I've been reading and collecting comics for more than 40 years. One of the smartest decisions I ever made where my hobby is concerned was to begin letting go of single issues. You collect them long enough, you simply begin to run out of house to store them.
I am out of control myself. I spend between $50 to $100 a week, that's a lot! By the time I have time to read any of them, the graphic novel is out. So do I buy singles or wait for the graphics? Plus, with now knowing about Hoopla, I can save money and read for free. But I like the physical book and artwork of a comic. I'm doomed. 😅
In the same boat. I got into comics late 2023 and have two long boxes and three short boxes tucked away under the bed where the wife can’t see yet. Hoopla and the digital platforms have been god sends.
I only started collecting at the start of last year and the storage aspect is already scary enough 😅 great video man, be interested to see what books you keep within arm's reach if you do!
Congrats on the new edition to the family! I have a little one and a bigger one too. And when the 7month old grabs the 4 year olds hair its rough getting those little fingers open again! I have a short box in my house that I keep current issues in but once a series ends or the box gets full it ends up in the long boxes in the garage. Havent had to much trouble with bugs just keep those boards and bags tight.
I keep my singles in a bunch of long boxes that fit perfectly underneath my bed frame. But I too, am looking to slim down my collection and am contemplating my options. I don’t want to stop going to my shop every week either. I enjoy making the trip, chatting with the guys at the counter, and supporting books as they come out. Sometimes I even discover something I otherwise never would have. But space is not infinite, and at some point certain books stop mattering to me. So there’s no need to keep everything.
I started collecting and reading single issues (among other things like omnibus and TPBs and what not ) last February. I love comics now, it's become one of my favorite mediums of entertainment, however, it's so damn expensive. I'm starting to get more into playing video games as well but I can spend 50 bucks on a new game and get like 30+ hours of entertainment as opposed to a few hours reading every week with the same money spent on comics. This mixed with me having already amassed 6 short boxes of books in one year of collecting and having to budget my time being in college has me looking at my 40+ monthly books and really realizing I need to pare it down to about 20 tops and hopefully at some point maybe just stopping all together. This channel has definitely been one of my favorite things over the last year and I even refrenced your video explaining formats of different type of comic releases when taking the dive. I think it's intresting we're kind of having the same back and forth in our heads about collecting habits and what not. Great video and thanks for helping shepard me into the community
I love your channel, I'm a new subscriber. I started collecting comics, new and silver age back issues, in mid 2024. I've realized here recently that I am collecting too fast and I am collecting some things that I really don't care that much about because of cool covers and fear of missing out. My goal for this year is to be more intentional with my collecting.
Hey man!! This is always something on my mind. My collecting has been ongoing off and on all my life and the foreknowledge that a comic collection is potentially infinitely large over a lifetime of active collecting. For me, I love having my books near by (in my home - it's about 12 long boxes) and I don't know how comfortable I'd feel keeping them anywhere else. In a storage unit, you're subject to their environment and any accidents that happen there that I just don't have oversight to. Knowing my collection is under my care is key for me. But I think you hit upon the absolute crux of it - just collect the amazing issues, the must haves and nothing else. Browsing is really bad for that. Lol. You'll also have to factor in the cost of the storage unit into your collecting as an ongoing expense. Even if you're storing other things in the unity, figure out how much real estate the collection eats up, then subtract that % from your monthly fees and determine the storage cost for your collection month over month - you may be surprised.
Sadly, I had to go completely digital. I just could not keep up. I have about 10 long boxes that have been up in the attic for about 15 years. I have no idea what kind of shape they are in. I'm afraid to look.
So I started collecting in 2018 but I maybe had collected a little over a short box in about a year and a half of collecting. I had pretty much just dipped my toes in after getting into the MCU. My LCS was an hour from my home so I felt it was a hard hobby to keep up so I eventually dropped it. Then a little over a year ago I moved to the town with said comic shop and began collecting again. I’m up to like 6-7 short boxes now and I’m running out of room in my little apartment. I try to budget 50$ every week but struggle to not go to 65-80$ everytime. Recently I caught up on reading but for a while I had them lying around everywhere. I am definitely considering the exact measures you were talking about taking in this video as far as your single issue habits going forward and appreciate the realness as always.
My strategy is to buy first issues and depending on how much I liked it, continue the series or just wait until it comes out as a paperback or digital later on. There are a lot of first issues that come out but it keeps the numbers down. Victory to me is coming out of the comic book shop with three comics, max.
You're me. Singles are a chore and i get more out of reading a completed than a single issue. With reading 20 plus single issues in a month you forget what happened in the last issue. Im probably only pulling my top books and wait on the TPB.
This is a conversation that needs to be had. Single issues is my favorite way to read by far but it’s just not practical long term. Might custom bind if I continue collecting or just read digital/pick up collected editions. Thanks for the reality check lol
Well, theyve been practical for me. Collected editions require space. Digital means the comic is not yours...the digital company can fold, and youre outta luck.
I've been reading and collection comics since the days of the Avengers/Defenders war as a,kid. At this point, if I have to read any new storylines, I read it in a collection. I've only been reading trades for over 10 years now, but have a ton of single issues as well. They're just not what you would call recent. I actually tried reading the blood hunt monthly over the summer and some of its associated series. But I have become acclimated to the trades and I moved on to other things as the months went by … I began to start reading other stuff between the monthly issues and then just decided to wait until they all came out together I like it when everything's in one book now. And I’ve found trades are less expensive and used trades are great.
LISTEN, I feel you, over this past year alone I fell back into the single issue trap cause so many good titles was coming out and I wanted to be nosey haha. But man do they add up. And that’s a goal for me bro, is going back to sticking to collected editions. It’s always better. Thanks for your transparency. This video was nothing but confirmation for me.
Do you have any comic recommendations where it’s focused around the main characters depression/mental health struggles? Besides Mister Miracle, please and thanks! :)
This is how goofy I am as a reader/collector: I *KNOW* that I enjoy reading trade paperbacks more than I enjoy reading single issues. I hated reading a single issue, waiting a month, and then having to re-read the previous issue because it's been weeks, and the story has become buried under a month of life's happenings. So then I decided to stockpile issues for a few months so I could devour multiple issues in a much shorter time. Except now I have many many titles piling up all at once, and I don't know where to start reading. At some point I need to cut the reliance on single issues, and move to trades across the board. Thanks for this reminder!
I just started collecting/reading comics agian in 2024, and I feel out of control with how much I was buying. Trying to keep up felt like a chore sometimes. Going into 2025, im sticking with the ultimate & absolute universe singles. Everything else is tpb or collection to help save some money this year.
