s not the odd part. The oddness comes in to play when I realized, just now, that I don’t even care. It didn’t phase me when I opened the package, and it’s not phasing me now, hours later.

Who the hell am I?

Cold Turkey: Day Seven

2006-08-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

I’ve decided this whole cold turkey thing is for the birds. I mean, it’s boring. I’ve distanced myself from the day-to-day routine of collecting so much that I’m finding out that I have no desire to do anything related to my previous habits. I don’t want to hit eBay, I don’t surf the comic sites, I don’t hit creators’ blogs. Hell, I don’t even want to read the stack of books I got last week.

Plus, I went through comic after comic this weekend and I can’t wait to be rid of them all. I just want to make room. Room for what, I don’t know. But I’d rather have a closet of nothing than a closet full of comics I don’t want. When Stephanie joked this weekend that I should just throw them all away, I didn’t immediately balk at the idea. What’s worse, I didn’t even think about all the money I could make…instead, I’m just thinking of being able to see the far corner of my closet again.

But it’s not just comics this experiment is affecting. I went to the bookstore this weekend and pretty much had no idea what I was doing there. I was lost. I didn’t want to look too hard in case I saw something I actually wanted. I was like a father going back to the playground where he used to play as a kid. There was some familiarity there, but the feelings were hollow.

And when my friend, Jason, told me to pick up a book he was particularly interested in, I just said, “I can’t buy anything this month.” It wasn’t hard to say at all. I didn’t even have to think about it. It just came out. Like I was used to saying it already. It was like he had offered me a Diet Coke and I simply turned him down because it’s not my thing.

But reading and buying is my thing. That’s what I do. It’s me. So who is this imposter I’m dealing with now? Who is this cold turkey character? Who knows, but I have to admit, I don’t think I like him much.

Cold Turkey: Day Four

2006-08-04T15:34:00.000-07:00

Hmmm, four days down and I’ve had no hiccups at all in my quest to go 30 days without buying a collectible. I feel indestructible. Of course, my first weekend is here now, though. And I just got paid. That’s usually a bad combination for me. Sure, I have about 50 hours worth of comics sitting there, just begging to be read, but that never stopped me before.

Surprisingly, it’s not comics or books that have piqued my interest recently. Instead, it’s football cards. What a stupid hobby, but damn it, now that training camp is in full swing and the Packers are hyping up some of their rookies, I’m jonesin’ to hit eBay and make some pickups before they catch fire. (I’m already thinking of picking some up in the late rounds of my fantasy football draft, too, but that’s another story.)

One thing I’ve learned already this week and in the last few weeks that I’ve weaned myself from spending too much, is that a lot of collectibles are impulse buys. “Ooh, that cover looks cool, I’ll buy it.” Only to take it home, look at it for another few seconds, and lock it away in the dark. But now that I’m taking it easy and forcing myself out of the game, I’m giving myself extra time to debate. I’m already glad I didn’t buy too much out of last month’s Previews, and I’m already second guessing the pre-orders I would’ve picked up had I already done so for August.

Who knows, maybe when this experiment is all said and done I won’t buy anything…ever.

Cold Turkey: Day Three

2006-08-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I received an 11-pound box of comics. My first instinct wasn’t to tear into one of them and read it. Instead, I looked at the covers and regretted not pre-ordering any monthlies last month. I soaked in the coolness of each cover, knowing in my heart that the next issue, the one I didn’t order, is going to be the best issue ever.

But I’m still standing firm. I haven’t checked eBay and I haven’t even bothered to check out the new prices at DCBS for October’s books. I’ve been tempted, but I’ve fought that demon back. All those books. All those discounts. They taunt and tease me, and I haven’t even gone to the site yet.

Of course, I have to be totally honest and admit that the reason I haven’t searched the net lately is that I’ve been swamped with other stuff. I’m busier then ever at my day job (and I mean that in the worst possible way, believe me), and the last couple of days I’ve been working with Bob Tinnell and company to put the final touches on The Wicked West Vol. II: Abomination. I’m having so much fun editing that book that I haven’t even had time to consider buying anything else.

An odd thing happened to me when I got home today. I got a set of 2006 Score Packers cards in the mail. This is the set I complained about NOT getting just the other day. Turns out I won an auction sometime in July and didn’t even realize I paid for it. I don’t know what that says about me, but it can’t be anything good.

I’m currently debating when to sort these cards and put them in my card binders. If I do it too early, I won’t have anything to look forward to later in the month. But if they’re sitting there on my desk waiting to be put away, they might tempt me to hunt for more. Hmmm, out of sight, out of mind. I’ll hide them for now.

Cold Turkey: Day One

2006-08-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

Well crap! I was all ready to post how easy the first day was. I was going to mention how I breezed through the first half of the day without even realizing I was starting out on what could prove to be the most daunting task I’ve ever given myself. Then I decided to pop over to my favorite comic book thread at DVDtalk to see what was happening and all my false bravado disappeared.

Chew, a friend from the DVDtalk board who just happens to appreciate cheese and the best team in the NFL, started a thread titled, “Comic Thread for August AKA 'Let’s All Pity B2K'.” I liked how that rhymed so I sauntered in all cocky, almost daring all the comic fans to test me when I posted my lack of desire for picking up the new Absolute Sandman. HenryFish set me straight just moments later by reminding me that if I missed this now, it would haunt me for the rest of my life. At least, that’s what I read into his post.

Lucky for me my good buddy Jason came along and offered the perfect solution to my problem: he’ll pre-order it for me. Ah, thank God for friends. Cold Turkey: 30 days without collecting, but not without heroes.

Anyway, not long after the DVDtalk crowd kicked me while I was down, I got an email from eBay with a second chance offer to buy some new football cards I didn’t win yesterday. Those fuckers! How dare they offer to send me the cards at my final bid when everyone knows I’m going cold turkey! I had hoped those cards would fill my need of sorting and rearranging my card collection, but noooooo, some other loser bid more than me and now I’m getting a second chance offer the day I go cold turkey. Wonderful.

Oh well. I will prevail. Just a few more hours until bedtime and then I can cross one day off my calendar. What do they say about a journey of a thousand miles? It starts with the first step. Well, so does my 30 days without collecting…

T-Minus Eight Hours and Counting

2006-07-31T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well, my friends, there’s only eight hours left for me to collect comics, cards, or anything else that strikes my fancy. After that, it’s cold turkey for me. Thirty days without buying a single collectible. That means no comics, football cards, pieces of art, DVDs, books, or anything else that might jump out at me on any given day. Nothing. Nada.

Before I get started on my cold turkey experiment, let me hear what you have to say. For those of you who actually read this blog, do you think I’ll make it? Or are you a naysayer like most of my friends who doubt my will power? Drop me a line or post a comment and let me know your thoughts…

Although I’m about as positive as you can get that I’ll make it a measly 30 days, I must admit to being a little bummed that DCBS hasn’t updated their site with October’s books yet. I mean, had I been able to squeeze in another pre-order before my experiment starts, it would’ve been smooth sailing from here. As it is, I have to start off the month hoping I can find a way to pre-order later in the month than I generally like to do it.

Of course, August has 31 days, so if all goes right, I’ll be able to pass my little test and still have enough time to place my October order.

Aside from that, I think I’m ready. I’ve put away all my books and comics and catalogs. I figure, out of site, out of mind. Of course, I’m scheduled to get a shipment from DCBS this week, so who knows what that’ll do to my outlook on things. That’s pretty early in this experiment to be getting such a test, but I think I’ll survive.

Honestly, the one thing that has me bothered is the number of incomplete sets I have on my book shelf. I was looking through the collections I have and I realized that I never managed to get the Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 2 hardcover collection. I’m almost done with volume 1, but will I skip ahead and read volumes 3 and 4, or will I wait out this month of torture in order to read the whole story? Only time will tell.

And you’ll be there every step of the way. Expect regular updates on how I’m doing right here at The Collector’s Mentality. I can’t promise daily posts, but you’ll know about my milestones, and about any difficulties I might be having. But one thing you won’t be hearing is that I’ve thrown in the towel. Nope, I’m in it for the long haul…there will be no quitting.

Can a compulsive collector go cold turkey for 30 days? We’re about to find out.

Cold Turkey: The Prequel

2006-07-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

Two days before I go cold turkey for the month of August and what do I do immediately upon waking? I search through the latest Previews and scour eBay for deals. It’s as if I’m trying to find a few books and collectibles that’ll tide me over until I reach the end of this madness.

You can tell I’m jonesin’ for something to buy when I start looking into Manga. The upcoming Rose Hip Zero caught my attention in the Tokyopop section of the monthly catalog, so I decided to look into it. One thing led to another, and despite finding out almost nothing, I not only sold myself on the series but also decided I have to buy such silly nonsense as Battle Vixens. Good grief!

Lucky for me the only auction I found this morning that would allow me to pay before my experiment starts was a set of 2006 Score Packers cards. Cheap, too. That’ll tide me over on the football card tip, I’m sure. But comics and graphic novels might be another question.

One thing I have going for me is the urge to sell, sell, sell. Aside from my CGC books and my Adam Hughes and Frank Cho covers, everything must go. Not only will August be the month of not buying, it’ll be the month of selling. I just want to get rid of the junk I’ve amassed in the last couple of years, books I haven’t seen since I bought ‘em and stuffed ‘em away in the closet.

But if my friends are right, what I’m really doing is making room for the inevitable comic gluttony that’s just around the corner starting September 1st.

Creativity and Collecting

2006-07-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

My sister once told me she thought I collected because it was an easy way to release my creativity. Almost as if the hunting, the buying, the storing, and everything in between were a way for me to relieve the pent up creativity that builds up inside me during my boring days in the office.

Until recently, I thought that was a bunch of bunk. I mean, how could buying something be the same as creating something? But now that I’m going through a lull in my collecting, I’m beginning to thing that maybe my sister was on to something. Sure, every collector has some ebb and flow when they pull back from the hobby or go full bore. The thing that’s interesting for me is the fact that the current ebb is running side by side with me writing every night and working with my artist on our Postcards story.

When I get home each night, I don’t think about surfing eBay. I don’t think about scouring the comic sites to see the latest news. Instead, I want to write my own story. I want to create. I haven’t been to eBay since Monday night. That’s almost scary. Think of all those rare books and cards I’m missing. But the weird thing is that it doesn’t even matter. Right now those things aren’t even on the radar. My goals have switched from buying every SP Authentic Packers card to writing and finishing a graphic novel script. And when I’m so focused on one, it’s impossible to even care about the other.

The closer I get to this 30 day cold turkey event, the more I think that it’s not even an issue. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still want to do the reading of the comics I would normally buy, but the collecting of them is no longer a factor. Right now I’d rather read a graphic novel and dissect the reasons for why it works or doesn’t work. Storing a new Captain America? Hunting down an old Favre? Screw it.

Why would I want to buy not only buy someone else’s creation but almost worship its perfection when I can make my own? Think of the collectibility of my own published work…no one else would want to own mint copies, but I sure would. And I could sign as many as I wanted.

A Collector No More?

2006-07-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

I was ready to spend tons of cash. I was geared up to either ship a box of goodies home from San Diego or check extra luggage on the flight back to Denver. I was prepared to defend my spending when Stephanie asked how much everything cost.

But I certainly wasn’t expecting this.

Not only did I come home from the San Diego Comic-Con empty handed, but I didn’t even have that strong of a desire to buy anything in the first place. “Is this for real?” I asked as I walked and walked and walked, looking at all the cool shit I could buy. “Am I really not interested in anything?”

The first time through the booths I was pretty overwhelmed. It wasn’t that I was disinterested in all the wares for sale, it was more about the fact that I didn’t want to make any rash decisions. If I had a limited budget, I wanted to see what was available and map out my spending.

Quickly enough, though, two thoughts occurred to me simultaneously. First, I realized that no matter what I bought, I wasn’t prepared to keep it in mint condition. I certainly wasn’t going to put any books in my bag, and I didn’t have a poster tube to keep any prints or original art safe from the mobs of people bumping into each other. The second thing I realized was that there was simply no way I could decide what to get. I mean, how to you determine if a Frank Cho sketchbook is better than the other 200 available at the show? Or at artist’s alley, how do you determine which artist’s work you want to buy? Hell, once you did pick an artist, how do you narrow your pick down to one piece when all 50 look damn impressive?

