Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Great Divide

As someone that has collected sports cards for a very long time, i like to think i know what im talking about when i do talk about them.

As someone that is fairly new to collecting comics, i know i have a lot to learn.

In the card world, there are pretty clear "lines in the sand" for those that collect, particularly on the hardcore collecting side.   "Old vs New".    Those that love old, love it hardcore and vice versa.

Same "thing" seems to be the case in the comic world.  Maybe its just me, and my new learning ways, but there seems to be a LOT more "disregard" for "Modern" collectors by those that choose to collect the old stuff.

i see it time and time again..... Someone paid WHAT for (new book here)? Hell, i could by (number here) (time period here) "Keys" for that kind of money!"

who cares?  grow the fuck up and let those that want to buy what THEY WANT TO, buy it!  That just means that they (most likely) wont be competing against you for those things that YOU WANT TO BUY.

Sure these same situations occur in the card world, but the venom just doesnt seem to be as vile.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The three dollar piece of art.

Yea, i know, that sounds pretty weird, right?

If you think about it, Comic Books really are pieces of art.  They look nice in a frame, hanging on your wall.  Not ALL covers, duh.  But surely the ones that appeal to you.  Same goes for "traditional" art, ya know :) and GENERALLY, cover price for a comic is $3.  yep, three bucks for a piece of art.  i absolutely love it.

When it comes to a comic being collectable, they sure can be.   No, not ALL of them, but some sure do appreciate in "value".  But never confuse the two.  This is no longer the 1990's (i know, sigh if you'd like) and owning PERFECT MINT AWESOME copies of the latest, greatest NUMBER ONE ISSUE(!) doesnt mean that you're grandkids are going to strike it rich.  That's just not how it is.  COLLECT long enough, and you'll know what im saying.

Coming from a card collecting background into the comic collecting world last year, i learned a lot of things.  what i love about hobbies is that its an ongoing learning process, always learning, always appreciative to learn and hopefully help others in the same way.

One glaring difference (there are MANY) between collecting comics and cards is the way that they are distributed.  Comics are generally sold through LCS' (Local Comic Shops) as well as online shops.  Cards are distributed the same way really, but the big difference is that at pretty much any time i can open an "old" pack of cards and pull a rookie card of whomever i am trying to get.  Sure its not the most "sane" way to go about it, but it IS possible.   For comics, there is no such thing.  Just not the way it works.

As of this typing, one of the hottest books in the market is SAGA.  No shock there as anyone that knows me knows that ive stood on my soapbox and screamed that for the better part of the last 7 months or so.  Anyway, Issue #1 is now in the $100 area.  Cover price was, you guessed it, three bucks.  The only way to get one now is to go to the secondary market and buy one (or more ;).  there are no "packs" that were made that you can buy and pull a Saga #1.  Will it maintain "value"? who the hell knows?  that isnt the point.

Next time you're in an area where there is a comic shop, do yourself a favor, go in and have a look around.  Sure the staff might fill every stereotype youve ever heard, but so what? MOST of them are nice people, shy perhaps, but willing to share what they know. 

Hell, you might actually pick up a nice piece of art for yourself :)






Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Comic Books, they ain't just "funny books" anymore.

Now that 2013 is in full swing, i think its about time that Marvel and DC wake up and realize what people in todays world are about.

i will freely admit that i do not support Marvel floppies in any way.  i cannot see spending $4 for something that is printed on paper stock that feels like Scotts Toilet Tissue and on top of that, is littered with adverts IN THE MIDDLE of the story.  WHo goes to the movies and expects to see adverts in the middle of the show?

anyway, Marvel needs to wake up and realize that todays comic book reader, regardless of age, sees and interacts with people that swear, are mean, are evil, kill people, are violent, etc.  When is the last time Peter Parker told someone to "fuck off!"? now im not saying that it needs to be 23856 times an issue, but how about making the character a little more realistic?

While im at it, how about coming out with some titles that are NOT fucking super-heroes? would that be so bad?  i enjoy reading books that are not all about superheroes, books that are somewhat about real, everyday life. 

anyway, just wanted to get that out there.

Thanks for taking your time out to read my drek :)

-Eric

Monday, January 14, 2013

Happy New Year Everybody!

Welcome to 2013.  Hard to imagine, eh? i hear you.

i hope everyone had a safe holiday season.  Baseball is just around the corner, Football is winding down, and The Walking Dead & SAGA! are on FIRE!

i hope more people start reading Image Comic releases, they are awesomeness!

meanwhile, Marvel and DC continue to put their comics out on the worst fucking possible paper stock they can find.  Holding their books is like handling a 3-ply roll of toilet paper (and lets not even discuss what the content is like! LOL)

ok, enough rambling.  Wanted to blog today, so here it is.

Maybe this year i'll blog more about TWD and SAGAH! yea, its SAGA, but its funny to just say SAGAH!

i have to address something ... My third favorite comic book ... Revival.  Unfortunately my uber-excitement for this book is somewhat diminished by a certain fuckbag comic book snake oil-salesman slinger in the New England Area.  His program is going to be re-releasing the FIRST TWELVE issues.  mind you, issue #1 came out last JULY.  his version will be out next week.  fucking a.  But Eric, you LOVE additional printings!  yea, that's true, but i also like them because they are available for less then cover price.  Sadly these wont be.  oh well.

ok, thanks for reading my dreck :)