Man BJ, I feel you. Am in the same boat as you, and I've been collecting for 30+ years. Its getting out of hand. I got long boxes in my jouse and my mom's. I need to make a change. But i do need to scale back and cut down on my spending. I've barely been able to keep up with the single issue reading. Am months/years behind. Congrats on your new addition to your family.
I had this same conversation with myself last week! lol just don’t have the space, I’ll just read digitally and collect omnis/deluxe editions. This will likely be my last year collecting signals and I’m gonna gradually trim the pull list.
I feel so connected to the way you are living. My comics are in long boxes in bed room. I can’t use garage due to climate. I have to get rid of something to get more at this point. It’s hard, I’m locking for local charity or something. I want them to be enjoyed, not trashed. I don’t display due to UV. Stay cool and best wishes for baby.
Awesome stuff, nice to hear your thoughts on this! Also cool to read the comments on how everyone else is going about this, so I thought I’d share my. I pull around 30 single issues per month since 3 years, but I only have 4 short boxes sitting around :) As soon as a story arc or limited series completes I sell it. That way I can keep up with the current releases, don’t have to store a ton of comics and get help to fund my next pulls! My boxes are 2 for current ongoing reads, 1 for comics listed for sale and 1 for collecting keys/back issues. I strongly believe that reselling already read comics and continuously trimming the fat on my key collection helps making reading and collecting more enjoyable and less stressful. Take care guys!
I’m in the same boat. I’m going to try and reduce my pull list 2 to 3 books a week until I get to where I can comfortably read each book I buy within that week. Also paying rent for my collection in a storage facility and want to sell off enough to get rid of that extra rent!
I’ve made the same decision lately. I live in an apartment and it doesn’t make sense to store long boxes that I’ll rarely open anymore. The user experience for digital comics has gotten so much better over the years too that it’s made the transition easy. Hoping more indie publishers, particularly Image, build a great app where I can buy single issues there.
It’s definitely tough New 52 DC I was buying 5 issues a week Boxes filled up fast and now that I’ve downsized my living space I’m very selective on what single issues I get I try to just get collected volumes for reading but I also realize supporting the singles is what leads to the collected books But I also bought Last Ronin the singles and the collected Hardcover so IDW got me for $65 on the same Five issues and that can get expensive double buying like that Your channel is awesome and I hope you have lots of great reads in 2025
I have tried to give up on single issues completely several times, but I always go back. Nothing beats seeing those new titles every week in the shop and, as you say, nothing compares to a great single issue story and great art. I also want to continue supporting this industry. I collect collected editions as well, but without singles, there wouldn't be collected editions. One thing that I gave up doing is bagging and boarding everything. I only bag and board what I consider special issues and/or what I think I will keep in my collection forever. Everything else is in a pool to sell. I sell back about 30-40 issues per month for store credit.
Definitely would love a video going over what digital apps you use to keep up to date with comics. From what I can tell apps are great for old events and going back to read old stuff, but seem pretty out dated when it comes to keeping up with currently ongoing runs. Been looking to drop the amount of singles I'm getting as well so it'd be great to find some alternatives while still supporting the people making these books
Holy hell you are talking about something that no one talks about. Great video and I often feel a similar way. I started reading collected editions. For me it’s either single issues or collected editions. To read singles and collected editions at the same time is highly time consuming and as a result I barely read finished stories. Between, work, my girl, other hobbies etc it’s hard to do singles and collected editions. But hot damn do they make it hard because the big 2 and image are dropping a lot of great books that give me FOMO if i don’t have a physical copy.
Man, I'm with you 100%. I've been doing some serious cuts to my pull list for a couple of months and they are going to continue in 2025. Storage space is becoming an issue. I also want to start purging some comics, but I'm not sure how to do that.
I went through something similar when I moved to a new house two years ago. I still buy one or two small books I want to support every week, but have otherwise switched to digital and collected editions. It’s been way healthier for me. A collection is curated! If you’re not thinking about what is worth buying and what is worth keeping it’s just a hoard.
I just got done with the new years purge lol bulk sold a couple long boxes and picked up some trades I've always wanted. It's an annual thing for me at this point.
just did the same thing at the end of the year bj. but i went cold turkey. i have severely cut back on my collected editions too. space, time, money. its a big addiction and i came to realize that i dont want to keep doing what i was doing bc it was making me unhappy. thanks for sharing
I made the hard call to go pretty much cold turkey from single issue. I only get the Ultimate Spider-Man stuff monthly because it was a happening, and comic book fans saw it as a change from status quo ASM. The space alone and the price point pushed me away as a customer. I just feel about the comic book shops because their the ones hurting the most
Its tuff BJ Kicks. I have about 15 short boxes and 10 long boxes. Its definitely a space killer in my house. I have learned to scale down quite a bit and not buy as much monthly but i still love comics the same way as when i was 8 years old. In a single issue format. I do look at books digitally because you of course cant buy every issue, and as my collection ages well i may sell some keys or series that i no longer collect to size down my collection.
I've cut back on the amount of single issues I buy due to cost, space and declining quality of writing/art. I'm focusing more on key issues and comics that are meaningful to me. I'm also slowly moving towards trade paperbacks for reading purposes. I'm much happier with my collecting now.
I mostly buy trades at this point for Marvel and DC and use their apps respectively for back issues and first appearances for villains. For indies like Ghost Machine, I've been buying the singles because I can't miss a moment of that right now
I saw another creator on here store his single issues in a really cool way. He used the comic stor-folios that hold 15 to 20 single issues and essentially created an "omnibus". The stor-folios also have a sleeve n the front and side so he created his own graphic for it and it looks great on a shelf. Just an idea to keep some of your favorite runs at your house and they store well on the shelves you got.
I followed You in English and now it is cool to have you on spanish dubbed. I also have a similar comicbook channel and love to watch your comicbook content. Im from Argentina btw. And have the same problem with my issues Collection. I can only keep de key issues. The rest will have to go to my storage😭
I'm relatively new to comic collecting, have been picking up whatever I find in my area (have to travel hours outside of my city to get anything good, ugh) and I love them but I looked into Omnibus editions for Spidey or Moon Knight and they honestly are more appealing to me. LOVE picking up single issues when I can but Omnibus have done me good so far. The only exception to the single issues have been the new DC Absolute comics.
I gave up on single issues at a younger age. I realized picking up 5 or 6 weekly issues would lead to an unmanageable amount after 5 10 15 years etc. Switched exclusively to hardcovers and omnis and also I'd read an issue and forget what happened when reading the next issue especially when it's delayed. Omnis and collected editions can be had cheaply and at Ollie's and other places. I also increasss digital reading. Been watching you for years and you were a good inspiration for me starting my own channel although much smaller following than u. :)
I have the same feelings. If someone provided a digital service that comics would be available digitally as a hard copy, I would probably be done. But I go thru the same thoughts. Congrats on the baby!