So within two hours of entering the door, my brain was already shutting down. I had no desire to buy. Sure, I continued to look, but my wallet wasn’t burning a hole in my pocket like it usually does.

Hard to believe, I know, but that’s the way it went. It was pretty surreal. But there’s another obvious reason for the way this all went down. Although this was my first convention and I wanted to make the most of it as a fan, by primary goal was to meet some of the writers and artists I’ve worked with. I was there to network and start learning the ropes of what it’ll take to actually get a foot in the industry.

In a way, I felt like I was in limbo the entire trip. I wasn’t a fan, yet I wasn’t a professional either. At the same time, however, I was a little of both. I didn’t want to have a handful of loot from one publisher while I talked to artists from another. But I also didn’t want to not have that handful of loot. It was confusing. And tiring. But that might’ve been from the lack of water and food and all that walking.

Funny thing, though. When I got home, I searched online for several hours to find all the things I didn’t buy. For example, that Cho print I lusted after for awhile was on eBay for twice what it was selling for at the con. Same with his sketch book. It got even weirder when, instead of being disappointed, I determined I had made the right decision. Crazy huh?

Despite all that, one thing I still have my eye on is the Star Wars Animated statuettes from Gentle Giant. I don’t really need them, and I don’t have the money or the space, but damn they’re pretty. Maybe I’ll be picking them up sometime soon, since it’s obvious I’m totally not interested in buying comics.

Then again, I’m not really even that interested in those. I think it’s just the collector in my trying to find something, anything, that’ll keep himself alive until the urge to buy really kicks in somewhere down the line…because let’s face it, that urge is just around the corner.

SDCC Recovery

2006-07-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

I’m still recovery from the madness that is San Diego Comic Con. It was simply insane. So many people, so many things for sale, so many men dressed in super hero outfits. I’ll be back tomorrow with a little recap, but for all of you wondering how much of a wallop my wallet took at the show, you’ll be surprised to hear I walked out of the convention without buying a single thing. Sure, I bought food and some drinks, but not one single collectible.

I think I might be cured.

Or maybe it’s really that I’ve finally gone totally insane…

A Princess No More

2006-07-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

Well that blows. I’ve been gathering information from all over the web, particularly from Heidi MacDonald’s The Beat, stating that IDW’s upcoming A Princess of Mars has been scrapped. This completely sucks. As many of you know, I was looking forward to this series more than any comic in recent memory. I guess this is just one more reason to continue pulling back on my monthly habit.

The weird thing is that it looks like several threads from around the web, including one at Frank Cho’s Image site, have been taken down. Does this mean that maybe, just maybe, the book is still safe? I doubt it. But with Paramount working on a John Carter movie, I’m sure more comics are in the works anyway. So while I’m bummed the IDW book was cancelled, I can’t get to upset with announcements coming soon enough.

Then again, I still want my Cho variants. Oh well, maybe next time…

This Cold Turkey Tastes Terrible

2006-07-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

I got my first taste of what going cold turkey for 30 days will feel like today when I read the DC solicitations for books shipping in October. And let me tell you, cold turkey is best served only on Thanksgiving. The first thing I noticed was how cool the new Adam Hughes cover to Catwoman #60 is. Not being able to pre-order that is going to scare me silly since it means I’ll have to hunt it down in October and hope I can get a mint copy. Wonderful!

The rest of my regular monthlies I think I can live without. After all, part of the reason behind this experiment is to wean myself off the monthlies. But damn it, look at all the other cool covers: Gen13 and all the other Wildstorm first issues and variants, a variant Adam Hughes for Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes, and Manifest Eternity #5…a book I’ve never heard of but one that sports a pretty damn pretty cover.

And why do all these great trades have to come out the one month I plan to skip the pre-ordering? Just look at all the DC books coming out: Gotham Central Vol. 4, Ex Machina Vol. 4, and Y: The Last Man Vol. 7. Of course, we can't forget the absolute of all Absolute books, Absolute Sandman Vol. 1. I mean, seriously. It’s as if the gods of collecting looked down on me and said, “We smite you, you lowliest of all cretins.”

I told myself I wouldn’t follow this missed month by doubling up on all my collectible purchases in September, but that’s looking harder and harder every moment. I mean, this is just after reading the DC solicits. What the hell will the Marvel solicits hold? Another Omnibus?

All I know is that I’m fucked…and not in a good way.

Cold Turkey: A 30-Day Experiment

2006-07-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

Stephanie and I just watched the first episode of Morgan Spurlock’s, 30 Days. It’s similar to what he did in Super Size Me, but instead of eating McDonald’s, Spurlock spends an entire month on minimum wage. This got me thinking about how much money I spend on collectibles each month while others in the country struggle to put food on the table. I sometimes complain about the fact that I can’t afford all the comics and books I want, but when you realize that others can’t even afford healthcare or clothes, it all comes into perspective.

I began to think about my habits and what they cost, so I did a little research and discovered that I’ve spent over $3,100 on collectibles since November 1, 2005. And that number factors in how much money I’ve made selling collectibles, so in reality I’ve spent another $500 or more.

As I sat pondering all of this, one thing led to another and I began wondering if I could go an entire month without buying a single collectible. No comics. No books. No football cards. Nothing. Cold turkey for 30 days. Before I even had a chance to think it through, I had made up my mind.

“I’m gonna see if I can go 30 days without buying a single collectible,” I told Stephanie this morning.

“Are you serious?” she asked, obviously doubting my ability to do such a thing. She thought I was joking so she laughed when she said, “I assume you’ll wait until after San Diego?”

“Of course,” I said. “I’m crazy, not stupid. That would ruin the trip.”

By now she noticed that this idea wasn’t just some crazy scheme. I was serious. “You’re not going to buy anything for a month?”

“Yep.”

“How? You can’t even go a week without buying something.”

“I just won’t get on eBay or look at other sites. Piece a cake,” I said, showing my confidence. “Hell, maybe this will give me a chance to actually read all the stuff I already have.”

“I bet you don’t make it that long,” she said, wanting to support me but having a hard time believing I could do it.

“Sure I can.”

“Okay, if you go a whole month, I’ll buy you your next collectible,” she said, throwing down the gauntlet.

“Any collectible?” I said, already imagining the original art or expensive box of football cards I could get from this deal.

“Well, anything for 25 bucks.”

“Twenty-five? That’s nothing. That won’t get me anything.”

“I know, you've probably spent $25 already today and it’s not even 10 o’clock,” she said, walking off to do the budget. “But that’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”

Of course I took it. I was going to try this with or without this side bet. So it’s on. Starting August 1, I’m going cold turkey for 30 days. That means no books, comics, or football cards. It means I can’t pay for any auctions I might’ve won at the end of July. It also means no pre-orders. I also can’t bid on any auction, even if the end date is one that’d allow me to pay after the 30 days are over. Nope, for me, cold turkey is cold turkey.

And of course, I’ll be writing my daily journal here for all to see. Yep, you’re invited to a front row seat as this compulsive collector goes without for an entire month. Let the madness begin…

I Like Other Big Things Too

2006-07-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

Just got my box of CGC Signature Series books. Took awhile to get ‘em in from Canada, but it was worth the wait. On top of a 9.6 Sleeper #1 and a 9.6 Sleeper Season Two #1 signed by Ed Brubaker, I also got the beauty shown at left: A 9.6 Shanna, The She-Devil #1 signed by Frank Cho (signature is cut off a bit on the scan). I already have a 9.8 copy of the book, but I couldn’t turn down a signed copy. I mean, it’s Frank Cho. It’s minty fresh. And it’s a scantily clad Shanna with a spear. I mean, who’d turn that down?

Anyway, all three will be displayed on the top of my bookcase for a few days before making their inevitable journey into a box in the closet. Hate to hide these pretties, but I don’t want the light to hurt 'em. While they may be put away soon, you can rest assured that they’ll be brought out anytime I have company who’s even remotely interested in comics. Or art. Or girls.

A special thanks goes out to Tim Lo for hooking me up with these at a great price. I think he might’ve created a monster, though. Now that I have some signed books, my unsigned CGC books have lost some of their luster. Looks like I’m about to turn into an autograph whore. Now I just need to figure out how to get CGC to certify my comics and the autograph while I’m in San Diego…

Christmas Eve

2006-07-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

Josh Howard teased fans today when he posted the first cover from his upcoming Viper Comics series, The Lost Books of Eve. I love his art, and his Dead @ 17 series really got me interested in indie books when the series first hit a couple years ago. I don’t know anything about this upcoming title, but based on the few teaser images I’ve seen, I’m onboard. Even if the story stinks (which it won’t) we still have Howard’s scantily clad little waifs to appreciate.

I Like Big Books and I Cannot Lie

2006-07-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

Holy crap. Amazon has listings for two eagerly awaited hardcovers. The first is the Runaways oversize hardcover volume 2. This is a great series. One of the more original hero books to come out in years. Plus, I love the oversize collections, not only because they’re big but also because you get the entire 12-issue story. Hell, even if you don’t read the damn things (like I’m prone to do), they still look cool on your bookcase. (Please oh please let Marvel do the right thing and make the spine dressing the same as volume one.)

The other book I’m eagerly anticipating is the New X-Men Omnibus. I mean, talk about huge. This bad boy is slated to be 992 pages. How the hell am I supposed to read that? As a collector I sure as hell ain’t gonna rest it on my stomach or on the table while I read it. I mean, that might ruin the book’s condition. At the same time, though, how long can you hold a 10-pound book before you get carpel tunnel? Oh well, at least it’ll look cool on my bookcase.

Keep in mind that these books haven’t been announced and might never happen, but the tease is enough to get me salivating. I just love big hardcovers. Well, big hardcovers and a good story, but you get the point.

Speaking of big hardcovers, maybe now’s a good time to hunt down that X-Men Omnibus I missed out on earlier...or at the very least, continue reading the Fantastic Four Omnibus.

Ultimate Math and Freakish Idiosyncrasies

2006-07-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

Online ordering has been a pain in my backside lately. If it’s not DHL finding new and inventive ways to piss me off and deliver my books late, it’s eBay sellers failing to deliver on all three of my book buying prerequisites. Case in point, I recently ordered a couple of Ultimate Spider-Man oversize hardcovers: vol. 1 and vol. 3. The auction stated both were first editions and both were in mint, unread condition. Perfect. Let’s bid.

For me, the equation is simple:

Title + 1st Edition + Mint = Purchase

(Notice that cost isn’t a factor in this equation. That’s normal. In this instance, however, I managed to find the three key elements to any book purchase, but I also managed to get quite a bargain.)

Anyway, the seller got most of it right with what he actually sent me. I was a bit worried when I opened that severely damaged box, and it didn’t take long to run through the equation. Mint condition? Check. First edition? Check. Correct title? Che…oh wait a second, this is vol. 4, not vol. 1. Argh!

Granted, I need vol. 4 for my collection, so it’s not that big a deal. Well, not until you hear about this particular freakish idiosyncrasy I have, then you might begin to grasp why I’m more peeved than your average collector might be.

See, no matter how hard I try, I can’t bring myself to read a particular volume of any work without first reading all the previous volumes. At first that doesn’t seem so weird. You want to get the whole story, so why not read vol. 1 before vol. 2? Yeah, that’s obvious. Some might argue that with comics you can probably jump right into the middle of a series without much of a problem, but still, it’s preferable to read the whole series.

I understand all that. But where my little quirk gets out of hand is when I can't bring myself to read later volumes without reading the earlier ones even if I’ve already read them. In other words, I can’t read vol. 4 of a book if I have never read vol. 1-3 or if I haven’t read them recently enough. (For the record, recently enough is usually within one week of reading the next volume.) For example, I haven’t read the two most recent volumes of either Y: The Last Man or 100 Bullets because reading the previous 5+ volumes would take up too much time, which is something I can’t spare right now. Do I want to spend my reading time reading something I’ve read more than once already, or do I want to try something new? Of course new wins out most of the time.

