Shop Talk with the Boys
This week, Walt and Chris host a couple of guys at the warehouse for some talk about comics. Chris decides to hit record and well…. here you go. Let us know what you think of the show.
Comic Book Daily
Discussing the minutiae of comic book collecting.
Comic Book Daily
Discussing the minutiae of comic book collecting.
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Read MoreShop Talk with the Boys
Stump the Chump Strikes Back!
Listen up loyal listeners! Today Chris decided to come up with 12 terrifying questions to test Walt’s knowledge of the comic collecting industry. Can you do better than Walt did? Did you keep track of the way Chris kept score?…
The Grey Age of Comics: 1970-71
One of the oldest and most frequent questions debated around comic shops is “when does the Silver age of comics end and the Bronze age begin”. There are always different opinions and some lively debate in terms of people defending…
Reading “Adventures”
My son and I attended the Forest City Comicon and afterwards wandered over to Heroes Comics. We spent a good amount of time in their discounted second floor, perusing and meandering around the shelves and boxes of comics. We have…
Maximum Capacity
I’m at maximum capacity. My home library is crammed with bookshelves and they’re all full. I now have stacks of books on the floor without a home. I’m in need of some sort of book hoarders support group or reality…
Tsundoku, Collecting, Reading
Two disparate articles from OZY and The Simple Dollar have recently put me to task on my hobby of choice, reading. First, here’s a definition of tsundoku. “Tsundoku” (n.) is the condition of acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up…
Time Capsule: All About Collecting Comic Books
Here’s an exceptional Marvel freebie from 1989: All About Collecting Comic Books. It’s a nice look at what Marvel thought comic readers needed to know about collecting back issues.
Collecting
As a collector of various things for more than 50 years and, specifically, as a collector of Canadian war-time comics for the last two years or so, I have had pause to step outside myself and take an up high and a little to the side look at myself and this activity, pastime, or, some (specifically wives) would say, a kind of pathology, that has echoed in us down through history. With Fan Expo looming, in this column I want to examine what has put the wind in my collecting sails over this past half century and hope that it makes some sense at one point or another.
Collector or Businessman?
I often find myself arguing between Dennis the Collector and Dennis the businessman. The good part of this argument is Dennis always wins, one way or the other. But seriously, it is difficult sometimes to pick and choose what to…
Collectors, readers, comics, and your entertainment dollar
I've visited a lot of comic shops, I've attended or worked a lot of book conventions, and I've talked with a lot of fans. I guess for the ease of discussion we can place them into two groups: collectors and readers.
For The Love Of Collecting
So how do we make wise decisions as collectors and as businessmen or women? I really don't have a magical answer to that question. I have both bought and sold books, and afterward wondered why I did either, but invariably a lot of it comes down to money. Moulaaah, cash flow! Even if I have a great copy of an issue, when I see one that is a little bit nicer I can justify buying it with no problem whatsoever.
The Kindness of Strangers
I have found, throughout my years of being a comic book lover, there is something very strange about the way comic book fans treat each other. When one comic book fan meets another, there is a back and forth quiz that happens. “What do you read?” “What is your favourite comic?” “Who is your favourite writer/artist/character?” Instead of just being excited to meet another comic lover, we have to make sure they are worthy, but mostly, we make sure we know more than they do.
Marvel Trading Cards
The early 1990s were all about lenticular covers, bagged promos, and rampant speculation. But they were also about trading cards. Upper Deck reigned supreme and we finally said goodbye to buying cards with super hard chewing gum. Traditionally we had purchased sports cards, but Marvel Comics had given us another option by issuing a series of collectible cards featuring their spandex clad characters.
Dealing with your collection footprint
I have a friend who has a toy room (hi Marc!). He tells me his collection will never get bigger than his toy room, and will sell old items to make room for new. It’s a sound strategy and one…
Come Out of the Geek Closet
Recently I was talking to some people and I was shocked to find out that not everybody embraces their geek side. Some people, even though comics and geek culture are very popular right now, keep it a secret that they…
Pet Peeves of Collecting
I collect stuff. A lot of stuff. Between my comic books, action figures, DVDs, CDs and video games. I have a lot of stuff. Having this much stuff doesn’t lead to every day being a “shiny happy day”. There are…
Thinking outside the books
Technology has reached a point where story could be created and shared in a new and different way. It’s time to take that opportunity by the scruff of the neck, and discover what’s actually possible by combining print and digital to…
Are there “rational” comic readers?
After reading two great columns this week about reading comics, a great When Worlds Collide and our own Across The Pond, it struck me that those who visit comic sites like ours aren’t “rational” comic readers but comic collectors. Give…
Comic Collecting And Real Life
My family is moving next week so I’ve been packing up my comics “stuff” since I don’t let the kids touch it and my wife steers clear of my hobby. Box after box of hardcovers and trade paperbacks were carefully…
The Rules
“One of a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a particular activity or sphere.” That is the definition of the word rules. When I collect comic books and action figures, I follow a set of…