I'm definitely a reader. Yeah sure, i do collect, but only to keep rereading.

I consider myself to be a Curator. Have 2 young daughters that will one day have a library of the best of the best.

I’m a reader and collector. I definitely collect more than I’m able to keep up when it comes to reading but I feel the same of having those spines on the shelf. Feels great to look at the shelf and decide on the next book to jump into.

I do agree with you on the point of comics not just being singularly for reading. But I still think it’s kinda weird when people have shelves full of books that have never been read or opened. Take omnis for example. The format is definitely designed for a reader more than a collector. You get a huge chunk of the story (if not all of it) collected at once, oversize art so you can fully appreciate it, it’s one of the cheapest and easiest options for accessing the content, and it’s housed in a sturdy hardcover with a dust jacket. Everything about it is designed for a reader that wants to enjoy and preserve the content forever. The collecting aspect is purely secondary in my opinion. You wouldn’t have the book if you didn’t care about what was inside it 🤷🏻‍♂️

I believe this may be a response to a video recently made by another comic content creator. I love business, I love art, and I love the art of story telling. I can say I'm all three confidently. The real importance/message, like you emphasized, is just do what you enjoy because there is nothing wrong with how you enjoy this hobby. I want to commend you for not publicly bashing the individual who may have influenced this video as discipline, integrity, and honesty are admirable traits.

i never want the size of my collection to be a physical burden, so if i have grown past LOVING something i will sell it to free up some space and buy something else

Collector first now, thanks to the infinite reading pile. Would love to know how you guys fund the hobby as a current wednesday warrior.

I’m just a reader but I give respect to anyone into comic books for whatever reason, I just want the industry to thrive.

Comics were meant to be read, that is their reason for being. People have expanded the hobby into other aspects, which is good. IMO there is no bad way to enjoy this hobby. Read, collect, flip, buy/sell, raw, slabbed, do whatever floats yer boat, it’s all good 😎👍

Mainly a reader/collector here. When I sell, it's usually to cull my collection of things I know I won't re-read so that I may add something new, or something I know I will read multiple times.

100% agree. Games are meant to be played. Movies are meant to be watched. Toys are meants to be played with. You cant take it with you when you go.

I was a reader and collectors but after i started reading Manga (Berserk for example) i totally don’t enjoy comic reading anymore but i love to collect them and I admire the art

I like to collect all the stories I connect/relate to, and or has a topic or idea that falls in line with my morals and values in hardcover omnibus/absolute form to read with and pass down to my now 8 year old son also for him to read with and pass down to his kids. In a way I get to teach him all my thoughts, ideas, morals, and values through reading with him and explaining the deeper meaning to stories that we read :)

I added my response to the poll. Mostly collector but have been a reader for 30+ years. Occasionally sell toys to fund other purchases, but have sold a handful of comics over the last few years.

Started as a reader but cant keep up and turned into more of a collector. On the plus side ive got a massive amount to get through when i retire from work

“Collecting way faster than I’m reading but I’ll read it all!” Hahahaha I too have fallen to this trap, but I only collect what I’m genuinely looking interested in i care nothing for whats popular my collection is for me only and maybe I can pass it on to the kiddos

Just starting the video, and yes, I’m commenting without watching the video 🤣 (I’m gonna finish it), but I will say this; Readers are Collectors. Unless you read the book, and give it away, or throw it away, you’re collecting. Now of course there is nuance to how, and what you collect. For sure. I’m more of a reader, which is why collecting omnibuses seemed like a good idea. While I do collect them, and seek out certain covers, etc. I do not slab books. To me, it’s blasphemy! They’re meant to be read, and all that jazz. I only own 1 graded book and that’s because it came in a mystery box. I do totally get, and understand why people get books graded and collect them that way too. Which is fine. Selling seems like the one most people will have varying degrees of opinions on because of the nature of buying and selling, but it is what it is.

The only part of my collection I’ve sold is the JLA omnibus.

Reader, collector seller. Just a quick note, comic books sales have taken a beating since the 90's. If the casual reader and collector loves the films and animated TV shows, we need to support - first the purchase of physical comics, then the reading of those comics which creates the sub-culture. Having met many of the artists behind our favorite successes, it may strike your viewers as odd to know - much of them are still considered starving artists, depending on Comic-cons and appearances to supplement their income. That can't happen without the reader and the fan.

All 3! I read, then sell what's not worth collecting. Good reads stay. U Lookin "Wavy" Bro! This channel is awesome

I buy and sell single issues to fund my real hobbby: omnis and absolutes. I like collecting my omnis and read them over and over again

I was a reader when I was younger, now a collector, and moving into buying and selling. I love it all. Knowing everything about the characters I love reading all of their stories, then collecting what means the most to me, and buying and selling what I think will appreciate in value. Hopefully, one day my future kids will inherit something really cool.