God, just writing that makes me want to run to a therapist. But it’s true and I can’t figure it out. It’s not like I’ve forgotten the events that preceded the most recent collection. And I don’t honestly believe it’s my wanting to get as much enjoyment as possible out of the books I buy, even though doing it this way ensures I read each collection multiple times. Nope, I can’t explain it, but that doesn’t make it less true.

So here I am with two volumes of Ultimate Spider-Man that I can’t read. I’m sure I could force myself to pick them up, but knowing that I’ll be getting the first two collections any time now just makes that proposition that much less likely. Which makes me upset because I had planned to enjoy some Spider-Man this weekend, but now I’ll have to try something else.

Hell, maybe I should look at this as a glass half full kinda thing. I mean, maybe this’ll help me finally get around to reading all nine volumes of 100 Bullets. Then again, why do that when another volume is just around the corner? I don’t want to have to read all nine again when that comes out, do I?

Love My Carpet

2006-07-10T16:22:00.000-07:00

No, this isn’t another Internet post about the upcoming lesbian Batwoman. (Although, since I haven’t weighed in on the subject, maybe I should hijack my own writing by not only posting a picture of the superhero to run with the text, but also by talking about the fact that with all the hype and publicity, a pristine copy of her first appearance might be worth big money someday…and by big money I mean cover price.)

Instead, this is actually about carpet. See, my wife and I have been considering fixing up the house for some time now, and the quickest, easiest, most obvious way to improve your home is by getting carpet, especially when your current floor looks as dirty and disheveled as the one we have. Just that one move will make our house look so much better. But the only way we’re going to make that happen is if we start saving more money. That means fewer comics, fewer football cards, fewer trips to the bar.

Just how the hell am I going to pull that off?

Sure, I’m in the process of trimming my pull list substantially, but saving $20 a month on comics isn’t going to get us that new carpet that much quicker. So I can either do with less for 6-8 months, or go cold turkey for half that time. But is new carpet worth skipping a few months’ worth of comics and cards all together? Not bloody likely. Especially when you factor in new windows, new tile for the bathrooms, and new closet doors are just around the corner. Where would it end?

I know, I know, I can hear it already. I need to save for the things I want and sacrifice some collectibles for the time being. It’s called will power. Get some.

Well, to be honest, that doesn’t work for me. I’m addicted to ebay, I’m addicted to buying comics, and I’m addicted to buying football cards. I mean, if I waited and bought my comics after they’ve been out awhile, I’d run the risk of getting books of inferior condition. As for the cards, well, I’m struggling with just finding those elusive few cards I have left on my list so nothing’s going to stop me from snatching those up when I see them, not even beautiful carpet.

So tell me, fellow collectors, how the hell does a homeowner balance the need for collecting with the need for home improvements? While you’re writing your suggestions, I’m going to lay on my ugly brown floor and read a pristine copy of Captain America #19, paying close attention to whether or not I can live without that particular monthly fix and thus be $2 closer to having that new, clean carpet.

Mmmm, Autographs

2006-07-10T05:39:00.000-07:00

Comic-Con released their autograph schedule. Now the question is how the hell am I going to get a huge stack of books and trades on the plane with me? That Star Wars Authors section alone has me worried about the size of my carry-on luggage.

Random Musings

2006-07-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

DHL left me another notice on my door, meaning my 8-pound box of comics will be delayed one more day. Those bloody bastards. I guess it’s time for me to have ‘em shipped to work.

I finished reading Making Comics last night. What an absolutely brilliant book. Scott McCloud discusses the ins and outs of comic creation in a way that’s both informative and entertaining. He gives great examples to help prove his points, and each chapter ends with notes and exercises that focus on the information delivered in that chapter.

If you have any desire to create comic books in any capacity, or if you just want to understand why one comic story or panel works while another doesn’t, this book is for you. I’d go so far as saying that all comic fans should pick this one up…it’s that valuable. Heck, I’ve already used it several times as reference material for the story I’m working on.

Just picked up this hard to find Antonio Freeman autograph. Cost me about $40 shipped. A bit more than I wanted to spend, perhaps, but it’s the price you pay to cross off another card from the list. Once I add this bad boy to my collection, I’ll have 133 of the 176 cards I’m looking for. That’s 76%. There are still cards on my list that I’ve never seen, so I might have to do more research to see if they even exist, but at this point, the cards I need are either extremely rare, extremely valuable, or both.

If I’ve just spent $40 on a card that wasn't in the “valuable” category, then I think my wallet’s in trouble.

I’ve found a way to talk myself into continuing to read monthlies. At least my favorites. See, Y: The Last Man is in its last year, so there’s no point in stopping now. So there's one I have to keep reading. Then there's the Brubaker books. As many have pointed out, Captain America and Daredevil are featuring the best stories these titles have seen in years, but what sold me is that they aren’t released in oversized hardcover format for a year or more after they’re released in monthly format. That’s plenty of time for me to get some mileage out of each issue and not consider it a waste of time when I spend more money on the same story later down the line.

I doubt even my mind can trick me into saving 52 and Warlord from the chopping block, but then again, I wouldn’t put it past myself.

Eight Pounds

2006-07-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

I have eight pounds of comics heading my way on the slow journey from DCBS to my front door. Should be here Friday, unless DHL decides to not leave it at my door again, which would mean I’d have to wait until Monday to get my comic fix.

While I’m very excited about a few of the books I’ll be reading this weekend (DMZ Vol. 1, Tarzan: The Joe Kubert Years Vol. 3, Sight Unseen), I’m actually more interested in testing the waters and figuring out which monthlies I’m going to drop. My last order topped $110, and the preliminary outlook for next month’s is over $150. That’s just too much. And if I’m not enjoying the superhero crap so much anymore, it’s time to do some cutting.

For example, 52 has got to go. That series just ain’t doing anything for me. Sadly, Warlord is gone, too (I had high hopes for that one). Ultimate Spider-Man is gone after #100 (gotta end on an even number, right?).

What’s really interesting is that I’m thinking about cutting my favorites, too. Y: The Last Man, Daredevil, Captain America. I love these books enough that I’m buying the monthlies and the trades. That’s a waste of money, so maybe I should cut ‘em from my list. But that doesn’t feel right. I mean, doing that would mean I would no longer be collecting my favorite books. Instead, I’d be reading the second tier stuff. There’s just something wrong with that scenario. Who in his right mind reads and collects only those books he considers only okay while his favorites are cut from the list?

So of course, this leads me to the inevitable question: is it time to switch to trades and skip monthlies all together?

It’s not a new question, but maybe it’s time to answer it once and for all.

Walking on McCloud Nine

2006-06-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm what you call a happy son of a bitch. Not only did I get an artist for my Postcards story, not only do I have a 4-day weekend coming up, and not only do I have three signed comics coming my way, but I also got a copy of Scott McCloud's Making Comics in the mail today. This is one book the collector in me holds no sway over. Nope. I'm going to use this book, you can bet on that (well, use it gently, of course, but use it I will).

When I figured out what was in the envelope, I quickly sat down and devoured the first chapter, "Writing with Pictures." It's nothing short of perfect. I mean, McCloud is a comic genius. While Will Eisner certainly did a great job of detailing the ins and outs of sequential art, McCloud just makes it so much...easier. His use of comic panels instead of prose text to explain each idea really hammers home the reasoning behind it all.

This book looks to be the perfect how-to book for comic creators. But screw all this writing about it, I'm going to go read the thing. I'll be back when I'm done...

Coming Attractions

2006-06-29T15:29:00.000-07:00

I might be bored with buying and reading current comics, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy some minty fresh back issues. Signed no less. Don't these look pretty? I have these two beauties (and another I won't show just yet) coming my way next week. The only thing better would've been meeting Mr. Brubaker myself.

Damn it feels good to be a comic whore sometimes.

Goodbye Mint Condition, I’ll Miss You

2006-06-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, Darrel, an editor I work with, told me he was curious about graphic novels. I saw this as an opportunity to get him interested in sequential art, so after getting an idea of what movies he’s enjoyed, I decided to lend him my copy of A History of Violence, by John Wagner and Vince Locke. I chose this particular title because of the subject matter and the quality of the presentation, but also because the copy I have isn’t a first edition.

I think he’ll like the book, so I’m doing my duty as a comic fan to further the medium. But let’s face it, I was not about to hand over a book that’s near and dear to me. If the future of comics depended on me handing over a pristine first edition, then maybe, but as it was, no way.

When I stood before him with the nearly flawless book in hand, I started the conversation by saying, “I’m letting you borrow this, but there are rules.”

“Uh oh,” he said jokingly, with a fake ominous tone and a laugh that was a little too uproarious for me. He obviously had no idea how serious I was.

“No, seriously,” I said, my face stern as I brought the conversation back to the level of seriousness it deserved. “I’m a book collector. And I’m a comic collector. And I like to keep my books in pristine condition.”

I showed him the copy of A History of Violence I was about to lend him, making it readily apparent he was not yet meant to reach out to grab it. No, that would happen only after he agreed to the rules. “I’ve already read this book,” I said, indicating the undamaged spine and the flawless pages and covers. “I’ve been known to read a book several times but still be able to return the book for a full refund without the clerk ever considering the book might’ve been touched, let alone opened and read.”

By now another co-worker, Georgie, was watching the conversation unfold.

“Oh no, you’re one of them,” Darrel said, again trying to bring some levity to the conversation.

“That’s right,” I said. “And I’m giving this to you with the hopes you can treat with the proper respect.”

After a moment of silence, I felt he understood the gravity of the situation, so I reached out and handed him the book. “Lucky for you this isn’t a first edition or we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But as it is, we’ll consider this a trial. You only get one strike.”

The three of us talked animation and graphic novels and Hollywood for a few minutes as Darrel flipped gently through the pages of the book. At one point I was discussing my desire to break into the creative side of comics when Darrel spoke up. “When I read books,” I heard him say as he tossed the book into his bag, “I’m generally so rough they’re practically destroyed; unreadable when I’m finished.”

My heart stopped for the briefest of moments. Did I hear him right? I tried to replay the last few seconds of the conversation. Did he say he destroyed them, or that he was just usually pretty rough?

“Oh, he didn’t like that,” I heard Georgie say in the distance, my mind so focused on trying to determine what he really said, what he really meant, that I couldn’t even keep up with what was currently being said. Darrel said something about being nice this time around, but I wasn't listening anymore.

I took a deep breath and tried to forget what I saw and what I heard. "It’s not a first print," I told myself. "And it’s a trial offer. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that he’ll keep his end of the agreement. If not, well, we don’t have to do business ever again."

With that, I said my goodbyes and left as quickly as I could, getting out of there before I changed my mind and asked him to give it back to me. But on the way home, I replayed the scene a few times. No matter how I tried to spin the transaction, I could only come up with one conclusion: I’ve seen the last of my pristine copy of A History of Violence.

I hope the world of comics can appreciate my sacrifice.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

2006-06-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

I’m all giddy with excitement for the start of football season. With two tickets to the Packers/Vikings game in December, why shouldn’t I be?

To get the party started, I picked up this nice Ahman Green jersey card numbered to only 25. Of course, there was very little excitement when I won the auction, less when I got it in the mail, and even less when I put the card in a plastic sleeve and stuffed it away in the closet. Turns out that just like with comics, I’m finding myself less and less interested in any aspect of the football card hobby. So much so that last night I contemplated the best ways to sell off my collection with it being only 76 percent complete.

I wonder if this is normal for other hobbies. I’ve heard many comic, book, and card collectors complain that they get bored from time to time and have to pull back from the hobby for awhile before diving full bore again when they’ve recuperated. But is that the same for hobbies like painting, or woodworking, or scrapbooking?

Because I’ve gotta be honest, I’m getting tired of this ebb and flow crap. Just read my blog from beginning to end and you’ll recognize this isn’t some random notion. It happens way too often for me to actually be able to say I love the hobby. I mean, how can I say that when a quarter of the time I question its worth?

