I want back in.

[pennynike1]

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

 

What about people who collect books with fantastic cover art (i.e. GGA collectors)?

[BassGMan]

[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.

 

Yes, I did used to collect "bad girl" comics and did especially enjoy the more hardcore Armando Huerta High Impact covers (I'd like some more if anyone has any of the Huerta books), so you are right in that sense. I do like some of the more adult-oriented collectibles, at least as far as comics and non-sports trading cards go.

 

Oh, I'm a "MySpace" guy now. I've really been into that the last six months or so. Great for bands and musicians to network and spread the word about gigs and stuff, check my page out: http://www.myspace.com/bassdudesa

Send me a friend request if anyone is interested. --------Sid

[adamstrange]

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

 

What about people who collect books with fantastic cover art (i.e. GGA collectors)?

 

It's now illegal. You should stop.

[comic_list-migration]

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.

 

Terrible comparison. Comics have never been "legal tender", and those 2 items were never intended as entertainment. Not reading comics would be the same as someone who collects bass guitars and never plays a note on any of them, or buys CDs for the cover artwork and doesn't listen to the disc.

[pennynike1]

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

 

What about people who collect books with fantastic cover art (i.e. GGA collectors)?

 

It's now illegal. You should stop.

 

Be glad to do so, right after I pick up a few amazing books from yourself, RareHighGrade, and skybolt

[pennynike1]

 

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

 

After the Image comics fiasco in the 90's, I did lose interest in collecting comic books, but I can't say I ever grew tired of reading Amazing Spider-man. ASM is the one title I can always go back to repeatedly and never get tired of, especially the first 149 issues. Just some great quality writing, with excellent character development, not to mention some of the most signficant 1st appearances in all of comics.

 

I find that watching a comic-related movie is a good way to get motivated to look at/read comic books. Searching for, and finding a rare, nostalgic, or key book in high grade always motivates me into a spending frenzy.

 

In the end, collect what you like.

[BassGMan]

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.

 

Terrible comparison. Comics have never been "legal tender", and those 2 items were never intended as entertainment. Not reading comics would be the same as someone who collects bass guitars and never plays a note on any of them, or buys CDs for the cover artwork and doesn't listen to the disc.

 

Granted it is not a direct comparison, but my analogy was to look at how much joy stamp and coin collectors get from their hobbies without the added bonus of being able to read them. There is still all the history, art (much less so in coins and stamps), nostalgia, hunt, coolness, investment possibility (if you know what you are doing), and etc. in stamps and coins. Sooooo much more of that in comics without even reading them.

 

Funny how I have had to defend my non-reader stance for years on this forum. Some people just don't get it. I read some comics as a kid, yeah I enjoyed it, but it was never a highlight for me. It was the hunt, the art, covers and "coolness factor" of the medium that turned me on. Stories? Bah! Great for some, not that important or interesting for others. I'd rather watch a movie.

[pennynike1]

If you can't enjoy reading Spider-man, then there no pleasing you...

 

No soup for you

[precodekeith]

"My biggest obstacle, which I need to overcome, is the lack of desire to spend money on books."

 

Actually, if this is your mindset, don't get back into it. If you want to remain casually involved I'd go with trades, Showcase and/or Essentials. Oh, I forgot. you aren't a reader. Oh well...maybe it's just not meant to be.

 

[precodekeith]

Seriously Sid, life is short so collect what you want.

I myself, if you remember, am a "reader." I used to despise the " slab" collector, but these days I really see a difference in what they collect & what I collect, and I have no quarrel with "slabbies" whatsoever.

 

At one time my philosophy was, "If you just want to collect for the nicest looking cover you may as well save some $ and just look at pretty scans on the internet."

 

Not anymore. Collect what you want to collect, but please don't feel like you need to seek "approval" here or anywhere else.

[precodekeith]

....except for horror comics. They suck, stay away from them. Buy more Hulk books....

[PovertyRow]

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.

 

Terrible comparison. Comics have never been "legal tender", and those 2 items were never intended as entertainment. Not reading comics would be the same as someone who collects bass guitars and never plays a note on any of them, or buys CDs for the cover artwork and doesn't listen to the disc.

 

I think it is a good comparison. Comics were produced to be read and to sell items advertised by the - well - advertisers. They were not produced to be collected. So reading a comic book equates to stamping a letter or spending money. It is their primary purpose: to stamp, to spend, to read.

 

When you start collecting in the classic sense of collecting you add new dimensions to the object and find different purposes for collecting. I can understand what Sid means about being able to collect but not read a comic. Comics can have a sense of "identity" to some people. By that I mean it is not necessarily the text and pictures but what the book as a whole represents. It can represnt an era and subsets of an era: how crime, horror, romance, sci-fi etc. were portrayed based on then current mores and perceptions. It is why the various ages can "feel" so different. All of the ages definitely have a distinct feel and the genres within those ages can also have a unique feel. This feel can be as compelling to a collector as would be a well written multi-issue arc to a serious reader of comics. And you don't have to read the book to get that feeling. There is something about the book itself as a whiole, just sitting there, that can convey that if one is sensitive to that particular sense.