Started out as strictly a reader, but with how many single issue comics I have, along with various TPBs and Hardcovers and Omnibuses, It's turned into being more of a collector/reader lol. I've been slowing diving into everything in my collection so I don't let it get too out of control and have WAY too much to read.

Comics are meant to be read at the first place though. The rest revolving around should be secondary I think. It's like records: do I buy them to pile them up at home and to look at them or to listen to them? To listen to them obviously. I'm not a record shop.

I am a reader and a collector. Mainly collect smaller statues but I want everything on my bookshelf to be something I have read or will eventually read. Would love if more of these questions would be asked on KZfaq since I am not on Facebook nor do I plan to ever make an account. More of a Twitter guy. But if you made a discord that would be SICKKKKK

The way I see it is Comics are meant to be read. You can do other cool things with them. You can make paper airplanes with them, but that’s not what they are meant for.

Thanks for the shout out Gem. On my last post I said reader but I’m also a collector of statues and high end figures like hot toys. My reason for keeping all my books is because of childhood trauma. my mom threw away all my OG toys from the 80’s (transformers, GI Joe, he-man, etc). So now I keep everything like a hoarder 😂. Love your channel

I started as just a reader but then I discovered Omnis and now I’m more of a collector 😏

Good to see you man. You're looking good! There were a few videos where you looked a little emaciated but you look really healthy here!

I'm a combination of both. But lately I've decided to stick with most ongoing series in tpbs to get more "bang for my buck" and just collect the ongoing main Batman series in single issues bc he's my favorite character

I collect and read. I’ve never really had many great interactions with those who only collect. They see comics as a commodity or investment rather than art or a hobby that they’re passionate about. At the same time, they do add a lot of value to the industry as a whole so 🤷

I definitely am a reader. But I'm also just like a kid in a candy store. Can't keep up on what I'm buying. But I love collecting comics for the cover art as well. i.e. I'll collect a Bisley cover regardless of the art or story inside.

I'm into manga now primarily, still have all my old comic collections. But feel like jumping into a manga series is 10x easier than trying to jump into a comic series and not know where to start or even get back issues. Where with Manga is just so simple, its either a single volume or just start with volume 1. If I do hit comics I rather just go for omni busses

I'm a collector more than a reader these days I'm starting to wonder if I'm a hoader.

I read cleanly. No worries.

When it comes to single issue I just read them until the run of the series is over. Then sale them. If I really like a run. I'll buy it in trade paperback .

Got back into comics in the last year. I would have to say I am reader and collector. I am way too much of a novice to sell anything yet. So much more to learn about the hobby again.

I'm tied, reader/flipper/trader/collector-keeper.

Super cool books📚👍🏾

Reader first then collector

I am primarily a reader but I collect as many singles as I can that fit into my budget which is usually paying no more than $10 for a single and eventually pass them down to my son who absolutely loves spider man. Whatever he wants to do with them is up to him I guess 😁

they call me the comic hoarder xd but im not only collecting comics tho, just all of them nerd stuff

I read them. It's like my religion, I go to the comic shop every Wednesday since I was 14 and I read my comics in the next couple of days. I've never sold an issue. I have given away a bunch of comics, either because I didn't like them or as gifts to get people into comics. I've also always been on a budget so as a kid I had $20 a month and now, 30 years later, I keep it to $40 per paycheck for issues. I only buy Omnibuses for Christmas and my birthday, and only for stuff I missed out buying as issues.

I started out as a reader because i enjoy the stories and are work but became a collector as well as time went on. I find myself hunting down keys with no plans on reading them. I have no plans to sell right now, but I guess I can never say never.

Collector - Seller - Reader

Very few modern new release books worth reading.. especially from the big 2. Most anything worth reading is more independent or smaller publishers.

I started a reader then got into collecting them then selling them.

I try to read comics that I should have no business having not read if they are not in my collection. For example, I’ve owned both Batman Year One and V For Vendetta for YEARS and once I realized I had zero excuses not to have read them by now, I did so this past month. My local library has an interloan system I’ve been using like CRAZY the past few years, but I do try to put some of the comics in my personal collection in that pile as well. As far as selling goes, I mostly sell comics I don’t need (for example I recently bought the graphic novel adaption of Joe Hill’s Rain, so I put the first two issues I’d bought in my “to sell” longbox).

Reader turned into Collector and now trying to be more of a Curator. want to limit the size by selling and have a nicer aesthetic for everything I currently own

Reader and collector. I sell but only the stories that i didn't fell in love with. I want my collection to be something i want to dive back in often and if a story didn't give me some "Holy damn i remember this" moment when i browse the shelf, it's a sell. Keep what you love.