Of course, that won’t stop me from bidding on other cards or comics on my list, which is probably just another part of the problem.

The Fine Art of BroDart

2006-06-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

“Mmmm, beer. The cause of and solution to all the world’s problems.”
- Homer J. Simpson.

It’s amazing just how right Homer is. Of course, you can substitute beer with collecting in my case, but the thought is the same. I’ve always been intrigued by the fact that readers throw slurs my way, calling me a freak, a loser, or an obsessive compulsive nerd who needs to seek counseling. Well, to me, my collecting is my counseling. Or more precisely, my need to collect is the problem, but the peripheral stuff is the solution.

I’ve said before how making lists or putting comics and football cards into their final resting place can actually be very therapeutic. In a world of stress, I find my incessant habits to be very rewarding, relaxing, and enjoyable.

Let’s take BroDart as an example. For those who don’t know, BroDart is to dust jackets what Mylar is to comic books. It serves as protection and presentation enhancement. It’s essentially a sheet of plastic that wraps around the dust jack to offer a snug, perfect fitting outer shell.

I use this protective sheet of plastic for several reasons. The obvious reason is that it protects the book’s dust jacket. And as I’ve said before, it also makes the jacket look damn sharp by hiding tiny imperfections and giving it a bright, shiny sheen. Additionally—and I openly admit this—while I read a hardcover, that smooth, unblemished surface gives my hands a bit of pleasure while my eyes enjoy the story. It’s just another way, albeit a small one, to get more senses involved with the reading experience.

But while none of these benefits can be neglected, I also love the action of putting on each sheet of BroDart. It’s a simple task that takes concentration to do correctly. By focusing on each step in the process, my mind can no longer worry about the stresses of the day. Instead, I need to take into account the needs of the book in front of me, and how important it is to focus on every detail. Hunching over the work table, folding and caressing, double checking my work…this all relaxes me. Ask any woodworker or model maker. It’s that focus, that precision that makes the hobby relaxing.

Let me put it another way. Have you ever washed a new sports car? Remember how it felt to run your fingers over the curves, over those smooth surfaces? Or the satisfaction you get when you’re done that you not only spent time doing something you love, but by doing so, you also protected and enhanced something you consider beautiful. It’s the same with BroDart. Pulling the sheet so it’s snug against the dust jacket, then running your fingers to crease that lower edge so it too is nice and tight…it’s toned down eroticism. A feast for your fingertips as well as the eyes and soul.

But unlike a shiny new car, calling a dust jacket or book sexy might get you thrown in the loony bin. In reality, however, it’s not that different. It’s just not as well known, and thus, not as accepted. More people like me need to step out of the shadows and admit to enjoying things others consider weird before we stop being looked upon with fear or rejection.

My hobbies and the enjoyment I get from them, they don’t damage my life in any way. I don’t neglect my wife or friends. It’s not something I need counseling for. It’s simply a form of enjoyment others consider different, so it’s not acceptable.

But that’s okay. You go on hating, while I go on enjoying my life, including those small things like putting BroDart on a new Frank Cho collection.

Grand Opening

2006-06-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

Ah, sweet bliss.

I got a box of BroDart in the mail yesterday, which meant I was finally able to open my Fantastic Four Omnibus. And let me tell you, the experience was heavenly. I held the oversized book in my hands, feeling the weight and smelling the pages as I turned it over to soak in every square inch of that gorgeous behemoth. I tugged at the plastic wrap and gently pulled it open, making sure the plastic didn’t snag any of the fragile edges. There was an audible sigh. At first I thought it was the book offering a sign of relief for finally being released from its dungeon, but I quickly realized it was me releasing a breath I didn’t know I had been holding.

Although I wanted to sit down immediately and begin reading the early adventures of the Fantastic Four, I resisted. Instead, I took the 10 minutes necessary to properly fit a sheet of BroDart over the dust jacket, caressing the smooth surface of the plastic as I fitted the two together, long lost lovers finally together for all eternity.

Once finished, I put the protected cover back on that hardcover, snuggling it tightly to the boards. That classic cover enshrined in a protective sheen that enhanced the cover’s radiance. Now that was heavenly. Only then could I sit in my chair and read the first few chapters without hurting the dust jacket.

Yes, life is good.

This Comic Stuff Has Gone Too Far

2006-06-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

“I had the most terrible dream last night,” Stephanie told me earlier today. “Josh Howard was in a car wreck and suffered head trauma. It was all over the radio and TV but you were out of town and I was trying to get the news to you.”

“You know the comic stuff has gone too far when your wife is dreaming about it!” she said.

I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or be creeped out. Why the hell was my wife dreaming about comic creators and car wrecks? And why Josh Howard? Should I take this as a sign that I should be hunting down signed back issues or asking him to draw me another Dejah Thoris?

Regardless, my wife and I both wish Mr. Howard a long, healthy life creating comics. But for now, maybe I should keep the news about his new Eve series to myself.

I finally figured out why I’m into comics one day but not the next. The reasons probably won’t surprise you, but my solution just might. Look for more information in the coming days...

Absolute Confusion

2006-06-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

I’ve been sitting here for 15 minutes trying to decide the tone of today’s post. Do I voice my concern with my lack of interest in 99% of the September solicitations that were released this week, or do I focus on the one shining gem amongst the mass of insignificant titles? Or should I risk losing those few readers I do have and try to tackle both issues?

See, I’m a bit perplexed by my lack of interest. It seems that once again I could care less about what’s coming out. The thrill simply isn’t there. Sure, those issues bearing an Adam Hughes cover or those special issues like Ultimate Spider-Man #100 caught my eye and will catch my wallet when that time comes, but for the most part, I couldn’t care less about the comics I’m reading.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love comics. I love the stories and art. But it’s time (again) to seriously evaluate how I get my fix: on a monthly basis or by waiting for the collected editions. A quarter of the books I get now I’m waiting to read when I have several issues in a row, and half I’m already buying both the monthlies and the trades, so what’s the difference? Aside from being able to participate on message boards and getting to put my pretties into shiny plastic, there’s no real benefit to get monthlies.

But oh man, look at the benefit of waiting for the trade. Just one look at the Absolute DC New Frontier has me mapping out a spot for it on my bookshelf. Not only will it make a fine addition to my book display, but I can’t wait to hold that behemoth in my hands, feeling the weight of it while I read Darwyn Cooke’s story and soak in those Dave Stewart colors. Plus, I get the whole story in one or two sittings instead of waiting months to read the next chapter while hoping I haven’t forgotten what insignificant events happened last time.

Lucky for me I don’t have to make a decision any time soon. Instead, I get my next delivery from DCBS in a few weeks when I’ll have a Christmas in July, a Christmas devoted to nothing but comics. If that box of goodies doesn’t get me excited about monthlies, then I’m switching to trades for good. And with books like New Frontier coming soon, that’s not a bad thing. But if I do become giddy like a school boy, I’ll be back on the wagon, telling the world how I’ve changed my mind again and can’t wait to read all those cool monthlies.

My First Day All Over Again

2006-06-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

Give me a break! With all that indecision at Barnes & Noble last week concerning whether to buy those Superman books or the X-Men hardcover, I managed to walk away with an imperfect copy of the one book I did buy, Coma. Sure, it was a bargain book and cost less than five bucks, but damn it, I’m a book collector. Have been for years. And I’ve perfected my process of finding that one gem out of all the others. So how the hell did I spend 10 minutes scrutinizing all four copies yet come away with this crap?

I have no idea how this dust jacket got through my radar. Not only is there a quarter inch line of blue ball point pen ink on the back cover, but there’s also a small, reddish splotch the size of a nickel. I can almost understand missing one of those, but both of them? Good grief, did I not even turn the book over? I mean, steps 3 and 14 both clearly state that I must slowly look over every section of the back cover for quality insurance. How could I miss both? Do I need to take this to the next level and actually print out a checklist?

I was distracted, sure, but that’s no excuse. I’m no novice. This isn’t my first day on the job. I’ve done this thousands of times before. My only guess is that I skipped a step or two when I removed the only “flawless” dust jacket from one book and put it on another, the one with the tight spine and crisp white pages. But where did I slip up? I either put the dust jacket back on the same book, or I never bothered to look at the back cover. Either way, it’s unacceptable. I mean, if this were my career, I’d have to seriously consider laying myself off.

Lucky for me, I can go back to B&N and switch it out for a better copy. Hell, maybe it’s a sign indicating I should go back and pick up those Superman books. But what about my confidence? This is the type of thing that could send me into collecting tailspin. Will I second guess myself endlessly next time? Will I even be able to make a decision at all? If this gets out to the collecting community, my reputation will be ruined. I need to take corrective action immediately or all could be lost.

The Bane of My Existence

2006-06-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

What the hell is wrong with me? I get a little money and all of a sudden I can’t make a decision to save my life.

Case in point:

I took the day off to recuperate from a few hectic days of work. So I’m driving along this morning, heading to the movie theatre to see an early showing of Cars, when out of nowhere I have to buy something. Now! I have $95 left from the bonus I got two days ago and my burning pocket is beginning to singe the hair on my thighs. If I don’t whip out my credit card soon, I’ll have a seizure.

I do a quick u-turn and head for Barnes & Noble. Before I get halfway there, I’m already plotting my plan and it no longer incorporates going to the bookstore. Instead, I decide to turn back for home and buy that new X-Men Omnibus from Instock Trades. Doing that won’t feel as good as spending the money and actually walking away with something in hand, but I’ve had my eye on that collection for awhile, and there’s no time like the present.

Of course, I mull this over for roughly one minute longer than it actually takes me to get to B&N, so in I go. No more than eight steps inside my eye catches bright reds and blues and an old Superman logo.
”Ooooh, cool,” I mutter to myself. I do a quick glance around to make sure no one heard me talk to myself, then I pick up the hefty book, Superman: The Dailies 1939-1942. It’s a gorgeous hardcover that reprints the first 966 Superman daily newspaper comic strips. Of course, right next to it is another hefty book, Superman: Sunday Classics 1939-1943. Both are B&N exclusives.

Now I have a dilemma. Go home and get the X-Men book online or pick up these beauties now. Damn! What to do? Naturally, I can't rush into this, so I walk around the store while I think it through. Of course I'm in a bookstore so I find another book while I'm debating the issue. Lucky for me, Coma by Alex Garland, is only $5 on the bargain table, so it really doesn’t effect my decision. After comparing the quality on the four copies in front of me and switching out the dust jackets so the minty fresh one is teamed with the tight, pristine book, I’m off.

I peruse other books with Coma tucked safely under my arm, ensuring it’s protected from possible damage caused by a sweaty palms or obstacles that might be jutting out from table, bookshelves, or passerby. I pick up a few other books, but nothing catches my interest. How can they when my mind continues to turn over my debate?

But unfortunately, there’s no decision to be had. There’s too much at stake here. I leave the store without Superman.

Driving home, my indecision takes a turn for the worse. Instead of looking at the problem logically, I begin to kick myself for spending money on lunch three times this week. And why did I have to order a pizza last night? What an idiot. Had I simply taken a sandwich to work a few times or eaten macaroni and cheese last night, I’d have enough money to buy all three books. Instead, I have to carry this baggage with me the rest of the weekend.

Then it gets even worse when I start to tell myself that I don’t need any of those damn books anyway. I already have a backlog of unread books on my shelves, so how will three more make me any happier? It’s not like I’m going to have time to read the damn things anytime soon. Screw ‘em.

So what do I do when I get home? I start checking online prices for the books I’m looking for. Good, God, man, what’s wrong with me? Why can't I just make a fucking decision?

I’m telling you, sometimes I wonder if I should take up a new hobby.

Two Hundred

2006-06-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

Guess who just got a $200 bonus for his five-year anniversary at work. Yep, me. And guess who’s already jonesin’ to spend spend spend. Yep, me again.

Let’s see how long it takes to spend that money, shall we? I deposited the check 24 hours ago, and I’ve already spent $68 on a box of BroDart.

What’s next?

