Lacking in wealth and well, taste is subjective.

I started collecting when my parents took me to a large Flea Market when was about 10 years old. There was a vendor selling comics and my dad let me pick out a few. I remember an issue of "Kamandi, The Last Boy on Earth", "Adventure Comics" with Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, "Fantastic Four" with Silver Surfer and a "Justice League of America " comic book. Looks like I went for team books. I always looked forward to when my parents went discount shopping, even though they spent hours and hours, just so I could dig through the boxes to buy something to read during the long day. I purchased a copy of that Kamandi issue, #29, on eBay (CGC 9.6) to hang in my office. Ironically it was my first CGC graded comic.

As I got older, I began to see my ever-growing pile of comics as a "collection". I created an inventory list so I could fill in the gaps, mainly to finish reading the storyline. Eventually I began to notice that some of the issues that I needed cost more money than others. The key book for me was Batman #232 by Neal Adams so I could learn Ra's al Ghul's origin. This was a whole new way of thinking for me. It was also the first time I recognized a particular artist to follow on top of what already made comics appealing to me, the characters and stories. I helped the local candy store owner put out the new books every week so I could get nice copies of each title on my list. Then I found out about Comic Book Conventions! I shoveled snow, weeded gardens, raked leaves and anything else I could help the neighbors with to work for money to spend on comics. And I read every book I bought.

As my collection grew, I knew I needed to sell some books to make room and be able to afford other books on my want list. I approached the local comic show organizer and he let me rent a table for the next show. I loved it! I met people with similar interests, sold some items and bought even more. I eventually branched out into Cards and Action Figures. My collection grew exponentially when I worked with a local comic store and then got my own Diamond account. In 2003 my priorities changed. I got married and closed my account and stopped selling. In 2013 I came back to comics and all the youthful emotions came flooding back. Now I sell mainly on my eBay store but would love to set up at some conventions again, regular job permitting. Every item I list brings to mind treasured memories... but I usually only part with duplicates as I cannot seem to let things go completely.

Thanks for reading!

James

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