I just collect for the cover art I got 17 wide boxes lol

I wish i had more time to read. Until then, im a collector 😂

I don’t understand why anyone has justify how they enjoy comics? I read, collect and sell to fund the hobby. I don’t need to explain that to anyone. Ever….well….except maybe the wife. But she’s cool with it too! 😂

specially in this day and age with a-z covers there are people who collect purely off of cover art and cover artists. there are artist i will buy all of their art even if i don't like their books(jay anacleto, jim lee, frank cho). i will never sell any of my x-books probably not my daredevil books either nevermind i dont sell anything. edit i even started collecting some books i never really want because i had a chance to buy a really old dry mounting and laminating press made by seal inc. so whenever i see manageable(no color breaks or writing) books pre 1995 in dollar bin i pick them up just to restore them and preserve them, that the only reason i have avengers 263 or whichever was the one they find jean grey in jamaica bay.

Read your comics! I'm definitely a collector first, currently finishing a few international rainbows and picking up high grades in between and selling the lower grade stuff so I guess I will become a seller soon but for now... gather gather gather

I'm all 3 and not worried about what others think of my hobbies, if you got what you want out of it and you've already paid for it then im pretty sure you can do what you want with it, ppl gonna hate on stuff regardless unfortunately....great video!

I'm a reader, but I like to collect what I like. What I don't like, I sell to fund new stuff. And this goes for comics, novels, cd's, movies, etc

Reader and collector. Sometimes a seller, like if I had something in a trade or epic collection and I get it in omnibus then I'd sell the trade or epic collection since I don't need it anymore.

Collector 1st, Reader 2nd.

Yoooooooo statues / comics !! I spent thousands !! Never sold a thing !!! Maybe I should but I keep everything !! Never could get rid of anything !! Still got my wife after 23 years go fig 😅😅😅😅

I tried buying to sell later, really not worth it. I do however sell what I don't read anymore such as my spawns, man they felt dated more so than the 60s marvel comics.

Comics are meant to be read, book is literally in the name. Wanna purely look at something buy a comic trading card. I’ve sold many comics doesn’t change the fact they are meant to be read.

i started off as a reader but i ended up collecting so many i couldnt keep up with the reading, so for the moment i probably resemble a collector.

Depends on your age. We’re 90s kids. All based on “ limited editions”. It’s in our blood. That’s why I have omnibus and collected editions as well.

Reader first, collector second!

I don't know about everybody else. But I read comics because I always enjoyed it. I like the characters and stories. I only got a collection because I buy the entire run and it became a collection over time.

I’m old school collector and reader

80k copies of comic books wow.

More of a Collector/Semi Reader here not a seller as of yet.

I want to read more but I guess I have really bad ADHD. I've been buying for years and have never really sat down and enjoyed My ever growing absolute an omnibus collection. It's gotten kind of ridiculous, to be honest. But every time I say i'm done, they announced something I get excited for. Lol

Yea I don’t sell anything, ever, all my comics are in boxes and now I collect/read manga & collect anime PVC figures & a few resins. But I care most about manga, but I love looking at all the manga on the shelves, I have all my walls covered in them, actually running out of wall space.

Decoration, art

💯 💯 💯 👊

💩 comics were meant to be thrown away after you read then lol I still collect floppy’s and read omnis and manga. Love your channel

"Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime." Now, watching a video of you trying to fish would be equal parts entertaining and hilarious. 😅

👍🏻

I find Floppy’s to be just to much if your reading new stuff better of digital but collecting em just a waist of space when you could just own a omnibus or a HC or trade paperback because usually hunting for older stuff takes time to do. I’d rather use that time on figures or manga. CGC though I’m not into at all nor do I find it cool or worth n money or time cause I read my books I don’t put them away for like a college fund so to me it’s like nah I want to read not put it up maybe get lucky on market with selling but that way to much time and money and effort to put in.

100%

Definitely reader and collector. And trader, tho, really. I don’t buy anything of any monetary value, I’m not sure i could bring myself to pay more than $5 for a book, so my “collection” has no real worth. But I love flipping through dollar boxes, trying to complete runs, bagging and alphabetizing, and most of all, trading. Sometimes I’ll buy a long box on the very cheap, just for the OCD thrill of sorting, and as fodder for run-filling and trading. I don’t sell any of my books, but LOVE working up trades with other folks. I’ve got about 10 long boxes of readers, basically. Like I said, I don’t have any valuable or in-demand books, and couldn’t be bothered to look up what something is worth, so selling them individually priced is of no interest to me. However, I’m definitely thinking of hitting the flea markets this summer to put them up as dollar books. Not cuz I need to move them or anything, just to talk Comics, wheel and deal, etc... love that.

Reader first then collector 2nd. Just recently been slabbing books. Love the signature aspect of collecting.

Comic books are for losers man. I buy a lot of them.

I can say that I'm ⅔ reader ⅓ collector. I collect only what I want to read and in their cheapest format because I collect the art and not the material. Also I find it very difficult for me to sell my comics, however I don't have a grail.