Milkin’ Honey

2006-06-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

Boy, does Frank Cho know how to milk his art for everything it’s worth or what? But if anyone’s going to milk his own art, it might as well be the guy best known for drawing breasts. I love the man’s art, and I readily admit that I purchase anything with his name attached, even if it’s just a hardcover reprinting previously published work, as is the case in the recently solicited Liberty Meadows: Cover Girl.

Just like Frank Cho Women: Selected Drawings and Illustrations, you won’t be finding anything in this new hardcover that you haven’t seen before. And that’s fine by me. I like the idea of being able to flip through his work without having to dig through my boxes of comics.

A couple of nights ago, I was doing just that, perusing Women while Stephanie updated the checkbook. She turned to me and asked what I was looking at. I held up the cover.

"Who’s Frank Cho?” she asked, genuinely interested.

“One of the best pinup artists in comics,” I said, studying another image of Dejah Thoris. “I like the way he draws women. They’re sexy, but they’re real.”

"Let me see,” she said, turning her chair around and reaching out her hands greedily. I handed the book to her but obviously wasn’t able to mask my hesitation. “Just give it to me. I won’t hurt it.”

With reluctance I let her take it and watched as she flipped through the pages, saying things like “Oooh, jungle girl.” It didn’t take long for her to notice one of Cho’s trademarks: big boobs.

“They’re huge,” she said.

“Yeah, but they’re real,” I countered, pointing out how they moved with the action instead of just standing perky and perfect like in most depictions of women found in comics.

“They’re huge,” she said again.

“But proportionate,” I said, pointing out that these women are larger than most comic heroines, with larger legs and arms and butts, too.

“Why do they have to be so big?” she asked. “I mean, you don’t see Spider-Man running around with a giant [expletive deleted].”

“But no one wants to see Spider-Man with a bunch of junk swinging through New York,” I said. “Everyone can appreciate an attractive woman.”

Or so it seems. If not, then Cho wouldn’t be able to sell his art over and over again in different formats. But as it is, there’s definitely a market. And I’m the first in line each time. As a matter of fact, I’ve already placed my order for Cover Girl. It just remains to be seen if this new book will keep me from buying back issues of Liberty Meadows…issues I’m collecting for the sole purpose of having those beautiful covers.

What’s Next?

2006-06-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

I must be tired. For a collector with money just begging to be spent, that’s not a good thing to be. For the last 45 minutes, I’ve been scouring the Internet for things to buy, but I have no focus. I have no idea what to get into next. If I’m not careful, that could spell doom for me and my pocketbook.

Football cards? Eh, it’s the off season. Next!

First edition hardcovers? I already have the next few novels I plan to read, so why bother? Next!

Comics? I’m in a bit of a holding pattern with comics right now, just biding my time for that Princess of Mars series to hit. I’m unable to get motivated to read anything I already own, and making a purchase doesn’t seem to be the right thing either. Next!

Comic art? Yeah, that’s something I can get into. It’s been on the back burner for awhile now, but with Mark Wheatley continually catching my eye with his ERB artwork, it might be time to change that. Plus, being a part of the Postcards creative team I get to see sample art as it comes in, so I’m fighting the urge to interrupt the artists and ask to buy a page or two. (What’s the etiquette on that anyway? Is it impolite to offer to purchase art for a book you’re editing before the book is actually finished? For now I’m resisting, but I might breakdown at any minute.)

But let’s face it, I’ve been down this road, oh, I don’t know, three or four times already this year, and with no more room on the walls and no money or desire to “waste” on professional frames with UV coating, well, it’s hard to get jazzed about something that’ll be sitting in the closet. (That’s an interesting concept coming from someone with boxes of cards, comics, and books hidden away in the dark corner of my closet.)

I don’t know, maybe I’m just burned out on collecting all together. I mean, if I can’t get interested in anything, maybe it’s time for me to hang it up for awhile. Or perhaps collect something new. There is one thing that I’ve always wanted to collect but never managed to find a way to do it successfully: money!

Then again maybe I should take a nap before I start talking all crazy…

Dejah Thoris Puts On a Bikini

2006-06-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure who I’m more upset with, Mark Wheatley for changing his Princess of Mars artwork so Dejah Thoris is scantily clad instead of naked, or IDW for asking that he make the modifications in the first place. Or maybe I should be upset with a culture that would make such a request expectable.
I’ve never been a big fan of artists altering to their work for the sake of sales. Sure, I understand the reasoning behind it, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. I voiced my concerns over Frank Cho’s modifications to Marvel’s Shanna, the She-Devil mini series, but this is even more near and dear to my heart. It’s Edgar Rice Burroughs we’re talking about here. His Barsoom series got me reading as a boy and made me want to write. This is sacred ground for me.

On top of that, I plan to plunk down good money for these 1-in-30 variant covers. But once I get my hands on these pretties, will I appreciate them for what they are, or will I only see the dastardly addition of Dejah’s bikini top? It's hard to find fault at all—especially with the painting in the background being the original Princess of Mars book cover...nice touch Mark—but damn it, try as I might, I can't get my eyes to stop focusing on that new bikini.

Don’t get me wrong, my grumbling has nothing to do with my desire to see breasts (well, maybe just a smidge, but not because of the breasts themselves but because everyone knows Martian women don’t wear clothes). What I’m complaining about is seeing and appreciating the original artwork but knowing that the art I finally get to bring home will be inferior. Let’s face it, no matter how minor the addition, these new covers just aren’t as good as the originals.

If these images were the regular edition of the covers, I doubt I’d raise any concerns at all. But that’s not the case. These variants will cost $30 or more, and I’m already questioning my need to own them.

The books in question, issues 4 and 5 of the mini, are still months away from being announced, let alone going on sale. That’s a long time to be debating this issue, but if my track record is any indication, debate this issue I will. It’ll be an interesting match up of wits and will power. Who will win, the collector or the art lover? Only time will tell, but to be honest, I think we’ve both already lost...

Every Penny

2006-06-08T18:58:00.000-07:00

When I went out with Stephane last weekend and talked geek nonstop for three hours, one of the things we discussed was how we store our comic collection. I cringed at the thought of his hodge-podge organization, and he laughed endlessly about my need to categorize everything, as if tracking each of my purchases was somehow overly obsessive. He seemed to accept my desire to alphabetize, and he certainly understood the notion that I need to have everything in pristine condition, but those extra steps I take seemed to confuse my friend and give him great amusement.

But Stephane isn’t the only collector who finds my methods to be a bit anal. Over at the Collector’s Society, svndst1030 wrote, “I used to be like that but I realized how much time I was wasting so I just went to being somewhat organized.” Although he was partially joking and still feels the need to be organized to some degree, I can’t help but think that not only am I not wasting time, I’m actually getting optimal enjoyment from every comic I buy, making them worth the price I pay, if not more.

Let’s take the latest issue of Catwoman as an example. Including shipping and the Mylite2 bag with acid free full back, the issue cost $2.30. In theory, just reading and enjoying the comic a single time is worth $2.99, the book’s cover price. But for me, I enjoyed it many more times, but not by reading the thing over and over (God no, how could I keep the thing mint?).

The first thing I did was stare at and enjoy that gorgeous Adam Hughes cover. Not his best effort, but it still took a considerable effort on my part to tear my eyes away and finally open the book to start reading. Of course, reading takes me a little longer than the average comic reader, too. Not only do I soak in each panel, I also turn each page so slowly and so gently you’d think it would turn to dust if I put too much pressure on it.

Next I took five minutes to enter the issue into my Comic Collector database. Here’s where I store all the information I can think of for that issue: creators, issue number, title, date purchased, purchase price, storyline, characters…you name it. I spelled it all out in this database, loving every mundane moment.

Then I scrutinized the covers, the spine, the pages, looking for every miniscule defect I could find. I spent maybe three minutes on this task, and I enjoyed every second (well, except for that one deflating moment when I noticed the color-breaking spine crease near the top staple on the front cover. D’oh!). After putting my grade report into the database, I searched my Catwoman collection to see if there were others with similar defects on the front cover (lucky for me, this was the first and only). Had I not been taking the time to add the details for each and every issue into my inventory, how could I determine if I was having a consistent problem with spine stress? Just one more advantage of “wasting time.”

After that, it was time to put the book into its bag and seal it up for all eternity. There’s something therapeutic about putting a comic in its clear plastic bag. It’s like returning a baby bird to its nest. It just feels right. It’s natural. Peaceful. And after it was all sealed up, I looked at that cool Hughes cover again, enjoying it even more behind that shiny wall of protection. How does a thin piece of plastic make comic art look better? I don’t know. But ask any fan who uses Mylar bags and he’ll say the same.

After all that, I still wasn’t done. There was even more value to be had for my $2.30 because I now had to flip through my other comics, peaking at each issue for the briefest of moments as I looked for this issue’s final resting place. Once I found its spot, my heart warmed yet again. “Goodbye friend,” I said to myself, already looking forward to the day I’d revisit her. “I’ll be in touch.”

And when I closed the box to shield my precious from the light of day, I said a prayer and thanked the universe for such a lovely thing as a good comic book.

Yes, I spent close to 45 minutes on something most others are lucky to spend 15 minutes on, speeding through on their way to the next story. And for me, it wasn’t a waste of time. Oh no, it was anything but.

We Interrupt This Broadcast...

2006-06-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a special announcement. Postcards, an incredible new anthology edited by Jason Rodriguez and yours truly, has finally been announced. And believe me, the news only gets better after this...wait until you see the names attached to this project.

I'm not only excited about this project because my name will be printed inside, but this really is a fantastic book. I know the theme. I've read the stories. This is a book comic readers can enjoy, but so can their non-comic reading parents and spouses. So if you're looking for a book to help get your loved ones interested in the format, Postcards is only a year away.

You can bet I'll have many of these bad boys in my collection come next summer.

DHL — Delivering Happiness Late

2006-06-06T15:57:00.000-07:00

Getting your books online has its rewards. By ordering through DCBS each month, I save a great deal of money (okay, it doesn’t actually save money because I put that savings right back into my comics fund, but you get the idea), I save a great deal of time because I don’t have to drive through rush hour to Mile High every Wednesday, and surprisingly, I get my comics in great condition. What’s not to love?

DHL, that’s what.

For the third time in a row my DHL shipment from DCBS has been delayed because of incompetence. There’s no other word for it. And there's also no excuses. Although I’ve already signed the waiver that allows them to leave the box at my front door, they once again left a note that states they’ll redeliver tomorrow. And believe me, this is beginning to piss me off.

I have a fairly stressful job, and when I get that happy email notice that tells me a box of comics will greet me when I get home, I get pretty keyed up about it. Like today. I was happy as a clam all day, laughing and singing as more and more crap piled up. Who cares about deadlines and irate customers when you have six pounds of comics waiting for you when you get home? Instead, I imagined myself enjoying a superhero yarn or two, or getting historic with Loveless. With as many books as I had coming, the world was to be my oyster.

But instead of a beautiful box of happiness, I found that fucking notice. It was stuck to my front door and I about tore it to shreds in a fit of rage (some super villain I’d be), especially when I saw the glue residue the sticker left on the door. Why can’t they just get it right? Is it too much to ask that I get my comics on time? And do they have to sick it to the door when the damn things are designed to hang from the door knob?

So I called DHL. I worked through some deep breathing relaxation while I waited for Marty, a manager at the local station. When he got on the line, I politely explained my problems, detailing how many times this has happened and how each time I was told that the “new driver” was to blame. After a little discussion of how upset I was, he called the driver to re-attempt delivery, which, unfortunately, is the same thing I was told the last three times.

I’m not holding my breath.

Now, before anyone leaves a comment to point out the fact that I already have stacks of comics and trades to read, let me say that I’ve thought of that already. And you know, for me, that reasoning just doesn’t cut it. I don’t have an explanation for why I feel this way (well, not a logical one anyway), but for whatever reason, I want something new. Those older books, well, if I haven’t got to them already, there’s something about them that’s making them unworthy of my attention. They’re yesterday’s news, so why bother?

Help Me Obi-Wan

2006-06-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

“Oh my God!” I said with a combination of confusion and disgust while cleaning up after dinner.

“What?” Stephanie asked, turning quickly to make sure I hadn’t hurt myself.

