Collecting one and only one title 4 4

[The lips]

Anybody else do this ?

When I was young I collected around 6 or 7 titles monthly but now I only focus on ASM. 

My goal is to complete full run of ASM ( plus AF15) from issue 1 to 375 and I’m determined to do so. 
As we know it’s not cheap so to help fund this I’ve  sold off vast majority of all other titles. 
I do miss my Fantastic Four / Silver Surfer / X Men but they’ve been sacrificed unfortunately for the greater good. 
I still regularly feel the urge to buy other titles but my way of thinking is that money spent on other titles means I’m not buying an issue to complete my goal of ASM completion. 
 

if I had the money I would just buy them all but my pockets aren’t deep enough !! I almost feel guilty and almost a comic book fraud by only buying one title so anybody else do this or just me ??!! 

[D84]

I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I've considered dumping everything else and focusing on the longest run of Detective Comics (1st series, up to 881) I can put together.

Edited July 3, 2021 by D84

[badback83]

33 minutes ago, The lips said:

Anybody else do this ?

When I was young I collected around 6 or 7 titles monthly but now I only focus on ASM. 

My goal is to complete full run of ASM ( plus AF15) from issue 1 to 375 and I’m determined to do so. 
As we know it’s not cheap so to help fund this I’ve  sold off vast majority of all other titles. 
I do miss my Fantastic Four / Silver Surfer / X Men but they’ve been sacrificed unfortunately for the greater good. 
I still regularly feel the urge to buy other titles but my way of thinking is that money spent on other titles means I’m not buying an issue to complete my goal of ASM completion. 
 

if I had the money I would just buy them all but my pockets aren’t deep enough !! I almost feel guilty and almost a comic book fraud by only buying one title so anybody else do this or just me ??!! 

Don’t feel guilty.  Just because you only collect one title doesn’t mean you’re any less a comic fan or collector than someone who collects 30 titles.  Collect what you like.  When I first started back collecting in 2007, my only goal was X-Men 1-100.  I did that, then moved onto something else.

[The lips]

5 minutes ago, DocHoppus182 said:

Don’t feel guilty.  Just because you only collect one title doesn’t mean you’re any less a comic fan or collector than someone who collects 30 titles.  Collect what you like.  When I first started back collecting in 2007, my only goal was X-Men 1-100.  I did that, then moved onto something else.

Thanks. 
 

yeah that’s the plan, once I complete this or get as damn close as I financially can I’ll start on another run. Probably Silver Surfer volume 1 as I still have first issue. 

[Ken Aldred]

Steve / Marwood is a Spider-Man specialist as well, and I admire this level of pin-sharp focus, something I’m incapable of.  I prefer to read a wide range of different stories and different character types; super-hero, non-superhero, indie, but, as long as they are comics that keep you engaged with the medium over the long term, that’s all that really matters, not subjectively measuring one polar opposite approach to the exact same interest against another.

Edited July 3, 2021 by Ken Aldred

[followtheleader]

Not I. 

Hell, I can't even get to 1 publisher let alone 1 title. 

Patrick 

[StingerMcK]

I've tried it a few times and for me, it was impossible.  I like too many characters, and you then stop looking at other books. I get bored.

Edited July 3, 2021 by StingerMcK

[amatta]

i think @speedcake is doing something similar these days... it's a good idea and leads to a very impressive collection, even if you can't grab some of the harder ones ...

[The lips]

1 hour ago, Ken Aldred said:

Steve / Marwood is a Spider-Man specialist as well, and I admire this level of pin-sharp focus, something I’m incapable of.  I prefer to read a wide range of different stories and different character types; super-hero, non-superhero, indie, but, as long as they are comics that keep you engaged with the medium over the long term, that’s all that really matters, not subjectively measuring one polar opposite approach to the exact same interest against another.

Thanks. I’d love to be like that Ken but it’s just financials preventing me, plus I like the idea of having one complete body of work as opposed to several titles that are nowhere near complete. 
I sold around 400 issues to buy 2 Spidey keys and whilst very sad to deplete bulk it’s the only way I could do it. 

[Ride the Tiger]

I tried doing it with ASM years back when prices for SA and BA books were much lower. Even then the keys made it difficult. Now I couldn't imagine doing it with all the inflated prices unless you have unlimited funds or just buy readers copies. Good luck in your quest.

[The lips]

10 minutes ago, Ride the Tiger said:

I tried doing it with ASM years back when prices for SA and BA books were much lower. Even then the keys made it difficult. Now I couldn't imagine doing it with all the inflated prices unless you have unlimited funds or just buy readers copies. Good luck in your quest.

Thanks, yeah I’m having to buy low to mid grade on a lot of the expensive stuff but I’m happy with that. 

