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I want back in.

Started by BassGMan,

56 posts in this topic

Calamerica

Calamerica

Posted
Posted
I used to post here all the time. I liked participating in many of the controversial subjects about comics, among other basic comic-geek topics. But I lost my passion for the hobby. I miss it. I used to also buy and sell alot on Ebay (and here). Not any more. I do have the San Diego con coming up again, 16th year in a row, and regardless of my lack of interest in comics these days, I'm excited as hell.

 

How do I get back in? I'm not a "reader", so picking up any new stories won't do it. It's that collecting bug that hasn't bit me in a while. The passion to seek out that high grade book that I can send in to CGC and anxiously await my results. That cool looking 70s cover, that book I remember from my childhood, etc.

 

My biggest obstacle, which I need to overcome, is the lack of desire to spend money on books. There are always so many other things that seem to be better uses of my "disposable" income (or even credit). Travel, musical gear, home upgrades, entertainment......

 

Have any of you lost your interest, and if so, how did you find it again?

 

I had several "breaks" in the comic book world.

 

The eBay thing got me really going

 

evolved into the high grade collector I am today

 

"Lost" some fire over the years with troubles relating to buyers/sellers on eBay

 

"Lost" more fire over the petty arguments on eBay Comics Chat boards and the general sentiment over there is that they HATE HATE HATE CGC and anything to do with encapsulating/preserving comics. When that kid "rutgersknight" sold that TOS 80-something for $1,500 no one tried to defend him except for me. I could almost understand that Board villifing me, but not that lucky kid.

 

"Lost" more fire when the eBay comics chat trolls chased me here and continued their "spin" against me

 

"Lost" more fire over when several sellers ripped me off - they can't grade their way

out of a used cardboard box that they should be living out of..

 

But over time the 'fire" came back on its own.

 

Either it is there or it is not

 

Good luck

 

CAL has that fire

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Calamerica

Calamerica

Posted
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Cal you are definitely one of my favorite posters (worship)

 

Thanx!!!

 

That means a lot to me!

 

I try to be good for the hobby in general!

 

CAL trying to contribute

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delekkerste

delekkerste

Posted
Posted
But yeah, a grand on comics instead of on a fancy new TV or (another) bass is hard to justify, considering those things have a greater impact on my life, as opposed to a comic that sits in a box or on a shelf and "does nothing" other than to give me pleasure in ownership. That's been my problem, trying to justify the purchases.

 

You have ascended to a higher plane of wisdom. Don't fight it. :makepoint:

 

I lost my passion for collecting comic books a few years ago and, lately, I have been suffering a bit of burnout from collecting original comic art as well. Instead of having an existential crisis over it, though, I just accept that my heart really isn't into it now and if the fire comes back, great, and if it doesn't, there are plenty of other things that I can invest or spend my money on.

 

In the meantime, I am comforted that my passion for the source material has remained strong for 25 years and that I continue to read comic books and admire original art. I just bought the complete ASM run through 2006 on DVD for like $40 - I sure as :censored: don't need to drop $12K on an ASM #129 9.8 or $25K on another Ditko Spidey page to get all the enjoyment I need out of comics. :juggle:

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Calamerica

Calamerica

Posted
Posted
But yeah, a grand on comics instead of on a fancy new TV or (another) bass is hard to justify, considering those things have a greater impact on my life, as opposed to a comic that sits in a box or on a shelf and "does nothing" other than to give me pleasure in ownership. That's been my problem, trying to justify the purchases.

 

You have ascended to a higher plane of wisdom. Don't fight it. :makepoint:

 

I lost my passion for collecting comic books a few years ago and, lately, I have been suffering a bit of burnout from collecting original comic art as well. Instead of having an existential crisis over it, though, I just accept that my heart really isn't into it now and if the fire comes back, great, and if it doesn't, there are plenty of other things that I can invest or spend my money on.

 

In the meantime, I am comforted that my passion for the source material has remained strong for 25 years and that I continue to read comic books and admire original art. I just bought the complete ASM run through 2006 on DVD for like $40 - I sure as :censored: don't need to drop $12K on an ASM #129 9.8 or $25K on another Ditko Spidey page to get all the enjoyment I need out of comics. :juggle:

 

Gene

 

good to see ya!!!

 

CAL who remembers the good ones

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Annihilus

Annihilus

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"Lost" more fire over the petty arguments on eBay Comics Chat boards and the general sentiment over there is that they HATE HATE HATE CGC and anything to do with encapsulating/preserving comics. When that kid "rutgersknight" sold that TOS 80-something for $1,500 no one tried to defend him except for me. I could almost understand that Board villifing me, but not that lucky kid.

 

"Lost" more fire when the eBay comics chat trolls chased me here and continued their "spin" against me

 

How in the world could anyone spin something against you? For the past year at least, you've always been a great poster and have mostly nothing but good things to say about the hobby and the folks around here. Your stuff is always fun to read!

 

Of course, Annihilus has only been here a year, so maybe you were evil before then :insane:

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Calamerica

Calamerica

Posted
Posted

"Lost" more fire over the petty arguments on eBay Comics Chat boards and the general sentiment over there is that they HATE HATE HATE CGC and anything to do with encapsulating/preserving comics. When that kid "rutgersknight" sold that TOS 80-something for $1,500 no one tried to defend him except for me. I could almost understand that Board villifing me, but not that lucky kid.