I’m literally going through this same process myself. Pretty much for the same reasons mostly. But I’m enjoying the idea of having the comics i enjoy in a collected edition format. I feel its reads better that way.
Moving several times over the course of a decade or so definitely convinced me to give up most of my single issues. I kept some sentimental favorites that fill up about a half dozen short boxes that I have stacked in a closet but that's about it. Now I just collect some omnis and the occasional CGC book, the bulk of my reading is probably digital now. I still buy some trades but I have a tendency to purge most of those on Ebay about once a year. Downsizing to me has been really helpful from a mental pov, it's silly but I feel less burdened by stuff I don't need.
My comics are stored in the second room of my house where my Mom stays (she moved to help us with the kids) and that room is a warzone of comics and manga. Sometimes I wish I had more time in the day to finally arrange my shelves lol storage is probably an option for me soon as well!
I hear you man my overall problem is modern fatigue I’m just tired of everything modern and that’s mainly what I’ve been buying past 3-4 years (now stuck with boxes and boxes of modern junk) don’t get me wrong there’s a handful I can say I’m glad I bought but overall too much space taken and hardly any I would wanna reread also at $5 a pop.. it’s just too much I’m seriously considering just canceling my entire pull 😅 It’s already cut down to hardly 2-3 titles a publisher That being said ima still collect back issues of classic newsprint comics
I have sold at least a thousand less favorite issues over the past six months and don’t miss them. I enjoy having the comics I only really want, which I store in short boxes and 3 ring binders.
I don't really collect singles, but I do feel this when collecting anything in general. It's fun to collect and there's nothing wrong with it, but, it is easy to simply buy because that becomes the "fun" part. Space is a premium, especially with children. Something's gotta go, and thats ok. Things can bring joy for a time, and then you part ways with them.
I dropped everything on my pull list, except detective comics, action comics, and Batman, those are the three major books that I will continue to pull. The past year and a half I’ve been focused on collecting full runs of series either through hardcover and omnibus. Storing single issue comics is taking up a lot of space, my walk-in closet has a lot of short boxes and long boxes so I think that was my biggest thing, was space. I was also double dipping on some of the previous series of comics that I was reading. Single issues are great, but when it comes out in hardcover/hardcover deluxe format it’s hard for me to not double dip, do’s i guess I’m also saving some money now.
I use the cube shelves by Better Homes and Gardens. They let me put a short art box in there and then I put collected editions next to them. It works pretty well but I stopped getting single issues a while ago and only get collected editions now. I have 27 short boxes left.
Dang, Kicks hitting the shortboxes with a "we need to talk ..." What a way to start 2025. Glad to hear you're embracing more digital, I hear that Hoopla service is pretty good!😊
I’m thinking of ending mine. I only have a few I get from my LCS but there’s too much content out there and I never remember what I read the month before. That and a lot of them don’t ship on time. Better off with trades.
Hey happy new year. Scared me for a second. Thought you were giving up on comics . There so expensive now I only collect the ones i really like because my budget is small too. Keep videos going 👍
I am with you 100! I have too many boxes taking up space in my man cave. I am pairing back in 2025 on new issues and putting stuff into storage and utilizing online formats more. Trying only to buy the best books weekly for me.
I've been buying singles to collect but then reading them digitally. Never heard of global comics so going to check that out. I love the DC app but not really getting enough from the marvel one. My singles are in themed boxes under my desk which can't last much longer lol
I only go into comics again after watching invincible and i really wouldnt buy single issue unless it was something like saga that ive read all of and want to be caught up with before the trades come out
I feel like as comic fans we are between a rock and a hard place. I gave up on single issues a couple years ago for the reasons you highlighted - too expensive and not enough space. I’m really into collected editions now - OHC’s, Omnis, etc. So make no mistake, I still spend money on the comics I love, just in a different way. However, I feel like publishers (specifically the big two) only look at immediate success - single issue sales. For example, I am super excited about the current Nightwing run and I believe the first trade comes out later this month (which I plan on picking up). However, my fear is if the single issue sales are not up to DC’s arbitrary standard, the series will get canceled. As a consumer, I am interested and willing to pay for the book, I just don’t want to deal with the cons of single issues.
For Marvel & DC, the apps are very handy on catching up on titles without the physical footprint. You can buy the collections of the titles you really enjoy.
I have comics in every room in my house except the bathroom. I really had to look at pull list & decide what books I was just collecting to read later, but. ever actually reading. I’ve considered going digital, but I can’t betray my LCS.
I went digital for single issues, it saves me a ton of storage space, a lot of trips to the LCS, and if I love it I can still get the collected editions… maybe my favorite part is they hit my tablet on at 10 pm Tuesday nights because I’m in mountain time zone
I did this sme thing last year at the end of the year cause inwas collecting more than I was reading. I still have stuff from October that i still havent touched. And my space is very limited
As much as I am loving DC All In books. And I have picked up every single so far. Also a few Marvel and Indy ones. I also actually stoped at last week of 2024. I will only going forward Omni,HC and TPB. Great video.
I'm new to comics, iv'e probably spent around $150 so far, Is it better to my budget to just by tp's and omnibus's and only buy single issues when I like the cover?
I've been trying to cut down my pull list as well and single issues are sometimes not worth it. Now I only buy what I love rather than what I like, the new Ultimate and absolute universes are proof of that. Books that feel important to you and not filler are worth buying than a series you tolerate.
I do short boxes, I have a few art boxes for my favorite characters, they are expensive. I have a big house with a lot of storage space. I went through my collection in 2023 and listed everything, roughly $17000 worth of comics. I started selling them. but values have declined, so I'm going to forget about them for now. I decide to focus on some other hobbies so I'm basically done with comics. At 57. I kind of miss the conventions and the hobby. But I want to focus on my bands and miniature painting and games.
I still get a lot of single issues every week, and I used to be someone that just wanted to get an issue to have it, figuring I would read it later. But as I get older, I'm finding I am falling behind more and more. So I have been leaning more towards collected editions. I have created a library area in my basement which is cool but dry (perfect conditions). And I have been working on selling a LOT of my single issues. If I can't sell the because they are not worth anything, then I give them away. We're in a group on Facebook in our area where people can post things they are giving away. I have posted comics on there and then you select who will get them and make arrangements for them to come and pick them up off your porch at your house. I have cleared out a lot through selling and doing that. My next biggest step is cutting back on how many single issues I get so I don't keep adding a lot. But that has been hard because of the addiction like you said. But I will get there.