[Get Marwood & I]

2 hours ago, Ken Aldred said:

Steve / Marwood is a Spider-Man specialist as well, and I admire this level of pin-sharp focus, something I’m incapable of.  I prefer to read a wide range of different stories and different character types; super-hero, non-superhero, indie, but, as long as they are comics that keep you engaged with the medium over the long term, that’s all that really matters, not subjectively measuring one polar opposite approach to the exact same interest against another.

I was, yes, Ken, back in the day. I collected only Spider-Man titles, appearance and promos. Ended up with about 8,000 comics doing it.

@The lips it can be very enjoyable and rewarding to go after one title or character. I had an absolute blast collecting Spidey until the modern variant proliferation rot set in, and certain dealers started to price certain books illogically, effectively killing it off for me.  I downsized to Amazing Spider-Man only and ended up with a near full set of ASM #1-800 with all variants (cents, pence, Australian, Canadian etc). 

Then I sold the lot.

Now I collect pence copies for Charlton, Dell, Gold Key & Kings, largely in support of research but, in the case of Charlton - genuine love. I find them enchanting beyond measure. And putting the Marvel Miller collection together was great fun.

The old cliché is right - collect what you want, how you want, as long as you can afford it. Don't feel guilty or fraudulent. If you love what you do, that's all that matters and bollocks to anyone who tells you differently. 

P.S. One last thought, speaking from experience, what you are mad into today, you may not be tomorrow.  

[WolverineX]

Yes, Longshot.  

[shadroch]

Don't stick all your eggs in one basket. Since diversification works best in life, I figure it works best in collecting as well.  Your mileage may differ.   This is a hobby. There is no right or wrong way to enjoy it.  

[MattTheDuck]

No reason to be apologetic for this decision, in my opinion.  That kind of focus can be helpful in accomplishing a goal.  After more than 40 years out of the hobby, I'm trying to develop a little myself, with questionable results thus far.  Go after it will all the gusto you can muster.  

[The lips]

41 minutes ago, Get Marwood & I said:

I was, yes, Ken, back in the day. I collected only Spider-Man titles, appearance and promos. Ended up with about 8,000 comics doing it.

@The lips it can be very enjoyable and rewarding to go after one title or character. I had an absolute blast collecting Spidey until the modern variant proliferation rot set in, and certain dealers started to price certain books illogically, effectively killing it off for me.  I downsized to Amazing Spider-Man only and ended up with a near full set of ASM #1-800 with all variants (cents, pence, Australian, Canadian etc). 

Then I sold the lot.

Now I collect pence copies for Charlton, Dell, Gold Key & Kings, largely in support of research but, in the case of Charlton - genuine love. I find them enchanting beyond measure. And putting the Marvel Miller collection together was great fun.

The old cliché is right - collect what you want, how you want, as long as you can afford it. Don't feel guilty or fraudulent. If you love what you do, that's all that matters and bollocks to anyone who tells you differently. 

P.S. One last thought, speaking from experience, what you are mad into today, you may not be tomorrow.  

Thanks pal, great response  

sounds like an amazing collection you put together so hope you don’t miss it too much. 
 

[The lips]

20 minutes ago, MattTheDuck said:

No reason to be apologetic for this decision, in my opinion.  That kind of focus can be helpful in accomplishing a goal.  After more than 40 years out of the hobby, I'm trying to develop a little myself, with questionable results thus far.  Go after it will all the gusto you can muster.  

I may be similar that I also took time out when having a family etc. 
I love the focus and end goal of one title but sure as hell miss other titles ! 

[Get Marwood & I]

4 minutes ago, The lips said:

Thanks pal, great response  

sounds like an amazing collection you put together so hope you don’t miss it too much. 
 

I do. I wish I'd kept 1-200, the inserts, error copies and the promos. They would be impossible to gather again now.

Be mindful, if you ever get close to completing your collecting goal, the enthusiasm may take a dip and your thoughts may turn to selling. It seems to be a natural cycle for some collectors, as their minds turn to new challenges. Take care that you don't go mad if that happens to you and you don't sell the stuff that enchanted you in the first place. Keep the best, then find a new challenge would be my advice - if it happens to you.

[Get Marwood & I]

10 minutes ago, The lips said:

I love the focus and end goal of one title but sure as hell miss other titles ! 

One more observation from me, slightly in contrast to my earlier comments - consider whether a collection of your favourite ASMs, Hulks, Silver Surfers etc would give you more pleasure than a straight ASM #1-375 on their own (which might include covers by artists you dislike, for example). 

Money and space will be considerations - if you have plenty of both, do your ASM 1-375 then move on to, or collect in parallel, other favoured titles / books. If space and money are tight, go back to my first paragraph!

Good luck whichever way you go Lips - only you can decide 

[FineCollector]

I never could focus.  When I'd go to a con, I inevitably couldn't find the top 10 issues I was looking for, but found dozens of other things I wanted.

Since no one else is asking, why stop at 375 when the run ends at 441?