Arkham

In terms of collecting focuses, I guess mine are probably fairly common.
1. I'm just setting off on the journey to build a high-grade competitive registry set for The Joker (1975), called "Eat Your Hearts Out!". Even though this run has only a fist-full of books in it, I expect that it will take some time (and even more luck) to complete in high grade. The census numbers for 9.8's across the set are both dauntingly, and excitingly, low. 
2. For fun, I am collecting The Joker vol 2 (2021) run raw (I also have the 1975 run raw and enjoy flicking through these in my spare time). 
I also like collecting classic Joker, Scarecrow and Batman covers, Batman-related homage / cover swipes and whenever I see those hounds (Batman #395, Dynamic Classics #, Batman #227 (and most Tec 31 swipes), I have to have them! I mostly pick these books up raw.. but when there is a deadset classic in the mix, like Batman #227 or Batman #251 - then I have to go graded! 
Which leads me to... 
3. My primary focus - 1st appearances of Batman villains. But, given I am average Joe, this will usually mean I'm looking for things like 1st Silver Age or 1st Modern appearances over the Golden Age. Honestly, I'll probably make my own rules a little here and there and bend some others... for example, the likelihood of me owning Batman #1 for the 1st app of the Joker is somewhere in the vicinity of zero. But, maybe I'll be able to pick up a (very low grade) Detective Comics #168 and fill that slot with his origin and I might keep that seat warm with a Joker #1 in the meantime... etc etc... 😬
To be frank, it's taken me a really long time to really settle in on this theme as a primary focus. I got lost in the weeds chasing any Bronze Age 1st app for awhile and, while this was fun and also allowed me to flip some great books to help my family when I needed to, it feels good to hone in on a primary focus and make sure I spend my meagre comics budget in the right way. 
Growing up I loved lots of books but my top three were Batman, The Phantom and Wolverine. Obviously Wolvie is a deadset weapon, but the thing I loved about The Phantom and Batman was that they were just men. Men who had motive, means, morals and a vigilante streak. I could relate more to a normal man than I could a mutant or an alien... even if I didn't have the "means" part of the equation. Over time I was more attracted to Batman's tech and the awesome villains he had to face down and the Phantom fell by the wayside to become a fond memory, while I just followed Batman. So, while I've read a bunch of Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, Golden Key etc.. I feel like I've always been a DC guy at heart. 
I was a little surprised that I couldn't find a competitive set for a Batman villains theme (although that could just be PEBKAC) so I created a custom set, called "The Rogues Gallery". It needs a LOT of work/love/sweat/tears/dollars to make it what I envision it to be... both in terms of the hunt but also in how it will eventually be presented. But, I'm excited about it and this journal is a way to capture some of my thoughts and experiences as I go. 

In my last journal entry, I spoke to my plans to target Batman #189 for the Rogues Gallery. 
Well, I did it. Ages ago, actually (in mid-May with an early June delivery)... But it turns out I am terrible at making time to update my journal and my registry sets. 
I absolutely LOVE this book. I have to thank @Wall-Crawler for spotting it over at @gregreece's and letting me know. #Legend.
This is exactly what I was after - a mid-grade book that presents beautifully. I could sit here and look at this stunner all day. In fact, I have done exactly that. 

In my last journal entry I promised that I would write more about what I love about the Scarecrow. As I sit here and think about the best way to word this, I realise that it's really simple - the Scarecrow is spooky AF... and I am super into that. 
There have been some very quirky, camp portrayals of Scarecrow (and all characters from the pages of Detective Comics and Batman) over the years, but when he is done well - then he is simply chilling. 
Here are some of the interpretations that I've loved: 
   
And I am really digging Jorge Jiménez's take in the current run: 

So... now that I have that beautiful book in my collection, what next? 
 
 

In my last journal entry, I spoke to my plans to target Batman #189 for the Rogues Gallery. 
Well, I did it. Ages ago, actually (in mid-May with an early June delivery)... But it turns out I am terrible at making time to update my journal and my registry sets. 
I absolutely LOVE this book. I have to thank @Wall-Crawler for spotting it over at @gregreece's and letting me know. #Legend.
This is exactly what I was after - a mid-grade book that presents beautifully. I could sit here and look at this stunner all day. In fact, I have done exactly that. 