“I can’t believe it,” I said, more to the wall than to anyone else. “I’m reading a book about Yoda.”

“Oh Honey,” she said, her eyes filled with true sorrow as if I had just told her my brother died. She reached up and gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “Let’s not tell anyone that, okay?”

“Don’t you think it’s weird that a grown man would read a book called Yoda: Dark Rendezvous?” I asked.

“Uh, yeah,” she said, her sympathy evaporating. “How can you read something like that after reading In Cold Blood and To Kill a Mockingbird?”

“I don’t know,” I said, not seeing any real reason to be reading such drivel aside from the fact that I’ve collected and read Star Wars novels for years. “I think I need to write about it on the blog.”

“Oh no, c’mon. Don’t do that,” she said, the pleading in her eyes more pronounced than ever. “We have friends who read your blog. We don’t need to tell anyone about this, do we?”

“I just think it’s something I need to explore.”

“Well, if you do, be sure to mention my reservations on the subject,” she said, leaving me to finish the dishes alone as she headed for the living room where the 2006 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, March, sat on the couch waiting for her return.

Talkin’ Geek with Stephane

2006-06-03T10:42:00.000-07:00

I saw X-Men 3 yesterday with a fellow comic reader, Stephane. We both thought the movie was a decent bit of fun with some great moments, but it wasn’t much more than we were expecting.

Afterward, we headed next door to CB&Potts, a local watering hole crowded with 100s of happy hour enthusiasts trying to drink away the stresses of the work week. And there we were, two 30+ year old married men eating plate after plate of nachos and enjoying cold drinks, surrounded by TVs, drunks, and plenty of attractive young waitresses. But we were oblivious to it all. Why? Because we were there to talk geek; everything else was muted background noise.

Our conversation went from the Juggernaut’s costume in the X-Men movie to the early adventures of Superman to the new lesbian Batwoman. Our discussions never strayed far from comics or collecting, and when it did, we pulled it right back in.

It was fantastic.

But while the conversations were fun, I learned something dark about my friend Stephane.

“I have a stack of comics just sitting in the corner,” he said, using his hand to measure roughly how high the stack has grown. I put down my nacho and listened intently, trying to control the inevitable flinching that would show my uneasiness.

“Oh yeah?” I said, trying to laugh it off like it was no big deal.

“Yeah, some of them are just flapping out in the open,” he said, taking the menu and folding it over loosely to show me how some of his comics were flopping on top of the others.

I squeezed my eyes tightly, trying to un-see the image of his disorganized comic collection that flashed before my eyes. “Can I get another drink, please?” I asked the waitress with the weird silver ball protruding from her cheek. I turned to my friend and smiled, my heart racing as I realized I was sitting across from a criminal.

“I couldn’t handle that,” I said. “All of my comics are in the same size of bag with the same exact acid free boards. They’re all in alphabetical order and perfectly organized. I can find any specific comic in my collection in less than 10 seconds, and it’ll be in perfect condition.”

He fell onto his side, laughing. He said he’s been reading my blog, so my last comment just added to his vision of just how insane I really was. Funny thing was, I was thinking the same thing about him. What kind of loony wouldn’t have his comics organized in a box?

Apparently, the same kind of guy who would have mismatched books on his shelf. After discussing his appalling stack of comics, he told me he had recently rearranged his bookshelf, and that he was trying something new. Instead of the expected and widely approved method of going alphabetical, he had organized his books in such a way that “might be interesting” to those who perused his selection.

“For example, I have an art book right next to a graphic novel,” he said, shrugging like it was no big deal. My ears began to burn. “See, I figure that maybe if someone is interested in art, they might be interested in reading a comic.”

“I couldn’t handle that,” I said. Hell, I could barely even listen to such a crazy idea. “I have all of my books in alphabetical order. I have my nonfiction in one area, my fiction in another. Heck, I even like to segregate my small hardcovers to the top shelf because they look so cool lined up next to each other. Much better than having a shelf with a mismatch of tall and short books.”

He laughed.

I cringed.

Then I quickly changed the subject in an effort to save our friendship. “So, you thought Famke Janson did a good job as Phoenix, huh?”

Trigger

2006-06-02T05:55:00.000-07:00

I’m so back it’s disgusting. After spending an hour last night hunting down information on the new John Carter series coming from IDW in August, I went back through Previews and found all sorts of stuff I want. It’s as if The Princess of Mars opened the flood gates.

“Why are you so excited?” Stephanie asked when she got home from work.

“The Princess of Mars, baby,” I said, hopping out of my seat and pointing wildly at the soliciation and the covers I had found online. “The Princess of Mars.”

“Oh boy,” she said, mentally rolling her eyes at me.

Later, on our way to dinner I said, “I can’t be out long. I need to do some more research. There’s so much I want to buy now.”

“What’s so important now? Can’t it wait?”

“No way. I’ve been out of the game so long, I feel this need to buy everything. And I need to do it now!” I said.

“How long have you ‘been out of the game’?” she asked, mocking me.

“Two days,” I said, amazed at how long and how short that time frame was.

“Oh boy,” she said again, the conversation over as I started thinking of all the stuff I planned to order this month.

Guess Who’s Back

2006-06-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

I’m at the comic shop, pretty much just going through the motions. I don’t want to be there, and the comics I’m buying don’t thrill me in the slightest. I still hunt for the best copy of each, but even that doesn’t get my heart racing like it usually does. Sure, Previews always brings me a great deal of excitement, but for reasons I’ve already explained, I’m not even enthused about that. Behind the counter, Aaron tries to talk me into a number of series, but I decline to even talk about the books he’s telling me about. I’m just not interested.

At home I start flipping through Previews. Eh. There are some cool looking books with covers that make me want to buy buy buy, but that feeling is so muted I turn the page without much more than a cursory glance. Apparently you see one great cover, you’ve seen ‘em all. And if Previews doesn’t get me excited, nothing will. So I’m about to put down the catalog before I even get through the comics section when my eye catches two words: Mars and Burroughs.

Oh shit! What’s this? My eyes bulge out of my head like someone hit me on the back of the skull with a mallet. There on the page, staring me in the face as if it were a gift from the comic gods, is the solicitation for Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of Mars #1 from IDW. I have to re-read the solicitation three times because I’m so excited that I can’t focus on the words.

And not only are my favorite characters coming back to comics, but my favorite artist, Frank Cho, is providing a variant cover. This makes for one very happy and excited collector.

Edgar Rice Burroughs. Mars. Cho. Variant covers. If that can’t bring a collector out of a slump, nothing can.

Just found out the Cho variants for the first three issues will be limited to 1-in-30, so they won't come cheap. But that's a good thing. I'm salivating already.

Mark Wheatley will also be supplying some variant covers. How long 'til I have 'em all?

Hmmm, That's Odd

2006-05-31T15:09:00.000-07:00

As I said yesterday, I have no strong desire to read, buy, sell, or even think about comic books. It's to the point where I was actually dreading the inevitable drive to Mile High Comics after work to pick up this week’s batch. Sure, okay, that makes sense. I’m burned out, so I can see why that drive would seem more like a burden than it would an exciting excursion.

So why the hell was I bummed when I found out the holiday pushed back this week’s books to Thursday? While I wasn’t looking forward to going to the comic shop, was I somehow secretly excited about it at the same time? Do I have some sort of pain/pleasure fetish I wasn’t aware of?

Either way, it really doesn’t make any sense. I could understand it if there was a book I was particularly looking forward to, but aside from the new Liberty Meadows, I'm not interested in any of the comics I plan to buy this week (which is an interesting thought in an of itself). Hell, now that I've seen the cover 100 times, I'm not even that excited about Liberty Meadows.

I’m perhaps more confused about my collecting habits right now than I’ve been since I started this blog. I’ve come to accept my desire to hunt and gather. And I can almost comprehend the insatiable need to buy something only to put it in a box. But having mixed emotions about heading to the comic shop? That’s a new one even for me.

The Crispy Collector

2006-05-30T15:35:00.000-07:00

I have a stack of unread comics at least four inches tall. I have 12 trade paperbacks and graphic novels I’m yet to read. I have several football cards on my bookcase waiting to be encased in plastic and placed next to their brothers in my closet. I have three unanswered emails from artists interested in doing a commission for me. On top of that, I’ve spent less than 10 minutes on eBay in the last week, haven’t stepped inside a bookstore in two weeks, and my visits to comic news sites have dwindled to one a day in which I read nothing more than headlines.

Ladies and gentlemen, consider this collector burned out.

It’s a new feeling for me. With so many different things to collect, it’s hard to imagine a time when I’d be equally uninterested in all of them. Yet here I am. Right now I’m completely indifferent about my collections. I’m not motivated to buy, sell, or enjoy. As far as I’m concerned, as of right now I’m no longer a collector.

Don’t get me wrong, I know I’ll be back in the game in no time. And if the past is any indication, when I’m back into it, I’ll be back into it hard. But for now, it’s hard to imagine that time. And just like I have no idea what triggered this mood, I have no way of telling what will trigger the change that I know is coming.

So for now, I’m just going to sit back and…and I don’t know what else. What do most normal people do when they’re not buying something for their collection, selling something from their collection, or thinking about buying or selling? I guess I’m about to find out.

Unbelievable

2006-05-23T17:28:00.000-07:00

I still can’t believe what happened Sunday. Honestly, it feels like I just lost a pet. There’s this hollow feeling inside. But I’m not sure what’s making me more confused and sad, the fact that I lost two important auctions, or the fact that I spent $38 on the one I did win. I mean, how can I spend $38 on a Nick Collins card but lose a rare Walker and Favre?

I think maybe I need to see a counselor.

Two Time Loser

2006-05-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

Well crap! A few days ago I was all giddy about the prospect of crossing three more Packers football cards off of my list, and now I’m moping around the house, still completely stunned at the way things went down.

All three auctions were scheduled to end Sunday afternoon, so I left my mom’s birthday celebration early and rushed home, telling my wife to weave between traffic...time was too short to be waiting for these suckers driving the speed limit. Before the car was in park in the garage, I had zoomed inside and logged into eBay to check the first auction. It had 15 minutes to go and it was still only at $2.25. Whew. Plenty of time. And because I was ready to bid $28, I knew that was enough for a Javon Walker card, even if it was limited to only 10.

With 10 seconds left, I typed in my bid, clicked the button, leaned back, mentally crossing the card off my list. But wait. That doesn’t say congratulations. That says…what does it say? The experience was so new, so unexpected that it took me valuable heartbeats to figure out that I hadn’t won the auction. Instead, the screen was telling me that I was outbid. And those precious moments I spent trying to decipher the meaning behind the words may have cost me the card. I tried to up my bid, but it was too late. The auction had expired. I hadn’t given myself enough time to re-bid.

I couldn’t believe what just happened. I sat there in shock for several minutes, speechless, still not comprehending what went wrong. I actually just lost an auction. Amazing.

These cards come along too rarely to let another slip through my fingers, so I vowed then and there that I would never lose another one. And I would get my first test in only 16 minutes, this time with a much more valuable Brett Favre jersey card.

Despite my previous loss only happening moments before, I saw myself letting the seconds remaining tick down to 20. What was I doing? I have to bid quicker in case I was outbid. How could I forget that valuable lesson? So typed in my bid as fast as I could, and this time I was rewarded with the congratulations notice. But wait. What have I done? There’s still one second left. Oh shit. I clicked refresh and saw my life flash before my eyes as the blood red text appeared: You have been outbid! That’s bullshit. You mean to tell me in that one second, some asshole swooped in and won my card? That bastard!

I moved around the house in a daze for the next two hours, unable to comprehend pretty much anything. I was just so damn confused.

“I think I just lost an auction,” I said to Stephanie. “Two actually.”

“That sucks,” she said with no more emotion then she would’ve shown had I said we were out of twist ties.

Didn’t she hear me? I said I had lost not one auction, but two. Armageddon was upon us, didn’t she recognize that?

Lucky for me I still had one more auction to attend to. In my mind, I was guaranteed a win. And how do you guarantee a win? You bid more than the card is worth. And bid I did.