I'm happy for you. When I first read the video title, I felt like Frank Abagnale the character DiCaprio played in catch me if you can, where he had to decide which parent he wanted to live with after his parents where getting a divorce. But I'm being dramatic, I support your decision. Will you still keep the Chanel alive.
Congratulations on the new baby man!!! I’m coming into 2025 with the same mentality. Selling all my old single issues that “I like the art” but I haven’t read cause I know the story… getting rid of old for the new and I’m only doing 22 current runs. Still a lot but won’t kill the wallet
I've been doing that too. These days they're just too many floppies being released a week. I've been getting into TPB and Omnibus collection. I'm running out of room and just want to focus on four titles and keys.
I was single issues probably 15 years ago, and had the same problem. Its just too much space taken. Then 10 years ago i went digital only with a few TP and 1-2 Omnis. Last 2-3 years though, i have gotten back into physical for the screenless hobby. I stopped buying singles but even this year ill drop by a comic book store to grab the Absolute Batman or something Id really like to see now. Its really nice to just get the single on my tablet and chew thru it. I also got Marvel Unlimited for 45 this past Thanksgiving so my Marvel should covered for a year. Def look into a nice 10 inch tablet
I had all m comics in NYC in my parents basement. Those were a decade worth of books. And I've been building an ongoing collection since I moved to California for another decade. My dad recently flew all my books from NYC to LA that weighed over 300Lbs. When he got here he said there's still two more boxex for him to bring at a later date. I have some books that are highly valued. I plan to grade and sell. The others I am going to find ways to get rid o them.
It's starting to feel like the individual issues are "early access" to bigger stories. I would not have a problem with this if it weren't for the cost. This is why I firmly believe that comic publishers should take a page (lol) from the Japanese and switch to a magazine model with lesser quality paper, perhaps do it in B&W or 4C, and save the nicer paper for a small digest/tankoban size, then do nice paper and coloring for the trade/hardcover. You could even still have individual issues in comic stores but the magazine in general stores like Walmart/Target/Publix or even just grocery stores/gas stations would subsidize the ones in comic stores so that they aren't as expensive.
I feel you! I went DCUI, GlobalComix and MU. Mu isn't great. Especially with how weak Marvel has been the past 3 years. My pull averages less than $20 a week now. My biggest week in the foreseeable future is $28.
This is the kind of energy i need in 2025. Right now i’m forced to store my long boxes in my bedroom and let’s just say my lady is less than happy about it lol. Makes me rethink all those Knight Terrors tie-ins. Time to slim down the collection!
My wife is very supportive of my comic “addiction”. She is not very supportive of long boxes. They are eyesores. Overtime I’ve become frustrated with them. Stories that I know I will reread I’ve updated to omnibus or hardcover and in some cases had them custom bound so they can sit on a bookshelf. I’m much happier with this approach as it makes rereading easier. Newer single issues I get digital, though really treat these as samplers for the collections I buy. I’d suggesting putting the baby and the long boxes in the car, get a drive through coffee, and let the baby sleep in the car while you drive. Your wife will welcome the peace.
I just got into single issues last year after years of reading digitally. DC All-In hooked me bad. But I realized that if it keep my pull list under 25 titles per month and don’t chase back issues, I can afford it and my short boxes aren’t filling up tooo fast.
Digital is a great option but it can never replace a physical copy, it's just not the same thing, I have a lot of collected editions also but again it's not the same thing as reading the authentic issue. Collected editions will never have the value (if they have any value) of a single issue and you never know when a particular issue will have great value attached to it
Same here. I only buy #1's. Today's comic are not increasing in value like my collection from the 80's. No one wants to buy story arcs or complete runs, they just wanna buy #1's. I've been also buying TPB more so I can get complete story arc in one reading.
I get it, but I just purge every few years to save up on space. I usually give them away for free on Craigslist with no issue. I thought about going all digital, but it ain't the same. I use Hoopla as my secondary to catch up on things I'm not collecting.
Honestly I’ve been debating on not buying singles for the past year. They don’t hold value for one thing. All these recent comics like ultimate Spider-Man and absolute Batman got a big boost off hype but in a few years when those titles aren’t important anymore you won’t be able to make anything. I’ve sold a bunch of singles once I’ve read them and I’ve been lucky to get even a dollar an issue. I feel like majority of comics just aren’t that good. Then you have many series that start out good or even are good for a while that becoming bad or they take the writer off. Then there’s trying keep up with all these books between a month break. At the end of the day you only have so much room to store these books and as many books as marvel and dc puts out it’s easy to run out of room. I want you to ask yourself a question, think about all these new comics that you’ve read in the past few years. Now tell me how many of those you actually would reread?
I don"t know...if you're just going to bring them to storage after filling the box and already planning to eventually sell off, I would just stop getting them altogether. Cheaper to get collected editions. You dont have to pay for bags and boards, boxes, and a storage facility. I think if youre a single issue collector, keep them at home and make long term plans.
There is a greater enjoyment and more time spent on single issues. In a compendium, the reprint of one comics is probably less than 10 minutes of entertainment. A single issue involves more time. I HAVE to read it slower just so i can figure out what's going on. And collected editions? Well, I end up with bad writing and bad art....a whole huge collected edition that i wont even finish. Plus i dont treat single issues as holy texts, they can get dinged up a little.
Having a budget is a great way to keep things in control. Agreed on the digital side, so easy to read anywhere and anytime.
I've been reading and collecting comics for more than 40 years. One of the smartest decisions I ever made where my hobby is concerned was to begin letting go of single issues. You collect them long enough, you simply begin to run out of house to store them.
I am out of control myself. I spend between $50 to $100 a week, that's a lot! By the time I have time to read any of them, the graphic novel is out. So do I buy singles or wait for the graphics? Plus, with now knowing about Hoopla, I can save money and read for free. But I like the physical book and artwork of a comic. I'm doomed. 😅
Same here. By the time I read it, the collected issues book is out for cheap.
Hoopla is the real MVP. I get more joy out of graphic novels more than singles.
In the same boat. I got into comics late 2023 and have two long boxes and three short boxes tucked away under the bed where the wife can’t see yet. Hoopla and the digital platforms have been god sends.
I only started collecting at the start of last year and the storage aspect is already scary enough 😅 great video man, be interested to see what books you keep within arm's reach if you do!
Congrats on the new edition to the family! I have a little one and a bigger one too. And when the 7month old grabs the 4 year olds hair its rough getting those little fingers open again! I have a short box in my house that I keep current issues in but once a series ends or the box gets full it ends up in the long boxes in the garage. Havent had to much trouble with bugs just keep those boards and bags tight.
I keep my singles in a bunch of long boxes that fit perfectly underneath my bed frame.
