How long do you think a comic book lifes span is?

[The Less Blob]

granted, they're printed on better paper, but I have some turn of the century ladies home journals (cool advertisements in them) where the pages are still glossy and white. i have some New York Times "photo inserts" on glossy stock from the WW I era that are also glossy.

[BlackHeartedDwarf-migratio]

...but I have some turn of the century ladies home journals...

[nearmint]

Let's say it lasts 300 years, why would anyone invest in something that will only disintegrate down the line.

 

You wont be around at that time, so does it really matter .

 

We are talking about comics right, and not something else

 

My understanding is that all original art will desolve into nothingness in January of 2009.

[otherworldcomics]

In the proper storage conditions I could see more than 1000 years.

 

Dead Sea Scrolls, Paper Bibles, other Greek Scrolls.

 

Off White becoming Cream to Off White? Who knows. 100 years.

 

Bear in mind that many older documents were printed on a very different paperstock that was closer to cloth than to newsprint.

 

I don't know what the average lifespan would be, but given the lingen filled newsprint used to print comics, comic lifespan has to be among the shortest among different types of books.

 

Comics were printed on the cheapest, most perishable newsprint possible, partly to cut corners in budgets, and partly 'cause comics were considered as disposable and obsolescent as newspapers.

 

Comparing them, as you noted, to any other more durable printed material would be apples and oranges. Not much comes close to comics in terms of fragility, which is why white paged, HG GA is so remarkable.

 

Well that was true for older GA to BA comics but you have to consider the newer comics printed with the high gloss paper since the 90's. I would guess those books would stand up more so that the newsstand type of issues. I'd guess 200-300 years easily with proper care and environmental conditions.

[otherworldcomics]

granted, they're printed on better paper, but I have some turn of the century ladies home journals (cool advertisements in them) where the pages are still glossy and white. i have some New York Times "photo inserts" on glossy stock from the WW I era that are also glossy.

 

I am scared to even ask why you have ladies home journals from ANY era! ... But hey, everyone collects something so that's cool.

[goldust40]

In the proper storage conditions I could see more than 1000 years.

 

Dead Sea Scrolls, Paper Bibles, other Greek Scrolls.

 

Off White becoming Cream to Off White? Who knows. 100 years.

 

Bear in mind that many older documents were printed on a very different paperstock that was closer to cloth than to newsprint.

 

I don't know what the average lifespan would be, but given the lingen filled newsprint used to print comics, comic lifespan has to be among the shortest among different types of books.

 

Comics were printed on the cheapest, most perishable newsprint possible, partly to cut corners in budgets, and partly 'cause comics were considered as disposable and obsolescent as newspapers.

 

Comparing them, as you noted, to any other more durable printed material would be apples and oranges. Not much comes close to comics in terms of fragility, which is why white paged, HG GA is so remarkable.

 

Well that was true for older GA to BA comics but you have to consider the newer comics printed with the high gloss paper since the 90's. I would guess those books would stand up more so that the newsstand type of issues. I'd guess 200-300 years easily with proper care and environmental conditions.

 

I'd agree with that - comics over the last 15 years are far more sophisticated and higher quality in terms of production compared to earlier books.

[The Less Blob]

I have a big vintage magazine collection in addition to comics. Most of the magazines came free. Ladies Home Journal in 1900 was very different than today. A big chunk of it was devoted to serialization of novels of the day, plus it has a lot of cool vintage advertisements. I've hunted a few LHJs down over the years because they contained stories written by my great grandfather, who was an author of some popularity at the turn of the century (had about 25 books published), although completely forgotten today except by a few literary historians.

 

So there! At least I don't dress up in women's underwear like you do.

[mica]

I have a big vintage magazine collection in addition to comics. Most of the magazines came free. Ladies Home Journal in 1900 was very different than today. A big chunk of it was devoted to serialization of novels of the day, plus it has a lot of cool vintage advertisements. I've hunted a few LHJs down over the years because they contained stories written by my great grandfather, who was an author of some popularity at the turn of the century (had about 25 books published), although completely forgotten today except by a few literary historians.

 

So there! At least I don't dress up in women's underwear like you do.

Old magazines are cool. Much better than what I see at the grocery aisle these days.

[FFB]

I have a few newspapers from the year 1800, and they show no signs of being anywhere close to disintegrating. You can still page through them and read them without causing any damage.

 

That's because newsprint paper back in 1800 was made from linen and cotton rags, which are neutral pH and did not contain lignins. If stored properly, those newspapers will last for hundreds of years. When groundwood pulp paper (which contains a high concentration of lignin, which is unstable, degrades over time, and causes weakening the paper fibers by breaking down the chemical link that holds the cellulose chains together) started being manufactured in the US in the 1850s, the quality of paper being used for newspapers took a huge downturn. That's why it's far more difficult to find well preserved newspapers from right after the American Civil War than it is to find well preserved newspapers from the early 1800s.

