A trip down memory lane...growing up with comics.

Hello, comic collectors! Welcome to my first journal posting.

At 49 years young, I've had some time to reflect on how my love for comics--and the hobby of collecting them--has evolved over time. With that in mind, I hope this recap of my journey brings back some good memories, and it gives you pause to reflect as well on just how many ways there are to enjoy and appreciate comics.

I've loved comics since I was about five years old, starting out on Gold Key and Harvey comics circa 1970. I literally developed my love of reading on Turok Son of Stone, Magnus Robot Fighter, Star Trek, Space Family Robinson, Richie Rich, Hot Stuff, Little Dot, Casper, Uncle Scrooge, Boris Karloff, Twilight Zone, Dark Shadows, Gyro Gearloose, Walt Disney Comics and Stories, and so on. My dad, who was an Air Force G.I. in Germany, would come home with a small pile for me on paydays.

My dad read Marvel Superhero comics, and I liked the characters, but I didn't really understand them. So, my main memory of superheroes during that era is limited to wrestling with my dad. I was always the Hulk, and he was the Silver Surfer. For some reason, the Silver Surfer always won.

As I got older and more independent (all of 8-10 years old), I began to buy comics on my own. I'd pedal my bike two miles to Magic Mart or 7-11 through the Arkansas summer heat, and I'd plop down my allowance money for a handful of comics and candy. With booty in hand, I'd excitedly ride back home, or to the park, with those comics tucked under my sweaty arm , or even gripped tightly around my handlebars. I remember my last nickel was often good enough for a package of Now and Laters, or one of those long, flat Jolly Rancher Stix that only came in Fire, Green Apple, and Watermelon.

On family vacations, we'd stop at Stuckey's, and that was a gold mine, because they always had comics, and usually in three-packs! (the old Whitman reprints). I'd read happily for hours in the back seat, while my sister played with her etch-a-sketch, and my parents drove and smoked up front...those were the days, haha!

Despite enjoying those types of comics immensely, then a brief foray into The Flash (cary bates era) and Action Comics (curt swan), I'd say I became a *real* collector (i.e., wanting to collect a complete series) in 1977 when I discovered Marvel's 24-issue Moench/Trimpe Godzilla run, as well as the Shogun Warriors run from the same era.

I was 12 years old when I bought Godzilla #9 (he trashes the Hoover Dam, then moves on to Las Vegas) at my local Quik Shop, and I still have that well-loved copy (probably a 4.0, haha!) Ah, those days...Godzilla, Shogun Warriors, ROM, Micronauts, Battlestar Galactica.

By then, I had learned to appreciate more complex stories that didn't start and end in a single issue, and superhero stories were the next step. I started with Fantastic Four and Spider-man. I focused primarily on Marvel, with a smattering of DC interests. At the end of the 1970's, I, along with everyone else had absolutely fallen in love with the immortal Claremont/Byrne X-Men. I also loved Spider-man, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, as well as the classic Wolfman/Perez New Teen Titans. It was in the 1978-1980 timeframe when I became much more condition conscious with my books, although I still had a lot to learn. I collected avidly for about nine years (1977-1986), which was from age 12-21 or so.

In 1986, my junior year in college, I abruptly and completely quit buying new comics due to a feeling of burnout (a malaise that I've since learned is not unique).

I still remember what triggered it. It was early 1986, Secret Wars II crossover and the return of Jean Grey. I was collecting at least 2/3 of the Marvel titles. The continuing proliferation (by Marvel and DC) of 4-issue mini-series, crossovers, etc. was just overwhelming, and I found it too difficult to keep up. The cost in terms of time and expense of reading, bagging and inventorying began to outweigh my enjoyment of the content. Simply, the hobby had become a chore.

A few other straws broke the camel's back. I was a huge X-Men fan back then (and one of the few Cyclops fans in my circle of fans). When a powerless Storm defeated Cyclops in hand-to-hand combat in issue #201, I was disgusted. Then, when Jean Grey returned, I pulled out my bright yellow BS flag and said "enough!"

Fortunately, I missed the '90's glut and meltdown. Alas, I also missed NM #98 and ASM #300, though...

Nowadays, I'm 49 years old and a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. I returned to the hobby in 2012 after a 27-year hiatus (although I kept all my old books during that time).

I've got about 3,500 comics (I didn't shed a single book during the hiatus). Latter bronze age, as well as copper age Marvel dominates my collection, with a smattering of early bronze and silver age stuff I picked up back then as back issues. I've also picked up quite a few modern books starting in around 2000. I do have a handful of GA books, but nothing significant or noteworthy.

These days, I'm working to complete my run of new X-men #94-143, filling in some gaps in Amazing Spider-man 100-200, a few Conan books, and upgrading my Godzilla collection (check it out here!)

For modern titles, I've really enjoyed Walking Dead, Superior Spider-man, Thief of Thieves, Saga, Alex and Ada, The Massive, and Uber. One of the true joys I discovered upon my return to comics (i.e., reading new issues) is Ultimate Spiderman. In my humble opinion, the Bendis/Bagley run is a high-water mark of the past 15 years.

Enough about me...thanks for checking out my collection!

To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.