But I too, am looking to slim down my collection and am contemplating my options. I don’t want to stop going to my shop every week either. I enjoy making the trip, chatting with the guys at the counter, and supporting books as they come out. Sometimes I even discover something I otherwise never would have. But space is not infinite, and at some point certain books stop mattering to me. So there’s no need to keep everything.
I started collecting and reading single issues (among other things like omnibus and TPBs and what not ) last February. I love comics now, it's become one of my favorite mediums of entertainment, however, it's so damn expensive. I'm starting to get more into playing video games as well but I can spend 50 bucks on a new game and get like 30+ hours of entertainment as opposed to a few hours reading every week with the same money spent on comics. This mixed with me having already amassed 6 short boxes of books in one year of collecting and having to budget my time being in college has me looking at my 40+ monthly books and really realizing I need to pare it down to about 20 tops and hopefully at some point maybe just stopping all together.
This channel has definitely been one of my favorite things over the last year and I even refrenced your video explaining formats of different type of comic releases when taking the dive. I think it's intresting we're kind of having the same back and forth in our heads about collecting habits and what not. Great video and thanks for helping shepard me into the community
I love your channel, I'm a new subscriber. I started collecting comics, new and silver age back issues, in mid 2024. I've realized here recently that I am collecting too fast and I am collecting some things that I really don't care that much about because of cool covers and fear of missing out. My goal for this year is to be more intentional with my collecting.
Hey man!! This is always something on my mind. My collecting has been ongoing off and on all my life and the foreknowledge that a comic collection is potentially infinitely large over a lifetime of active collecting. For me, I love having my books near by (in my home - it's about 12 long boxes) and I don't know how comfortable I'd feel keeping them anywhere else. In a storage unit, you're subject to their environment and any accidents that happen there that I just don't have oversight to. Knowing my collection is under my care is key for me. But I think you hit upon the absolute crux of it - just collect the amazing issues, the must haves and nothing else. Browsing is really bad for that. Lol. You'll also have to factor in the cost of the storage unit into your collecting as an ongoing expense. Even if you're storing other things in the unity, figure out how much real estate the collection eats up, then subtract that % from your monthly fees and determine the storage cost for your collection month over month - you may be surprised.
Sadly, I had to go completely digital. I just could not keep up. I have about 10 long boxes that have been up in the attic for about 15 years. I have no idea what kind of shape they are in. I'm afraid to look.
So I started collecting in 2018 but I maybe had collected a little over a short box in about a year and a half of collecting. I had pretty much just dipped my toes in after getting into the MCU. My LCS was an hour from my home so I felt it was a hard hobby to keep up so I eventually dropped it. Then a little over a year ago I moved to the town with said comic shop and began collecting again. I’m up to like 6-7 short boxes now and I’m running out of room in my little apartment. I try to budget 50$ every week but struggle to not go to 65-80$ everytime. Recently I caught up on reading but for a while I had them lying around everywhere. I am definitely considering the exact measures you were talking about taking in this video as far as your single issue habits going forward and appreciate the realness as always.
My strategy is to buy first issues and depending on how much I liked it, continue the series or just wait until it comes out as a paperback or digital later on. There are a lot of first issues that come out but it keeps the numbers down. Victory to me is coming out of the comic book shop with three comics, max.
Bingo and if the first issue does not interest me or anyone else I won’t get it aswell
Just discovered your channel today. Love it. 🙌
Good luck! My target budget is $30 or less and I'm down to that most weeks now. I'm not bringing home 15+ books ever anymore..
You're me. Singles are a chore and i get more out of reading a completed than a single issue. With reading 20 plus single issues in a month you forget what happened in the last issue. Im probably only pulling my top books and wait on the TPB.
Same here with my Omnibuses
This is a conversation that needs to be had. Single issues is my favorite way to read by far but it’s just not practical long term. Might custom bind if I continue collecting or just read digital/pick up collected editions. Thanks for the reality check lol
Well, theyve been practical for me. Collected editions require space. Digital means the comic is not yours...the digital company can fold, and youre outta luck.
@@langreeves6419 glad to hear they work for you. Happy reading
I've been reading and collection comics since the days of the Avengers/Defenders war as a,kid.
At this point, if I have to read any new storylines, I read it in a collection. I've only been reading trades for over 10 years now, but have a ton of single issues as well. They're just not what you would call recent.
I actually tried reading the blood hunt monthly over the summer and some of its associated series. But I have become acclimated to the trades and I moved on to other things as the months went by … I began to start reading other stuff between the monthly issues and then just decided to wait until they all came out together
I like it when everything's in one book now. And I’ve found trades are less expensive and used trades are great.
been watching ur channel for almost a year now, and this hit hard. I’m in the same boat, just started scaling down my pull list. helpful perspective!🤘
LISTEN, I feel you, over this past year alone I fell back into the single issue trap cause so many good titles was coming out and I wanted to be nosey haha. But man do they add up.
And that’s a goal for me bro, is going back to sticking to collected editions. It’s always better. Thanks for your transparency. This video was nothing but confirmation for me.
Do you have any comic recommendations where it’s focused around the main characters depression/mental health struggles? Besides Mister Miracle, please and thanks! :)
Monstress . About the character’s inner struggle, survivor guilt, PTSD, etc.
Batgirl by Kelley Puckett
Laura Kinney Wolverine.
@ thanks!!
Green lanterns is another book Jessica Cruz deals with extreme anxiety
Moon Knight’s split personalities
This is how goofy I am as a reader/collector: I *KNOW* that I enjoy reading trade paperbacks more than I enjoy reading single issues. I hated reading a single issue, waiting a month, and then having to re-read the previous issue because it's been weeks, and the story has become buried under a month of life's happenings. So then I decided to stockpile issues for a few months so I could devour multiple issues in a much shorter time. Except now I have many many titles piling up all at once, and I don't know where to start reading. At some point I need to cut the reliance on single issues, and move to trades across the board. Thanks for this reminder!
Totally understand this mentality. Appreciate you!
Im in the exact same boat as you with single issues. Ive been wanting to tone down for awhile now. Thanks for some inspiration to do it.
I just started collecting/reading comics agian in 2024, and I feel out of control with how much I was buying. Trying to keep up felt like a chore sometimes. Going into 2025, im sticking with the ultimate & absolute universe singles. Everything else is tpb or collection to help save some money this year.
Man BJ, I feel you. Am in the same boat as you, and I've been collecting for 30+ years. Its getting out of hand. I got long boxes in my jouse and my mom's. I need to make a change. But i do need to scale back and cut down on my spending. I've barely been able to keep up with the single issue reading. Am months/years behind. Congrats on your new addition to your family.