In my last journal entry I promised that I would write more about what I love about the Scarecrow. As I sit here and think about the best way to word this, I realise that it's really simple - the Scarecrow is spooky AF... and I am super into that. 
There have been some very quirky, camp portrayals of Scarecrow (and all characters from the pages of Detective Comics and Batman) over the years, but when he is done well - then he is simply chilling. 
Here are some of the interpretations that I've loved: 
   
And I am really digging Jorge Jiménez's take in the current run: 

So... now that I have that beautiful book in my collection, what next? 
 
 

In my first journal post, I wrote what I collect and why...  Today's post is all about the latest mail call: Teen Titans (vol 6) #12 - the first full appearance of the Batman Who Laughs. While this is not even close to being the first Bat villain book in my collection (like I said, that set needs a lot of love), it's the first one that I've purchased since really embracing my primary focus.

(The image looks a little "weird" - I took it on an angle and then flattened it using Genius Scan to try to work around case reflections)
The market pricing for this book puzzles me... unless there is some DC cinematic universe rumour that I don't know about... but, at the time of writing, a 9.6 is selling around $190 and a 9.8 is selling around $780. I can literally buy a mid-grade, nicely presenting, Batman #189 for that price gap... so I couldn't justify outlaying for the 9.8 when there are beautiful 9.6's available! (Big thanks to @Wall-Crawler for providing awesome advice and being a sounding board through that decision!) 
Don't get me wrong, I freaking love this character concept. While it's not my favourite arc from that creative team, I love the idea of a villain who embodies a merge of my favourite good guy and my favourite baddie and I am stoked to be able to add this first full appearance to my collection. (I'll look to pick up the Metal #2 cameo later as a lower priority, as I already have a raw copy of Dark Days: The Casting)
I kind of gave it away above, but my next target is Batman #189. I'll write more about what I love about the Scarecrow when I have that book in my grubby paws. 
 

In my first journal post, I wrote what I collect and why...  Today's post is all about the latest mail call: Teen Titans (vol 6) #12 - the first full appearance of the Batman Who Laughs. While this is not even close to being the first Bat villain book in my collection (like I said, that set needs a lot of love), it's the first one that I've purchased since really embracing my primary focus.

(The image looks a little "weird" - I took it on an angle and then flattened it using Genius Scan to try to work around case reflections)
The market pricing for this book puzzles me... unless there is some DC cinematic universe rumour that I don't know about... but, at the time of writing, a 9.6 is selling around $190 and a 9.8 is selling around $780. I can literally buy a mid-grade, nicely presenting, Batman #189 for that price gap... so I couldn't justify outlaying for the 9.8 when there are beautiful 9.6's available! (Big thanks to @Wall-Crawler for providing awesome advice and being a sounding board through that decision!) 
Don't get me wrong, I freaking love this character concept. While it's not my favourite arc from that creative team, I love the idea of a villain who embodies a merge of my favourite good guy and my favourite baddie and I am stoked to be able to add this first full appearance to my collection. (I'll look to pick up the Metal #2 cameo later as a lower priority, as I already have a raw copy of Dark Days: The Casting)
I kind of gave it away above, but my next target is Batman #189. I'll write more about what I love about the Scarecrow when I have that book in my grubby paws. 
 