And I won. I won a Nick Collins card for $38. “Who’s Nick Collins?” Good question. Perhaps an even better one would be, “Why did you just spend $38 on one of his cards?”

This Bugs the Hell Out of Me

2006-05-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

So I’m reclining on my desk chair, surprisingly relaxed after a terrible day at work, my feet up on the desk for prime comfort. I’m reading my nearly perfect copy of Possible Side Effects, opening the book just enough to read most of the words without craning my neck, the spine so tight the end boards feel like a spring loaded trap pushing against my hands. The cover is encased in shiny, smooth BroDart. The pages are bright white. The corners sharp. In other words, the book is gorgeous.

While enjoying the second essay, I notice a tiny brown speck the size of a needle point on the outside edge of the pages. It’s tiny. Smaller even than the one defect I noticed when I bought the book. So I hold the book gently and blow, making sure no moisture escapes my mouth. Satisfied, I return to the story. But no, my gust of breath didn’t dislodge that piece of lint. So I try again.

Damn it. Still there. I’m no longer relaxed. I can’t focus on the story. All I can see is that brown speck that ruins the beautiful white landscape of those pages.

It’s time to pull out the heavy artillery. Ever so lightly, I brush my finger along the edge of the page, knowing just a tiny amount of pressure could spell doom for the book’s luster.

I recognize my mistake instantly. My heart sinks. My eyes bulge. That tiny dot wasn’t a piece of dust or lint after all. It was the world’s smallest bug. And bugs have blood inside. And damn it, blood smears! And now, in one moment of poor decision making, there’s another flaw staring at me like an open wound.

Noooooooooooooooooo!

Not 24 hours after sweating profusely trying to find the perfect one, my copy of Possible Side Effects stumbles from the ranks of the near perfect and now rests with thousands of others in the “severely flawed” category.

Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One

2006-05-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

Stephanie and I went to another book signing last night, this time to hear Augusten Burroughs read from his new memoir, Possible Side Effects. The place was already packed by the time we got there, so we had to sit three rows from the back. And unfortunately, I hadn’t had time to find a copy of the book. So before the author showed up I scurried to the stack of books in the front. Instead of going through my usual routine of scrutinizing all 100 copies, I simply grabbed three and scampered back to my seat, somehow ashamed of myself, feeling the eyes of the entire audience boring into me as if they knew I was looking for a perfect copy and hated me for it.

All three of the books I had picked were minty fresh, but given the fact that I had the next 90 minutes to hold and inspect them, I found the most minute defects to complain about. Almost imperceptible to the naked eye, the tiny ding on the flap on the book I chose was driving me crazy. It was to the point where it was almost hard to pay attention to the author. So when the autograph line moved us to the front and the stack of copies, I couldn’t resist looking through the rest.

And look I did. After studying the binding, the spine’s tightness, and the entire dust jacket of eight different copies, I decided enough was enough. The book I had was acceptable. More than acceptable. It was one tiny imperfection away from being flawless. I could live with that.

Yep, I could live with it, just like you can live with a throbbing headache. The next five minutes were torture. The author sat a few feet from me, about to sign my book. Yet behind me, only just now out of reach, were the rest of the copies I hadn’t looked through. And I just knew that I was about to have Augusten Burroughs sign the second nicest copy in the story. Argh!

I finally stepped in front of Burroughs and handed him my books. Once he signed my inferior copy, all was fine with the world. What was done was done. That tiny imperfection was now mine for all eternity.

One in a Million

2006-05-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

I’m a sucker for cool covers. I’ve bought my fair share of comic books just to have that cover in my collection. Heck, I have a full box of comics I’ve never read (the bulk of those featuring covers by Frank Cho or Adam Hughes). I don’t care that I never read them. I’m not buying them for the stories; I’m buying them for the glorious art that graces the cover.

Even with my addiction to cool covers, I’ve managed to distance myself from the variant craze that’s once again sweeping the comic industry. I’ve picked up a few second prints with sketch covers and the like, and I’m forced to pick the cover I like when a book has more than one cover to choose from. But those don’t really count. These books aren’t produced in limited quantities, and for the most part, they don’t demand higher prices on the secondary market.

No, what I’m talking about are those incentive covers and other rarities. You know, the ones store owners receive if they order 25, 50, 100, or more of a particular issue. I’ve stayed away from these things for several reasons. First, the prices are just crazy. Spending $25 or more for a comic that just came out is ridiculous. Second, most of the covers don’t do anything for me. I’m amazed at how often the variant cover looks worse than the mass-produced version.

I’ll admit to buying one variant. I picked up a copy of the Joe Jusko variant for Captain America 8, but that was strictly to ensure I had every issue in the Ed Brubaker run on the title (of course, since that time I decided to skip the anniversary special, so that excuse went right out the window). Yes, I was a sucker. It’s not particularly rare, it was costly, and let’s face it, it doesn’t look nearly as cool as the covers Steve Epting has been producing. But hey, it made the collector in me happy to say I still had a complete set, so I’m cool with it.

Now, however, I’ve fallen for Red Sonja again. While I was able to stay my hand when it came to the $3 copy of the Tan cover for Red Sonja 6, I’m wondering if I’ll have the same will power for the upcoming Joseph Michael Linsner variant for issue 13. I’m not sure how rare the cover will be, but you can bet it won’t cost $3.

I could handle paying a little extra for a rare cover I really like, as long as it happens infrequently, and as long as I found one in minty fresh condition. I just don’t want to make a habit out of it. If it’s a one time deal, then cool. Consider it a present to the collector in me. But the sickening part is that I’ve been doing research (if you can call searching eBay research) on other variants, research that has landed more than one variant on my watch list.

How does a guy go from considering a Linsner variant that hasn’t been published yet to thinking about picking up past variants from the same title? It makes no sense. Sure, I like those other covers too, but what I’m really doing is laying the ground work to completing a set. If I plan to get the Linsner, why not get all the others too so I can have every one of ‘em?

The interesting thing about my “research” is that I’m proving that buying variants is definitely not a good investment (or rather, since I don’t “invest” in comics, these aren’t a good value). In reality, it’s a waiting game. The longer you wait, the cheaper these issues are. It’s a trap. My brain wants to buy one because of their rarity and potential value, but the fact that they’re selling for less and less should be a red flag, right? Well, it’s not. Instead, I’m salivating at all the bargains. Look at how cheap I can get these really rare comics. D’oh!

What is wrong with me? I took logic class in college, and believe me, there’s not a shred of logic in my argument. What’s worse, it’s the rarity issue that’s driving me out of the football card market. In that arena, sports card values aren’t so much based on the player anymore, they’re based on the rarity of the item. Some Aaron Rodgers rookie cards are going for over $600, and he’s never started an NFL game. It’s ludicrous.

So why am I thinking about diving into this? Oh, that’s right, because of the gorgeous cover, right? But c’mon, look at it. Sure, it’s nice, but is it that special? Red Sonja is half naked, which is a huge selling point, but I have a box of comics with a half naked girl on the cover and they weren’t that expensive. Is this one worth the headache and extra dollars?

So which is it? Is it the cover or the rarity that’s making me consider variants for the first time? Whichever reason I go with, it’s not a valid excuse.

Three Down?

2006-05-16T05:36:00.000-07:00

Yes! There are currently no fewer than three Packers cards from my want list on eBay. That’s huge! Sure, I’m more into comics and art right now so it’s hard to get amped up for a piece of cardboard with a picture of a guy on the front, but damn it, crossing three more cards off my list would make me one happy camper (at least for that fraction of a moment when I realize I’ve won the card, then after that it’s back to not caring about cards).

Now I just need to figure out how to manage these bids when I have such a depleted bank account…

Motion Sickness

2006-05-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

I was putting away my copy of Uncanny X-Men 472 last night before bed and I thought to myself, “Why am I still reading this garbage?” It’s not that the story was particularly terrible, it’s just that I didn’t care about anything that happened. So yeah, maybe it was terrible. (I’ll admit that I bought the issue because I love Chris Bachalo’s art, and believe me, he didn’t disappoint, but comics are so much more than the art. Well, they should be anyway.)

So naturally I began to wonder, “Am I still reading comics because of the collector’s mentality, or am I actually getting something out of my monthly habit?” Don’t get me wrong, there are some great monthlies out there. Anything Ed Brubaker or Gail Simone or Brian K. Vaughan write is sure to be fantastic. But a lot of the other stuff I buy makes me feel like I’m just going through the motions. Reading the solicitations in Previews and placing an order is more fun than actually reading the books. Hell, putting ‘em in mylar bags and organizing them in my comic boxes is more fun half the time.

I can’t remember the last time I messed myself because a comic was so powerful I couldn’t contain myself. Novels and nonfiction manage to knock my socks off from time to time, but should I expect a similar experience from comics? There are gems out there; I know because I’ve read plenty. So whenever I read a comic that isn’t at that level, a small part of me screams out in pain. I know I can’t expect every issue to be top of the line, but when you’re reading 20 comics a month, a few of them should attain perfection, right?

If I search myself for the truth about why I’m still buying these things, I find two interesting answers hidden under the surface. First, there’s the natural worry that the issue I don’t get is the one that everyone loves. It’s the perfect comic. Not only is it a great read, but its values go through the roof on the secondary market.

In comparison, the second answer I give myself seems to be less important, but the more I evaluate, the more I see that it’s the real motivating factor for why I continue to collect modern comics: I can’t stand the thought of having an incomplete run of any series. The moment I start buying a series, I have to keep buying because once I stop, I’ll no longer have a full, complete set.

Those non-collectors out there might question my sanity. “Let me get this straight. You’re reading comics you don’t particularly enjoy just because you’re worried that if you don’t read it, it’ll be a good story. Or that you won’t have a complete set anymore. Is that right?”

Yep. Crazy, huh? Writing that down makes me realize just how idiotic it all sounds. But it’s true. And when you combine these two aspects of my thought process, they become so overpowering it’s almost crippling. As a matter of fact, my brain is shutting down right now. It’s almost as if thinking on this as much as I have actually triggered a safety mechanism that shuts down my mind so I can’t discover the truth.

Unfortunately, I’ve been here before, and obviously, since I’m still having this inner dialog, I didn’t do anything about it. Maybe now’s time to change that.

Speak to This!

2006-05-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning saying to hell with finding art that speaks to me. Some comic art just looks wicked cool, and a little eye candy is just what a person needs. So screw it, I’m off to buy more art. And based on this commissions thread over at the Collector’s Forum, there are some nice commissions to be had if you’re willing to pay the price…and for now, I think I am.

You Gotta Feel It

2006-05-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

I had the most enlightening email conversation with my buddy today. I spent a few hours this morning researching original comic art, but I felt this urge to share some of my thoughts with someone else. So I asked Jason—a fellow collector who has the oddest predilection toward buying DVDs—what he thought of the style Richard Friend is toying with on his blog.

Jason seemed a little hesitant, but it was obvious he didn’t dig it that much. So I emailed him a link to Friend’s Padme piece, telling him that the artist has a more traditional style too. I was even considering getting him do a commission for me of Dejah Thoris.

That’s when Jason admitted to not being a fan of most of the art I’ve shown him in the last year. “Honestly, most of what you send isn't very interesting to me because (don't take this the wrong way) I'm not interested in comic art outside the comic page. I can appreciate good sequential art in a comic as I read, but displayed on a wall or gallery...naaah, just doesn't do it for me. I like my art to evoke a certain response and a standalone idea. It should be self-contained rather than feeling as if it's yanked from a whole.”

Jason told me he likes darker imagery, often with a blend of the erotic and the horrific. Sure, he likes beautiful women as much as the next guy, but he wants his art to be a standalone image that really speaks to him, and comic art doesn’t do it. He shared an image by John Bolton (above) that is particularly powerful for him.

That’s when I began to realize why I’ve always been a huge fan of Frank Frazetta. For me, his imagery evokes the feeling of adventure. Of heroes and villains and damsels in distress. Those are the same feelings a good piece of comic art will give me.

