Hi Everyone. Long time reader, first time poster.
First started seriously collecting as a kid in the 80's around the end of Secret Wars I. Up until then, I bought a few books here and there, but Secret Wars I was the books that turned me into a monthly buyer. Spent my allowance on books until I got a car, then slowly phased out. Stopped buy all together around ASM 287. Yea..... Thanks a lot Todd!!!!!!! Talk about timing.
As a kid I loved Marvel, especially Spider-Man, X-Men and Alpha Flight. Loved DC Green Lantern and odd books about Animal Super Heroes that talk like Captain Carrot, Spider-Ham and THUNDERBUNNY. You may recognize that last one from The League of Regrettable Superheroes. At one time, I was the proud owner of the single Highest Grade CGC 9.6 copy of Charlton Bullseye #6, First Appearance of THUNDERBUNNY. But I see there are 5 total copies on the census now. Hi Fellow THUNDERBUNNY fans! All 4 of you.
I wouldn't do much with comics for the next 20 years until I had a daughter. As much as I loved talking bunnies, I was really hooked on talking dogs. Especially one Mr Scobbert Doo. I loved rewatching all the classic Scooby Doo's cartoons with my daughter and discovering new one's. At some point, I decided I wanted to pick up collecting comic books again, but this time I wanted to be a bit more focused. Based on our shared love of Scooby Doo, I thought I'd do this with my daughter. I saw that Scooby Doo's Gold Key series only had 30 books. I thought how hard could it be to find 30 really nice copies of a nearly 40 year old comic series (now almost 50) about a talking dog that 2+ generations grew up on. Sigh, 10+ years latter and I'm 5 books away from having a fully graded set. I've been outbid so many times by some of you folks that I'm surprised I found 25 of 30. I did manage 1 solo high grade book Gold Key Scooby book and I'm on the registry now. Woohoo! Thanks for the hand me down grades as you upgraded your copy. Sheesh, tough crowd.
As an older collector, I've been lucky enough to pick up a few grails like a single wrap from AF15. I mean, geez, it's not like I could afford all those Gold Key Scooby Doo's and a pristine copy of AF 15.
Along the way, I took my daughter to meet Stan Lee (RIP), made a few friends that loved collecting as much as I do and discovered that I love reading modern sci-fi and fantasy comic series.
Image and Veritgo back issues are my go to for reading now with all their awesome sci-fi/fantasy series, but my heart still beats like that kid from the 80's who loved Spider-Man, Chris Claremont's X-Men and dreamed that one day the 53,247 copies of Darker Image #1 I stashed away would make him a gazillionaire.
PS If you're a THUNDERBUNNY fan and would like to join the elite ranks of 4 other CGC 9.6 fans, shoot me a message. I can't promise it'll be cheap, but I may consider selling. ;-)