I had this same conversation with myself last week! lol just don’t have the space, I’ll just read digitally and collect omnis/deluxe editions. This will likely be my last year collecting signals and I’m gonna gradually trim the pull list.
I feel so connected to the way you are living. My comics are in long boxes in bed room. I can’t use garage due to climate. I have to get rid of something to get more at this point. It’s hard, I’m locking for local charity or something. I want them to be enjoyed, not trashed. I don’t display due to UV. Stay cool and best wishes for baby.
Awesome stuff, nice to hear your thoughts on this! Also cool to read the comments on how everyone else is going about this, so I thought I’d share my.
I pull around 30 single issues per month since 3 years, but I only have 4 short boxes sitting around :) As soon as a story arc or limited series completes I sell it. That way I can keep up with the current releases, don’t have to store a ton of comics and get help to fund my next pulls! My boxes are 2 for current ongoing reads, 1 for comics listed for sale and 1 for collecting keys/back issues. I strongly believe that reselling already read comics and continuously trimming the fat on my key collection helps making reading and collecting more enjoyable and less stressful.
Take care guys!
I’m in the same boat. I’m going to try and reduce my pull list 2 to 3 books a week until I get to where I can comfortably read each book I buy within that week. Also paying rent for my collection in a storage facility and want to sell off enough to get rid of that extra rent!
I’ve made the same decision lately. I live in an apartment and it doesn’t make sense to store long boxes that I’ll rarely open anymore. The user experience for digital comics has gotten so much better over the years too that it’s made the transition easy. Hoping more indie publishers, particularly Image, build a great app where I can buy single issues there.
It’s definitely tough New 52 DC I was buying 5 issues a week
Boxes filled up fast and now that I’ve downsized my living space I’m very selective on what single issues I get
I try to just get collected volumes for reading but I also realize supporting the singles is what leads to the collected books
But I also bought Last Ronin the singles and the collected Hardcover so IDW got me for $65 on the same Five issues and that can get expensive double buying like that
Your channel is awesome and I hope you have lots of great reads in 2025
I have tried to give up on single issues completely several times, but I always go back. Nothing beats seeing those new titles every week in the shop and, as you say, nothing compares to a great single issue story and great art. I also want to continue supporting this industry. I collect collected editions as well, but without singles, there wouldn't be collected editions. One thing that I gave up doing is bagging and boarding everything. I only bag and board what I consider special issues and/or what I think I will keep in my collection forever. Everything else is in a pool to sell. I sell back about 30-40 issues per month for store credit.
Definitely would love a video going over what digital apps you use to keep up to date with comics. From what I can tell apps are great for old events and going back to read old stuff, but seem pretty out dated when it comes to keeping up with currently ongoing runs. Been looking to drop the amount of singles I'm getting as well so it'd be great to find some alternatives while still supporting the people making these books
I’ll have a new digital app roundup video coming next week, possibly the week after.
Holy hell you are talking about something that no one talks about. Great video and I often feel a similar way. I started reading collected editions. For me it’s either single issues or collected editions. To read singles and collected editions at the same time is highly time consuming and as a result I barely read finished stories. Between, work, my girl, other hobbies etc it’s hard to do singles and collected editions. But hot damn do they make it hard because the big 2 and image are dropping a lot of great books that give me FOMO if i don’t have a physical copy.
Man, I'm with you 100%. I've been doing some serious cuts to my pull list for a couple of months and they are going to continue in 2025. Storage space is becoming an issue. I also want to start purging some comics, but I'm not sure how to do that.
I’m at around 75 short boxes and 1800 graphic novels. The struggle is real😂
Ufff 😖 yuk
I went through something similar when I moved to a new house two years ago. I still buy one or two small books I want to support every week, but have otherwise switched to digital and collected editions. It’s been way healthier for me. A collection is curated! If you’re not thinking about what is worth buying and what is worth keeping it’s just a hoard.
I just got done with the new years purge lol bulk sold a couple long boxes and picked up some trades I've always wanted. It's an annual thing for me at this point.
just did the same thing at the end of the year bj. but i went cold turkey. i have severely cut back on my collected editions too. space, time, money. its a big addiction and i came to realize that i dont want to keep doing what i was doing bc it was making me unhappy. thanks for sharing
I made the hard call to go pretty much cold turkey from single issue. I only get the Ultimate Spider-Man stuff monthly because it was a happening, and comic book fans saw it as a change from status quo ASM. The space alone and the price point pushed me away as a customer. I just feel about the comic book shops because their the ones hurting the most
Its tuff BJ Kicks. I have about 15 short boxes and 10 long boxes. Its definitely a space killer in my house. I have learned to scale down quite a bit and not buy as much monthly but i still love comics the same way as when i was 8 years old. In a single issue format. I do look at books digitally because you of course cant buy every issue, and as my collection ages well i may sell some keys or series that i no longer collect to size down my collection.
I've cut back on the amount of single issues I buy due to cost, space and declining quality of writing/art. I'm focusing more on key issues and comics that are meaningful to me. I'm also slowly moving towards trade paperbacks for reading purposes. I'm much happier with my collecting now.
I thought about going digital, but I still feel obligated to do my part financially for my LCS
for sure. that's why I plan to pre-order my trade paperbacks at my LCS to help make up the difference.
I mostly buy trades at this point for Marvel and DC and use their apps respectively for back issues and first appearances for villains. For indies like Ghost Machine, I've been buying the singles because I can't miss a moment of that right now
I saw another creator on here store his single issues in a really cool way. He used the comic stor-folios that hold 15 to 20 single issues and essentially created an "omnibus". The stor-folios also have a sleeve n the front and side so he created his own graphic for it and it looks great on a shelf. Just an idea to keep some of your favorite runs at your house and they store well on the shelves you got.
I do use your pull list to see what's coming out that I will be interested in picking up & reading.
I followed You in English and now it is cool to have you on spanish dubbed. I also have a similar comicbook channel and love to watch your comicbook content. Im from Argentina btw. And have the same problem with my issues Collection. I can only keep de key issues. The rest will have to go to my storage😭
I'm relatively new to comic collecting, have been picking up whatever I find in my area (have to travel hours outside of my city to get anything good, ugh) and I love them but I looked into Omnibus editions for Spidey or Moon Knight and they honestly are more appealing to me. LOVE picking up single issues when I can but Omnibus have done me good so far. The only exception to the single issues have been the new DC Absolute comics.
