There are few things that I like more than going comic shopping. Of course I have my main place where I buy my new books, but I love shopping around as well. There are some great area shops that offer a nice selection of books for less than a $1. But the best has to be going to shows or conventions. Now, I call myself a comic fan, but I've never been to San Diego, right now, it's just not financially feasible, but I do love going to the local cons. These cons allow you to check out some dealers from around the state and get some books at some incredibly reduced rates.
The problem is, I tend to buy a lot. While I don't necessarily spend a ton of money, I buy a lot of books and shows are where I tend to tear loose. I'll walk around the vendor's table with my messenger bag and my (getting) tattered notebook with handwritten lists (I just prefer them to the typed lists, I don't know why, I just do) scoping out where I can plop down and dig through long box after long box.
One of the reasons that I love doing this is that sometimes I just "start" collecting certain titles on a whim. It happend with (my now favorite) Teen Titans, when after reading an article in Wizard about the different volumes through the years, I decided I would like to collect them all. 4 short years later and I'm down to less than 10 issues out of 500+. One show, I started "The Flash" volume 2, the next Wolverine vol. 2. I can very quickly fill in the gaps and then I start to read. Being my odd OCD self, I usually have to wait until I finish an entire run before I can start reading. I'm now knee deep in that Flash, but I've just finished JSA, Justice League International (all incarnations), Fright Night (I liked it as a kid, but wow! it doesn't hold up) and Robin. Though, to this day, I've yet to read Swamp Thing to completion because I have yet to finish buying all the books I'm missing and I started collecting it back in 2000!
However, it's time for me to get some more, fill in some gaps and start a new series or two. For the first time ever, I will be able to attend Mid-Ohio Con. As long as I've known about the show, it's been held over Thanksgiving weekend, and for myself who who works in retail management, that is just a no-go. This year it's being held the first weekend in October and I cannot wait. Myself and three friends (one, a hardcore collector like myself, one other a newbie, and the last, a fan lost in the abyss of the '90's who would like to comback) are making the trek and spending the night with other friends.
What am I looking for this time? Well, I really want to finish my gaps in Young Justice, Alias, Hawkman (the most recent volume) and Green Arrow. The only thing standing in my way? That would be some other series that I will start collecting right there on the spot!
Then of course there are the trades and hardcovers...but that's a whole other post.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
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