 

GA comic books were obviously printed on groundwood pulp, and since groundwood pulp has only been manufactured for a little over 150 years, it's tough to say with any certainty how long a groundwood pulp document will last if stored properly.

[FFB]

In the proper storage conditions I could see more than 1000 years.

 

Dead Sea Scrolls, Paper Bibles, other Greek Scrolls.

 

Off White becoming Cream to Off White? Who knows. 100 years.

 

Bear in mind that many older documents were printed on a very different paperstock that was closer to cloth than to newsprint.

 

I don't know what the average lifespan would be, but given the lingen filled newsprint used to print comics, comic lifespan has to be among the shortest among different types of books.

 

[FFB]

How long do you think a comic book lifes span is?

 

In Jason Ewert's hands? About 14 minutes.

 

 

"Looks like we've got a bleeder in here!"

[Kermit the frog]

Let's say it lasts 300 years, why would anyone invest in something that will only disintegrate down the line.

 

You wont be around at that time, so does it really matter .

 

We are talking about comics right, and not something else

 

My understanding is that all original art will desolve into nothingness in January of 2009.

 

ai KKarumba...!!!

 

regards

[The Black Hand ®]

I imagine the comics I have with taped spines and tan pages will outlive me but even the cd's we copy them on to will one day be dust. Comic books are nothing but decaying paper doomed as we all are doomed to a slow and meaningless death,brittle fragments of memories crumbling as we wait for nothingness to consume us. Someday no one will remember who Kip Burland was, no one! God am I a depressing old fart or what!

[Timulty]

Yep, depressing you are. Glad to see that you have found purpose in life.

[The Black Hand ®]

Yes, a long and empty corridor of purpose, that leads to rooms full of brittle, decaying Whiz comics and Captain Marvel Adventures...all beginning to crumble like dried kernels of grain hidden in ancient tombs. Soon they will be formless and shapeless and........ Ahhh, I think I'll go surf some porn...

[The Black Hand ®]

Yes, a long and empty corridor of purpose, that leads to rooms full of brittle, decaying Whiz comics and Captain Marvel Adventures...all beginning to crumble like dried kernels of grain hidden in ancient tombs. Soon they will be formless and shapeless and........ Ahhh, I think I'll go surf some porn...

 

Wow, I found a new way to kill a thread. Just be my usual morbid depressing self.

[mica]

Yes, a long and empty corridor of purpose, that leads to rooms full of brittle, decaying Whiz comics and Captain Marvel Adventures...all beginning to crumble like dried kernels of grain hidden in ancient tombs. Soon they will be formless and shapeless and........ Ahhh, I think I'll go surf some porn...

 

Wow, I found a new way to kill a thread. Just be my usual morbid depressing self.

No, not really. Many of us don't trust the source for starting this thread.

That's all.

[otherworldcomics]

I have a big vintage magazine collection in addition to comics. Most of the magazines came free. Ladies Home Journal in 1900 was very different than today. A big chunk of it was devoted to serialization of novels of the day, plus it has a lot of cool vintage advertisements. I've hunted a few LHJs down over the years because they contained stories written by my great grandfather, who was an author of some popularity at the turn of the century (had about 25 books published), although completely forgotten today except by a few literary historians.

 

So there! At least I don't dress up in women's underwear like you do.

 

Hey, I said it was cool, you don't have to be so defensive. And that's just for comfort... (quoting Homer Simpson).

[Timulty]

Yes, a long and empty corridor of purpose, that leads to rooms full of brittle, decaying Whiz comics and Captain Marvel Adventures...all beginning to crumble like dried kernels of grain hidden in ancient tombs. Soon they will be formless and shapeless and........ Ahhh, I think I'll go surf some porn...

 

sniff...sniff....WWAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!! Cap, gone sob..sob....no.....

[FFB]

I imagine the comics I have with taped spines and tan pages will outlive me but even the cd's we copy them on to will one day be dust. Comic books are nothing but decaying paper doomed as we all are doomed to a slow and meaningless death,brittle fragments of memories crumbling as we wait for nothingness to consume us. Someday no one will remember who Kip Burland was, no one! God am I a depressing old fart or what!

 

There was an article on MSN.com yesterday about homemade CDs. It said that their expected lifespan is about 2-5 years, depending on the quality of the CD.

 

That really surprised me. I have homemade CDs that are five years old and they still work fine. But it does raise the question of how long digital storage will last. Maybe not as long as the comic book itself?