I gave up on single issues at a younger age. I realized picking up 5 or 6 weekly issues would lead to an unmanageable amount after 5 10 15 years etc. Switched exclusively to hardcovers and omnis and also I'd read an issue and forget what happened when reading the next issue especially when it's delayed. Omnis and collected editions can be had cheaply and at Ollie's and other places. I also increasss digital reading. Been watching you for years and you were a good inspiration for me starting my own channel although much smaller following than u. :)
I have the same feelings. If someone provided a digital service that comics would be available digitally as a hard copy, I would probably be done. But I go thru the same thoughts. Congrats on the baby!
I’m literally going through this same process myself. Pretty much for the same reasons mostly. But I’m enjoying the idea of having the comics i enjoy in a collected edition format. I feel its reads better that way.
I feel your pain, but my problem is omnibuses. Living in an apartment. I'm running out of places to put them. Have to start cutting down
Moving several times over the course of a decade or so definitely convinced me to give up most of my single issues. I kept some sentimental favorites that fill up about a half dozen short boxes that I have stacked in a closet but that's about it. Now I just collect some omnis and the occasional CGC book, the bulk of my reading is probably digital now. I still buy some trades but I have a tendency to purge most of those on Ebay about once a year. Downsizing to me has been really helpful from a mental pov, it's silly but I feel less burdened by stuff I don't need.
Hey congrats Brotha! happy for you and thanks for another video!
My comics are stored in the second room of my house where my Mom stays (she moved to help us with the kids) and that room is a warzone of comics and manga. Sometimes I wish I had more time in the day to finally arrange my shelves lol storage is probably an option for me soon as well!
I hear you man my overall problem is modern fatigue I’m just tired of everything modern and that’s mainly what I’ve been buying past 3-4 years (now stuck with boxes and boxes of modern junk) don’t get me wrong there’s a handful I can say I’m glad I bought but overall too much space taken and hardly any I would wanna reread also at $5 a pop.. it’s just too much I’m seriously considering just canceling my entire pull 😅
It’s already cut down to hardly 2-3 titles a publisher
That being said ima still collect back issues of classic newsprint comics
I have sold at least a thousand less favorite issues over the past six months and don’t miss them. I enjoy having the comics I only really want, which I store in short boxes and 3 ring binders.
Great video. I keep my single issue pull list limited to about roughly 10 singles give or take each week. I trade wait a lot of other books.
I don't really collect singles, but I do feel this when collecting anything in general. It's fun to collect and there's nothing wrong with it, but, it is easy to simply buy because that becomes the "fun" part. Space is a premium, especially with children. Something's gotta go, and thats ok. Things can bring joy for a time, and then you part ways with them.
I dropped everything on my pull list, except detective comics, action comics, and Batman, those are the three major books that I will continue to pull. The past year and a half I’ve been focused on collecting full runs of series either through hardcover and omnibus. Storing single issue comics is taking up a lot of space, my walk-in closet has a lot of short boxes and long boxes so I think that was my biggest thing, was space. I was also double dipping on some of the previous series of comics that I was reading. Single issues are great, but when it comes out in hardcover/hardcover deluxe format it’s hard for me to not double dip, do’s i guess I’m also saving some money now.
I use the cube shelves by Better Homes and Gardens. They let me put a short art box in there and then I put collected editions next to them. It works pretty well but I stopped getting single issues a while ago and only get collected editions now. I have 27 short boxes left.
Dang, Kicks hitting the shortboxes with a "we need to talk ..." What a way to start 2025. Glad to hear you're embracing more digital, I hear that Hoopla service is pretty good!😊
I’m thinking of ending mine. I only have a few I get from my LCS but there’s too much content out there and I never remember what I read the month before. That and a lot of them don’t ship on time. Better off with trades.
Hey happy new year. Scared me for a second. Thought you were giving up on comics . There so expensive now I only collect the ones i really like because my budget is small too. Keep videos going 👍
I am with you 100! I have too many boxes taking up space in my man cave. I am pairing back in 2025 on new issues and putting stuff into storage and utilizing online formats more. Trying only to buy the best books weekly for me.
I feel this video hard. I’ve been wanting to cutdown but can’t pull the trigger easily on my maybes
I've been buying singles to collect but then reading them digitally. Never heard of global comics so going to check that out. I love the DC app but not really getting enough from the marvel one. My singles are in themed boxes under my desk which can't last much longer lol
I only go into comics again after watching invincible and i really wouldnt buy single issue unless it was something like saga that ive read all of and want to be caught up with before the trades come out
I feel like as comic fans we are between a rock and a hard place.
I gave up on single issues a couple years ago for the reasons you highlighted - too expensive and not enough space. I’m really into collected editions now - OHC’s, Omnis, etc. So make no mistake, I still spend money on the comics I love, just in a different way. However, I feel like publishers (specifically the big two) only look at immediate success - single issue sales.
For example, I am super excited about the current Nightwing run and I believe the first trade comes out later this month (which I plan on picking up). However, my fear is if the single issue sales are not up to DC’s arbitrary standard, the series will get canceled. As a consumer, I am interested and willing to pay for the book, I just don’t want to deal with the cons of single issues.
For Marvel & DC, the apps are very handy on catching up on titles without the physical footprint. You can buy the collections of the titles you really enjoy.
I have comics in every room in my house except the bathroom. I really had to look at pull list & decide what books I was just collecting to read later, but. ever actually reading. I’ve considered going digital, but I can’t betray my LCS.
I went digital for single issues, it saves me a ton of storage space, a lot of trips to the LCS, and if I love it I can still get the collected editions… maybe my favorite part is they hit my tablet on at 10 pm Tuesday nights because I’m in mountain time zone
I did this sme thing last year at the end of the year cause inwas collecting more than I was reading. I still have stuff from October that i still havent touched. And my space is very limited
As much as I am loving DC All In books. And I have picked up every single so far. Also a few Marvel and Indy ones. I also actually stoped at last week of 2024. I will only going forward Omni,HC and TPB. Great video.
I'm new to comics, iv'e probably spent around $150 so far, Is it better to my budget to just by tp's and omnibus's and only buy single issues when I like the cover?
Me too, man -- new comics for me are strictly TPB and Omni now.
I'm still digging for single issues for some of my 70s -80s runs, but very few now.
I've been trying to cut down my pull list as well and single issues are sometimes not worth it. Now I only buy what I love rather than what I like, the new Ultimate and absolute universes are proof of that. Books that feel important to you and not filler are worth buying than a series you tolerate.
I do short boxes, I have a few art boxes for my favorite characters, they are expensive. I have a big house with a lot of storage space. I went through my collection in 2023 and listed everything, roughly $17000 worth of comics. I started selling them. but values have declined, so I'm going to forget about them for now. I decide to focus on some other hobbies so I'm basically done with comics. At 57. I kind of miss the conventions and the hobby. But I want to focus on my bands and miniature painting and games.
