Who would think a disposable pastime like a comic book would turn into an avocation and remain a passion over half a century.

I acquired my first comic collection circa 1963 but began reading comics in 1960. The books included some EC's, Barks' duck comics and Avengers #1. Not bad for a five year old. I began buying comics that year and amassed 60,000 by 1994. I traded the Avengers #1 for the first six issues of Spider-man, which I still have and reacquired the Avengers for $3. I began attending comic conventions in 1976 and would set up tables from 1984 until 2000. This allowed me to meet many, many artists and writers, some of whom I maintained friendships for several decades. I then began to collect original art including covers, paintings and pages; as well as comic scripts from friends of mine who letterers prior to computer generated work.

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