 

On my own front, I was thinking of starting to acquire some SA keys but have decided against it. The passion just ain;t there. I find comics interesting now but still have no passion or desire to collect them.

 

Sid - on a final thought - you really cannot create passion. If you think you have succeeded it will probably last for a while then dissipate. I'd just listen to your insides and follow what you hear.

[synch]

yup some very good points have been brought up that I would not have generally thought of ... & its true one can have fun collecting even if you don't read or what not whatever it is one is collecting

 

 

For me though it just makes it that much more fun!

[BassGMan]

 

I think it is a good comparison. Comics were produced to be read and to sell items advertised by the - well - advertisers. They were not produced to be collected. So reading a comic book equates to stamping a letter or spending money. It is their primary purpose: to stamp, to spend, to read.

 

When you start collecting in the classic sense of collecting you add new dimensions to the object and find different purposes for collecting. I can understand what Sid means about being able to collect but not read a comic. Comics can have a sense of "identity" to some people. By that I mean it is not necessarily the text and pictures but what the book as a whole represents. It can represnt an era and subsets of an era: how crime, horror, romance, sci-fi etc. were portrayed based on then current mores and perceptions. It is why the various ages can "feel" so different. All of the ages definitely have a distinct feel and the genres within those ages can also have a unique feel. This feel can be as compelling to a collector as would be a well written multi-issue arc to a serious reader of comics. And you don't have to read the book to get that feeling. There is something about the book itself as a whiole, just sitting there, that can convey that if one is sensitive to that particular sense.

 

On my own front, I was thinking of starting to acquire some SA keys but have decided against it. The passion just ain;t there. I find comics interesting now but still have no passion or desire to collect them.

 

Sid - on a final thought - you really cannot create passion. If you think you have succeeded it will probably last for a while then dissipate. I'd just listen to your insides and follow what you hear.

 

Very good points Pov. You stated that better than I could. I actually do pretty much feel how you just stated it, however I never put it into words (or even thoughts) like you just did.

 

How is that Sitar playing coming along? Still have those major calluses on your fingers? My fingertips are hard as a rock now (been playin' alot recently).

 

Also Pov, I remember years ago you mostly swore off comics yourself, sold almost everything you had, or at least talked about it. Are you back in, and if so, how have your interests and priorities changed regarding the hobby?

[PovertyRow]

Yo Sid. Music is coming along well. The callouses are bad as ever! But hand problems from surgery in the left hand and tendonitis in the right makes consistent practicing more difficult. But vocal is a practice unto itsel;f which I can do, and it has trremendous impact on playing an instruemnt.

 

I dabbled with the idea of resuming collecting a couple or 3 months ago but ultimately felt there really was no desire there. Did not feel right at all. But I still have friends here and still have interest in the more research type aspects. But the thrill at holding a classic precode horror cover just isn't there. I sold my precode collection a long while back.

[OldGuy]

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.

 

Terrible comparison. Comics have never been "legal tender", and those 2 items were never intended as entertainment. Not reading comics would be the same as someone who collects bass guitars and never plays a note on any of them, or buys CDs for the cover artwork and doesn't listen to the disc.

 

I think it is a good comparison. Comics were produced to be read and to sell items advertised by the - well - advertisers. They were not produced to be collected. So reading a comic book equates to stamping a letter or spending money. It is their primary purpose: to stamp, to spend, to read.

 

When you start collecting in the classic sense of collecting you add new dimensions to the object and find different purposes for collecting. I can understand what Sid means about being able to collect but not read a comic. Comics can have a sense of "identity" to some people. By that I mean it is not necessarily the text and pictures but what the book as a whole represents. It can represnt an era and subsets of an era: how crime, horror, romance, sci-fi etc. were portrayed based on then current mores and perceptions. It is why the various ages can "feel" so different. All of the ages definitely have a distinct feel and the genres within those ages can also have a unique feel. This feel can be as compelling to a collector as would be a well written multi-issue arc to a serious reader of comics. And you don't have to read the book to get that feeling. There is something about the book itself as a whiole, just sitting there, that can convey that if one is sensitive to that particular sense.

 

On my own front, I was thinking of starting to acquire some SA keys but have decided against it. The passion just ain;t there. I find comics interesting now but still have no passion or desire to collect them.

 

Sid - on a final thought - you really cannot create passion. If you think you have succeeded it will probably last for a while then dissipate. I'd just listen to your insides and follow what you hear.

 

And let's face it, the cover is the only part worth a chrap on about 90% of every comic book ever published, like pretty much the entire Golden Age for example.