I still get a lot of single issues every week, and I used to be someone that just wanted to get an issue to have it, figuring I would read it later. But as I get older, I'm finding I am falling behind more and more. So I have been leaning more towards collected editions. I have created a library area in my basement which is cool but dry (perfect conditions). And I have been working on selling a LOT of my single issues. If I can't sell the because they are not worth anything, then I give them away. We're in a group on Facebook in our area where people can post things they are giving away. I have posted comics on there and then you select who will get them and make arrangements for them to come and pick them up off your porch at your house. I have cleared out a lot through selling and doing that. My next biggest step is cutting back on how many single issues I get so I don't keep adding a lot. But that has been hard because of the addiction like you said. But I will get there.
I'm happy for you. When I first read the video title, I felt like Frank Abagnale the character DiCaprio played in catch me if you can, where he had to decide which parent he wanted to live with after his parents where getting a divorce. But I'm being dramatic, I support your decision. Will you still keep the Chanel alive.
Congratulations on the new baby man!!! I’m coming into 2025 with the same mentality. Selling all my old single issues that “I like the art” but I haven’t read cause I know the story… getting rid of old for the new and I’m only doing 22 current runs. Still a lot but won’t kill the wallet
I've been doing that too. These days they're just too many floppies being released a week. I've been getting into TPB and Omnibus collection. I'm running out of room and just want to focus on four titles and keys.
I was single issues probably 15 years ago, and had the same problem. Its just too much space taken. Then 10 years ago i went digital only with a few TP and 1-2 Omnis.
Last 2-3 years though, i have gotten back into physical for the screenless hobby. I stopped buying singles but even this year ill drop by a comic book store to grab the Absolute Batman or something Id really like to see now. Its really nice to just get the single on my tablet and chew thru it. I also got Marvel Unlimited for 45 this past Thanksgiving so my Marvel should covered for a year.
Def look into a nice 10 inch tablet
This topic hits home. Been wanting to sell it All off..Spiderman..Batman! Its all because i prefer Omnibuses than old single comics collecting dust!
I had all m comics in NYC in my parents basement. Those were a decade worth of books. And I've been building an ongoing collection since I moved to California for another decade. My dad recently flew all my books from NYC to LA that weighed over 300Lbs. When he got here he said there's still two more boxex for him to bring at a later date. I have some books that are highly valued. I plan to grade and sell. The others I am going to find ways to get rid o them.
It's starting to feel like the individual issues are "early access" to bigger stories. I would not have a problem with this if it weren't for the cost. This is why I firmly believe that comic publishers should take a page (lol) from the Japanese and switch to a magazine model with lesser quality paper, perhaps do it in B&W or 4C, and save the nicer paper for a small digest/tankoban size, then do nice paper and coloring for the trade/hardcover. You could even still have individual issues in comic stores but the magazine in general stores like Walmart/Target/Publix or even just grocery stores/gas stations would subsidize the ones in comic stores so that they aren't as expensive.
in the same boat.. really hitting online comics.. then going to the store.. no room lol ..
I feel you! I went DCUI, GlobalComix and MU. Mu isn't great. Especially with how weak Marvel has been the past 3 years. My pull averages less than $20 a week now. My biggest week in the foreseeable future is $28.
He ain't lyin'...baby grip is terrifying!
This is the kind of energy i need in 2025. Right now i’m forced to store my long boxes in my bedroom and let’s just say my lady is less than happy about it lol. Makes me rethink all those Knight Terrors tie-ins. Time to slim down the collection!
when I bought my first house I got out of the single issues game. Way back in 2013. I had an ipad and never looked back.
My wife is very supportive of my comic “addiction”. She is not very supportive of long boxes. They are eyesores. Overtime I’ve become frustrated with them. Stories that I know I will reread I’ve updated to omnibus or hardcover and in some cases had them custom bound so they can sit on a bookshelf. I’m much happier with this approach as it makes rereading easier. Newer single issues I get digital, though really treat these as samplers for the collections I buy.
I’d suggesting putting the baby and the long boxes in the car, get a drive through coffee, and let the baby sleep in the car while you drive. Your wife will welcome the peace.
I just got into single issues last year after years of reading digitally. DC All-In hooked me bad. But I realized that if it keep my pull list under 25 titles per month and don’t chase back issues, I can afford it and my short boxes aren’t filling up tooo fast.
Digital is a great option but it can never replace a physical copy, it's just not the same thing, I have a lot of collected editions also but again it's not the same thing as reading the authentic issue. Collected editions will never have the value (if they have any value) of a single issue and you never know when a particular issue will have great value attached to it
Same here. I only buy #1's. Today's comic are not increasing in value like my collection from the 80's. No one wants to buy story arcs or complete runs, they just wanna buy #1's. I've been also buying TPB more so I can get complete story arc in one reading.
I get it, but I just purge every few years to save up on space. I usually give them away for free on Craigslist with no issue. I thought about going all digital, but it ain't the same. I use Hoopla as my secondary to catch up on things I'm not collecting.
Honestly I’ve been debating on not buying singles for the past year. They don’t hold value for one thing. All these recent comics like ultimate Spider-Man and absolute Batman got a big boost off hype but in a few years when those titles aren’t important anymore you won’t be able to make anything. I’ve sold a bunch of singles once I’ve read them and I’ve been lucky to get even a dollar an issue. I feel like majority of comics just aren’t that good. Then you have many series that start out good or even are good for a while that becoming bad or they take the writer off. Then there’s trying keep up with all these books between a month break. At the end of the day you only have so much room to store these books and as many books as marvel and dc puts out it’s easy to run out of room. I want you to ask yourself a question, think about all these new comics that you’ve read in the past few years. Now tell me how many of those you actually would reread?
I don"t know...if you're just going to bring them to storage after filling the box and already planning to eventually sell off, I would just stop getting them altogether. Cheaper to get collected editions. You dont have to pay for bags and boards, boxes, and a storage facility. I think if youre a single issue collector, keep them at home and make long term plans.
My plan isn’t to sell them all. Just to trim my current collection down, and try to only collect stuff that means a lot to me moving forward.
There is a greater enjoyment and more time spent on single issues.
In a compendium, the reprint of one comics is probably less than 10 minutes of entertainment.
A single issue involves more time. I HAVE to read it slower just so i can figure out what's going on.
And collected editions? Well, I end up with bad writing and bad art....a whole huge collected edition that i wont even finish. Plus i dont treat single issues as holy texts, they can get dinged up a little.
2025 I’m just sticking with my favorite cover artist variants, the few series I actually enjoy, and if any new keys pop up maybe stash them away.
You can read comics online for free. Twenty years ago, I was spending like a hundred a month on comics.