Jason was right when he mentioned that the art needs to do more than just look good. You have to feel something. It has to work for you on a deeper level, not just on the surface. Sure, some comic art has touched me emotionally, but most has done so only in the context of the story. Maybe having that piece on my wall won’t have the same meaning.

Granted, a lot of the art I’ve purchased in the last year means something to me on a totally different level because I met the artist or have interacted with him for an interview or whatever. So that aspect will always be important to me. And you can bet that I’ll buy art from any graphic novel I’m a part of, either as an editor or as a writer.

But when I buy art just to buy art, my conversation with Jason will be a very important key for me. Am I considering this piece just because I like the style? Or the artist? Or the subject matter? If so, I should reconsider. Because if there’s no emotional attachment, I don’t think it’ll be important to me years down the line. I would never buy art I didn’t like, but now, maybe it’s time to step it up a notch and only buy those pieces that really have an emotional impact for me.

Sure, this new thinking might just be my brain’s way of tricking me into spending more money on my next piece, but even so, I’m glad to be thinking along this line. It might keep me from buying some art in the near future, but that’s okay. As far as collecting goes, quality is always more important than quantity.

For those interested, I've posted a thread on this subject in the Collector's Society forums.

Moving On

2006-05-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

This morning I caught myself jotting down names of artists I’m interested in having create me a Dejah Thoris commission. That’s right, not 24 hours after posting about how I don’t have the money to actually pay for all the comics I bought, not a week after being so into graded comics that I spent $400 in one day, and not a month after being so into first edition books that I thought I’d never need any other collectible, I found myself researching artists who might create a one-of-a-kind piece of art for me.

Good grief. It’s madness. But unlike what G.I.Joe says, knowing is not half the battle. And if it is, it’s the easy half. The fact that I know my interests have already changed doesn’t mean a damn thing. I’m officially hooked on original comic art again, and right now all I can do is get my fix. Either that or struggle through days of denial until the next phase sets in.

I’ve resisted the temptation for about six hours so far, but every time I’ve ventured online I quickly found myself in one original art site or another. I tell myself that looking around so much actually satisfies my needs, as if seeing what others own somehow curbs my impulses. What a crock. Window shopping does nothing but make your desires grow.

I’ve resisted so far, but it’s been a battle. And let’s face it, the temptation is nowhere near its peak. The need will only get worse. As will the debates that go on in my head. The voices will battle it out all day, weighing the pros and cons to the point where I can’t sleep. The rest of the time I’ll be online, researching artists and costs and turnaround times, or talking to other collectors to get their opinions, anything to make my decision easier. But all that’ll do is give me a headache.

Yep, resistance is futile. As of 8 a.m. this morning, I’m an original comic art collector once again.

And for My Next Performance…

2006-05-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

I’m in the middle of a death defying juggling act that has the collector in me licking his chops with excitement and cowering in the corner with dread. I have three fairly large comic deals in the works and only enough money in the bank to cover one of them. That in and of itself isn’t such a bad thing since I can spread out payment without being too much of a burden on the sellers. But when you factor in the fact that I’m jonesin’ to buy that $70+ X-Men Omnibus, well, then you get a hint at my despair.

And don’t get me started on the other great deals I’ve spotted in the last few days...my eBay watch list is reaching maximum capacity.

At this point, I can’t even use my tried and true Mark-to-Market style of collecting: I’m out of options on things to sell. Sure, I have plenty I could move, but I’d have to start cutting into those collectibles I really enjoy. And let’s face it, it’s next to impossible making that decision. Will the one I want bring me greater joy than the one I already have? It’s like deciding which of your children you’re willing to sacrifice. (Okay, let’s not get out of hand here. We’re talking comics and football cards, not kids. So yeah, this is a much more difficult decision.)

At this point I’m starting to feel like a company about to stumble into chapter 7 bankruptcy. First I need to consider those debts I already have and factor in their importance. Second, I need to ponder the possibilities that might open up by spending money elsewhere, as if the future is in the palm of my hands if I make that right decision.

You’d think some of these decisions would be easy for me by now. Hell, I could just read some of my blog entries and supposedly have the answer. For example, buying that X-Men Omnibus today does what exactly? I don’t have any BroDart, so I won’t be opening the book or reading it for at least a month. Look what happened when I had to buy that Fantastic Four Omnibus. Good God, it’s still in its shrink-wrap. So I should be able to strike that from my list, right?

Wrong. Instead my mind works double time factoring in the other elements of that transaction. For example, if I don’t buy it now, I run the risk of In Stock Trades running out of copies. This would mean I’d end up spending extra money in the long run because all other sellers charge shipping fees.

Is saving $8 to $10 in shipping worth the repercussions of delaying those other transactions a day, a week, a month? I have no idea. And to be completely honest, part of me doesn’t even care. I’ve lost interest in those others. It’s almost as if my mind has tricked me into believing I already have all of those comics. And any hardcore collector understands when I say that I’m beginning to look past them and on to the next hunt. So although I was excited beyond belief when I found that Amazing Spider-Man 265, right now, it’s completely off the radar. Well, except for that minor detail called payment. But is that insignificant stumbling block really worth potentially missing out on that next exciting purchase?

Holy Cow! What Did I Sell?

2006-05-08T15:45:00.000-07:00

I got back from Moab to learn that the Ex Machina set I had for sale on eBay sold for $122. Say what? Nineteen modern comics plus a second print variant for that kind of cash? Doesn’t make any sense. That’s more than triple the final price of any other set.

My immediate reaction was, “Yes! Now I can buy more books.” But after I had a moment to reflect, my thoughts soured. Had I just unknowingly sold some crazy cool collectible that I assumed was worthless? Maybe that sketch cover was some sort of rare commodity that would’ve sold for more had I just sold it by itself? Worse yet, what if the buyer thought he was getting something else? I didn’t mislead in my auction listing, but what if I labeled my set incorrectly?

I don’t know what to think. It’s possible that my previous feedback (which mentions just how great my packaging ability is) helped raise the value of my auction, but not to that level. No, something else must be going on. But regardless of what happened, I mailed the books, and now I await word from the buyer. Will he be excited or disappointed? Only time will tell.

One More for the Road

2006-05-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

One last post before I head to Moab for the weekend…

I had one final discussion with my wife last night about the differences between my purchase of a few $100 comic books and her $100 spent on a haircut. She pointed out that she goes to that extreme only three times a year, whereas I spent a whole year’s worth of haircuts in one afternoon. She spreads out her $300 spending, while I leave the door open to more and more expenditures.

I tried to tell her that there will be no potential return on her investment. I, on the other hand, can one day sell my books. Sure, I might never be able to recoup my costs, but at any time, I can turn around and get at least some of my money back.

Awhile later, after reading my last couple of blog entries on the subject, she couldn’t resist pointing out that my purchases are hidden away in a box upstairs. “Your comics are hermetically sealed and un-viewable while my glorious hair can be enjoyed daily by everyone I encounter!”

Hard to argue with that.

You Can’t Wash Clothes with Comic Books

2006-05-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

Is there some unwritten rule I don’t know about that ensures things go wrong the second you spend your money on something frivolous?

The appliance repairman just spent 30 minutes in our home and left with a $70 check. His verdict? We’d be better off buying a new washer/dryer set than paying him to fix the old one. Now that’s money well spent. He said he could probably fix it for $400, but if his solution didn’t solve the problem, we’d be out that money and still wouldn’t have a washing machine that worked properly. Wonderful!

Those comics I ordered suddenly aren’t looking as cool as they once did.

I’ll Take "Haircuts vs. Comics" for $100, Alex

2006-05-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

Stephanie and I were relaxing on the couch Sunday night watching a pretty boring film. It didn’t really keep our attention for long and we started having little snippets of conversation to drown out the dialog on screen. Naturally, our conversation eventually switched to my recent comic book purchase. It didn’t stay there for long, though.

”You spent $300 on comics you can’t even read? That doesn’t make any sense,” she said, feigning renewed interest in the film. I just gave a half-hearted laugh, trying to avoid the touchy subject.

Of course, the collector in me had to have his say. “Yeah, but they’re really nice copies. Almost perfect,” I said.

She turned to me and said, “I can’t talk to you about this anymore.” She’s been saying that a lot lately. At least she was more confused than upset (I hope).

A few moments later the characters in the film were talking about getting their hair done at an expensive salon. I turned to Stephanie and asked, “When was the last time you paid $100 for a hair cut?”

She stared at the ceiling, trying to pull the date out of her mind’s filing cabinet. I made it easier on her and asked an easier question. “Have you ever paid more than $100 for a hair cut?”

“You mean cut and color?”

It was my turn to roll my eyes and turn away confused. I began to wonder if now would be a bad time to tell her I just won a gorgeous copy of John Carter, Warlord of Mars #18 for $80. I decided against it, figuring that the fact it was Frank Miller’s first Marvel work probably wouldn’t help my cause much.

Mark-to-Market Collecting

2006-04-29T08:25:00.000-07:00

I don’t know all the ins and outs of the Enron case, but I do know that one of the things that led to their downfall was the use of mark-to-market accounting. Using this system, a company assigns a value of a portfolio or account based on current market price. Enron took it one step further. They projected potential earnings by assuming an active market existed for their less actively traded assets, which opened the doors to manipulating their books with fantasy numbers of what values “could” be.

In the hands of an ethical accountant I’m sure this method works just fine. But when I realized that I use a similar system for my collecting, I quickly saw how this mark-to-market model can lead a company (or a collector) down the wrong path.

By hunting eBay on a daily basis, I’ve often found myself in a tricky predicament. I might have several auctions on my watch list that end the same night. If I can’t decide which one is more important, I might be tempted to bid on them all and max out my budget in one bid-happy evening.

And how do I convince myself that I can afford them all? Mark-to-Market Collecting.

My recent purchase of two graded comics, X-Men 131 and Amazing Spider-Man 194, is a perfect example. The cost was a very steep $300 (plus shipping). I convinced myself that I had that kind of cash by looking at my various collections and determining their worth on the open market. I factored in comics, football cards, DVDs…you name it, if I owned it, I considered how much I could sell it for to help me make this deal.

And if you’ve read any of my posts in the last week, you already know part of that decision. I researched eBay for realized prices on my three Alias DVD sets. They consistently sold for over $40; some as high as $80. So when I was weighing the pros and cons of shelling out that much cash, I knew the comic purchase wouldn’t be such burden on my wallet because I was factoring in my future sales on eBay.

When part of a well-oiled machine, this system isn’t so bad. But eBay addicts know how finicky the site can be. Sell an item at auction for $100 one day, and see that same item sell for $20 the next. Lucky for me, my Alias auctions are well on their way to bringing me $50 or more, but when I think about alternate scenarios in which these sets only fetched $8, I get squeamish. It worked this time, but will I be so lucky next time?

In this most recent incident, I was already in the clear because I actually had some money saved up from my April decision to not buy any collectibles (yes, it’s still April so I didn’t get through the whole month, but I was oh so close). However, I’d like to have money available for non-collectibles like, you know, food. And what about those eight comics on my watch list? I can’t just forget about those simply because I don’t have the cash, right?

Instead, I need to look at my other assets, like my Ex Machina comic set I’m willing to offload. Or maybe it’s time to research how much I can get for my X-Files DVD sets. Yes, today will most certainly be a day of determining current market value for my many collectibles to figure out just what I need to sell in order to pickup another prized possession.

Mark-to-market collecting at its finest.

The 300 Club

2006-04-28T15:01:00.000-07:00

I just sent someone $300. No, it wasn’t a car payment. And no, it wasn’t money due for home improvements. Instead, I managed to send a fellow collector $300 for a couple of comic books. (And by a couple I do indeed mean a couple, not several or a few, but a couple as in two.)

That’s one hell of a scary proposition. It might be small potatoes for other hardcore collectors, but for me, well, let’s just say I’m feeling a tad nervous. I’ve never spent that kind of dough on any collectible; I hope I don’t have buyer’s remorse when I finally get them in the mail. But that’s a worry for another time. For now, I’m trying to focus on the good things like basking in the excitement of owning two great comics in immaculate condition.

I mean, just look at that Amazing Spider-Man 194. Isn’t she beautiful?