 

"Lost" more fire when the eBay comics chat trolls chased me here and continued their "spin" against me

 

How in the world could anyone spin something against you? For the past year at least, you've always been a great poster and have mostly nothing but good things to say about the hobby and the folks around here. Your stuff is always fun to read!

 

Of course, Annihilus has only been here a year, so maybe you were evil before then :insane:

 

I was VERY evil in 2002 - 2006

 

evil CAL

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Zonker

Zonker

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I'd put your dilemma under "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". You're excited about going to the SD Con and "travel, musical gear, home upgrades, entertainment..."

 

It reads like you have your spending priorities supporting exactly what you enjoy, so what's wrong with that? (shrug)

 

 

 

Actually, it is a little bit "broke". I miss the passion that I had, I want to get it back. The thing about comics, at least for me, is that the comics want nothing back. Whether I am traveling or playing music, just about everything else I do involves other people. That's great, that is what life is all about, but I kind of miss the thing that I do alone, with no expectations from anyone else, no one else to please. That's comics for me.

 

I think I will try just placing a few Ebay ads to sell some books, then "force" myself to find something interesting with the proceeds. Just churning comics for comics. Could be fun, I can rationalize that. Nothing I'm looking for at the moment, but it may stir up the bugs again, and if I'm lucky, one of those suckers will bite me good. I'm also hoping San Diego will get me going again.

 

 

So, since this does seem to be something you want to "fix," how about looking for an area of the market where you can find perceived bargains? Not so-called undervalued books that can be flipped (although that might be fun in itself), but instead books that potentially mean more to you as a collector than they do to the seller or to most of the competition among other buyers. The problem then is finding something that you think is particularly cool, and cooler than the market as a whole understands. Maybe rock & roll covers? Or a type-set of comics from the month of your birth? Since I know you're a cover guy, take a stroll through

 

Mike's DC Comics Time Machine

 

Pick a random month, and click through month-to-month or year-to-year and see what out of that variety catches your eye. Vietnam-era war comics? Angst-y romance comics featuring 1970s fashions? Bernie Wrightson Jack O'Lantern horror covers?

 

Good luck! :wishluck: and Welcome Back! :hi:

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BassGMan

BassGMan

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Porno, thats the ticket for "disposable" income!

To heck with comics!

:roflmao:

 

Ummmm, in BassGMan's case, he is NOT joking. This guy is the Prince of Porn, if not the actual King. :o

 

Well, I can see that Joseph surely has not changed. If you want to bring up the specifics of what you are referring to, and I certainly do remember what that is, I'd be glad to discuss that with you or anyone, but as for your statement, I am not into porn, do not surf the web for it, do not spend money on it, and really have nothing to do with it, but I do own one DVD, Pirates, just for kicks (bought at the San Diego con last year). Porn to me is boring, I was NEVER into it. But what I DO admire are pretty girls, I can't get enough of that (who can?).

 

Thanks for the support and "hi" from some of you guys. I'm still around, trying to get back into it. I probably will, though not put much money into it.

 

Thanks for the comments and usual wisdom Gene, you were always one of my favorite posters here and just about everything you write makes perfect sence.

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VintageComics

VintageComics

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Posted

Bass, just want to say that I was wondering about a week ago where you were. I started posting as you were on your way out but I did enjoy your posts.

 

Just go with the flow. You don't have to pic a direction...it will eventually become clear. Just think through your purchases and you'll be fine.

 

From what I remember you're a smart boy.

 

(thumbs u

 

Welcome back!

 

R.

 

 

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BassGMan

BassGMan

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I frankly do not see a point to collecting if you do not read

 

I know, plenty of you feel that way. I have had to spell out all the reasons I (at least used to) truly enjoy this hobby, without ever reading a single book in my adulthood, several times before. The reasons are vast. I just don't feel like going through that again. Let's just say that stamp collectors don't mail their stamps and coin collectors don't spend their coins, same basic principle. There is obviously a heck of a lot more to comic book collecting than the stories themselves.

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VintageComics

VintageComics

Posted
Posted
I frankly do not see a point to collecting if you do not read

 

I know, plenty of you feel that way. I have had to spell out all the reasons I (at least used to) truly enjoy this hobby, without ever reading a single book in my adulthood, several times before. The reasons are vast. I just don't feel like going through that again. Let's just say that stamp collectors don't mail their stamps and coin collectors don't spend their coins, same basic principle. There is obviously a heck of a lot more to comic book collecting than the stories themselves.

 

I agree. I don't have time to read now but have read and will read again. I love comics because of how they have affected pop culture. I'm a nostalgic person...that is the #1 reason I collect.

 

(thumbs u

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joe_collector

joe_collector

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[Porn to me is boring, I was NEVER into it.

 

Sorry, I thought you were the guy with a massive collection of bad girls/softcore/porn comic book collection.

 

Now I'm wondering who that was. (shrug)

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joe_collector

joe_collector

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[i'm a nostalgic person...that is the #1 reason I collect.

 

Same here - I was putting some comics away this weekend, saw a familiar cover, and it brought a nice rush back to my childhood. :cloud9:

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