Early on in my collecting journey, I focused mostly on FF and soon added ASM.  ASM soon became my favorite and Marvel had a couple more titles featuring Spidey - MTU and Peter Parker.  I started collecting these as well.  At the time, I also watched the Saturday morning Superfriends cartoons (it was early around 7am?) featuring the DC superheroes.  Spiderman was completely different from Superman and the other more familiar DC superheroes.  He was young, had everyday struggles (such as paying the rent), was cracking jokes and was definitely more relatable.  His origin back-story about why he wanted to become a hero was also interesting and it just felt right.  I don't recall the first issue of ASM that I bought off the rack - but it was somewhere between 180 and 200.  I remember being disappointed in #200 (no new villain, just the same burglar).  Within a year or two, I became aware of that pivotal key in Spidey's life, ASM #121.  That was a shocker and I knew I had to get a copy.  I eventually did, and I also bought some other earlier issues along the way from a local comic store (#131, 139-140).  The villains were also pretty creative, well-developed, powerful and ruthless, and it was very entertaining.  
Within several months of starting ASM, I began collecting other Marvel titles.  X-Men was the other big one.  That also captivated me, with a team of mutants that worked together to fight off larger, more complex, and other-worldly enemies.  Similar to ASM #121, I know I had to get #94.  I already mentioned how I had to decide between GSX #1 and X-Men #94 in the last entry but I did put down GSX #1 as an alternate when I bought X-Men #94.  I had started to collect X-Men right around the time of the death of Phoenix (#137).  Shortly after that momentous issue, Kitty Pryde and Days of Future Past debuted.  Really great stories. 
In my early collecting days, I focused on the big 3: ASM, FF and X-Men.  Later, I started to collect other titles as well.  One other memorable story arc was DareDevil after Frank Miller took over.  Growing up in Hawaii, we would sometimes get to watch Japanese programming on TV. One of my favorites was Kage No Gundan, or, Shadow Warriors, about a Ige Ninja clan.  It was a weekly series that ran for 4-5 seasons in the early 80s.  That Daredevil run with the Hand were fantastic and I remember running some string from one wall to another in my bedroom and hanging these DD books from them, displaying them like someone hanging their clothes. It was my way of being able to look at their covers constantly, like pieces of art hanging in a museum.   Elektra and her sai were also enjoyable to read, as I had never seen those sai weapons before.  I started to draw my own comics, modeling enemies and battle scenes after DD and his battles with the Hand.  
I did collect Avengers and a little Hulk but wasn't really into Captain America.  When Wolverine appeared and starred in X-Men, I had a feeling he'd get his own series and couldn't wait for that to happen.  When it finally did in 1982, I quickly bought several copies of Wolverine #1-4.  I was 15 at the time, and this was the first time thinking that comics could be worth more down the road.  It was the first time when I intentionally bought more than one issue of a comic for investment purposes.  I bought 4 copies of #1, 2 of #2, #3 and 2 of #4.  I just recently submitted one of my #1's to CGC last December.  Around the same time, I started to invest in acid-free boxes, Mylar sleeves and acid-free boards - it was pretty expensive and the boxes were pretty heavy.
The early 80's were memorable to me as several new titles appeared: G.I. Joe, printed on that newer, better paper, New Teen Titans and TMNT.  It wasn't long before TMNT started to fetch incredible prices.  Once or twice in the late 1980's, I would buy an Overstreet and look up some of the prices - I looked up Wolverine, G.I. Joe, the Jim Lee issues of X-Men and TMNT, in particular, since those issues were taking off.  I recall back then how I had wished I was able to get TMNT, but I was glad to have G.I. Joe #1 and some of the X-Men.
Currently, the bulk of my collection remains in Hawaii while I've been living in Illinois ever since college.  With the pandemic, I've asked my mom to look through and inventory the boxes little by little.  Each time she goes through a book, it's like going on a treasure hunt since I had forgotten a lot of what I had collected.  It's funny, once she said I had FF #12 and I got really excited before finding out it was FF Annual #12.  I had to ask her to take some pics, because of that reason and also because there are so many Spiderman series and titles that it can get confusing.  Sometimes, I'm pleasantly surprised, such as when she told me that I had FF #66 and #112.  Other times, I'm disappointed that I didn't have Star Wars #42 (I have #7-69 but not 39 and 42).  Of course, I remembered I had X-Men #94 and ASM #121 (low grade) among the keys.  There are still 8 boxes on the top-most shelf that my mom can't get to, so the next time I'm able to get to Hawaii, I'll be sure to see what's in those boxes.  I know my G.I. Joe run is in there.  The really big question is if I have IH #181.  For whatever reason, I just remember that I was disappointed with the story.  That issue hasn't come up so far in the other 26 short boxes the my mom inventoried.  However, I'm not even sure that I do have a copy.  Maybe I'm just wanting to believe that I have it so much that I became convinced that I have it.  Maybe I read a reprint, or maybe I just imagined it?  At my age, I can't trust my memory anymore.  Until I go back, I can only hope.  Who knows what lies in those other 8 boxes?  Maybe IH181 and TMNT #1 (highly doubtful)!  I'll just have to wait to find out.

In my first journal post, I wrote what I collect and why...  Today's post is all about the latest mail call: Teen Titans (vol 6) #12 - the first full appearance of the Batman Who Laughs. While this is not even close to being the first Bat villain book in my collection (like I said, that set needs a lot of love), it's the first one that I've purchased since really embracing my primary focus.

(The image looks a little "weird" - I took it on an angle and then flattened it using Genius Scan to try to work around case reflections)
The market pricing for this book puzzles me... unless there is some DC cinematic universe rumour that I don't know about... but, at the time of writing, a 9.6 is selling around $190 and a 9.8 is selling around $780. I can literally buy a mid-grade, nicely presenting, Batman #189 for that price gap... so I couldn't justify outlaying for the 9.8 when there are beautiful 9.6's available! (Big thanks to @Wall-Crawler for providing awesome advice and being a sounding board through that decision!) 
Don't get me wrong, I freaking love this character concept. While it's not my favourite arc from that creative team, I love the idea of a villain who embodies a merge of my favourite good guy and my favourite baddie and I am stoked to be able to add this first full appearance to my collection. (I'll look to pick up the Metal #2 cameo later as a lower priority, as I already have a raw copy of Dark Days: The Casting)
I kind of gave it away above, but my next target is Batman #189. I'll write more about what I love about the Scarecrow when I have that book in my grubby paws. 
 

The Death and Return of Superman saga is so 90s, and also credited with the beginning of the publishing gluttony that paved the way for the market crash later in the decade. One such 90s thing about this set is the number of "Collector's Editions" released. I have most of these and enjoy them, but it has been frustrating finding them graded. These editions crowed just about every comic shop in America but I never see any raw 9.8 candidates. Most of the graded examples are also listed with high BIN prices, so I wait patiently for regular auctions.
All four Superman titles cover dated June, 1993, were released with Collector's Editions along with regular or newsstand counterparts, starting with Adventures of Superman #500. AoS #500 was the prelude to the "Reign of the Supermen!" storyline, introducing four new Supermen. AoS #500 Collector's Edition came sealed with a trading card. 
  
I believe AoS #500 was the most ordered and distributed comic book of 1993. I had my eye on a few eBay auctions for 9.8 graded editions recently and was surprised to see them realize $50 to $75. 
The next Collector's Editions were the four Superman titles that followed AoS #500 with Die Cut covers, these editions also came with a centerfold poster.
   
Then the real Superman finally returned, with two more (and shinny) Collector's Editions for Superman #82 and Adventures of Superman #505.
 
 
What I have thus far.

I just need the Collector's Editions of Superman #78, Adventures of Superman #501 and #505. I also need a scanner.
As of this writing, AoS #505 has only 1 9.8 listed for both the regular and Collector's Edition.  

It was quite the learning experience this year when I decided to start slabbing some of my older books and then taking a stab a prepping comic books for signings. As of now, I have about 26 books slabbed and that was all I was gonna do this year.   Then came that big signing thing sometime in October/November as well as that Geoff John's and company signing in January.  The end result, my budget on slabbing is gonna be hitting the ceiling.  It's time like this where it would be awesome to win lottery, that way I would get Mr. Dan Jurgens, Peter David, Howard Porter, Mrs. Louise Simonson, Keith Griffen, J.M DeMatteis to sign "EVERY SINGLE ISSUE" of their work that I have in my collection....sigh....only a dream.  Frustrating part is sending enough to make up for shipping costs coming back...Sigh