*Can't stop.* *Won't stop.* *I'm gonna be collecting comics until the casket drop.*

I stopped years ago. I’m 56 and restarted 5 years ago and brought back my collection to where I’m happy. Trust me my friend, you’ll be back.....

Lol! Yesterday I picked up a book at my local shop, told the owner I love smelling the old books! He laughed and said, “You’re one of THOSE guy’s!”

For me, I don't collect new runs of comics at all. The comics are too expensive, and new weekly numerical issues can be hit-or-miss, regarding writing or art. HOWEVER... 1. I still collect bargain bin comics (where I usually find rare and great comics for a dollar). 2. And I have been collecting Facsimiles, to see the old expensive comics with their old ads, at a $1-$4 dollar price.

OH SH*T I AM FEELING YOUR LISTS..(#2).I have been collecting for 35+ yrs and I am at the point where I am more interested in completing runs then reading the actual books themselves, when I get an issue in the mail...instead of reading it I'm on line looking for the next issue to complete the run. a couple of years ago I completed PETER PARKER THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN issues 1-263 + all the annuals and I cared more about completing the collection then reading them, I may have read 15% of those books...SMH. It's like I am looking at the comic book community's comic book videos and I am "keeping up with the Joneses" I hate to say it...it's almost like an addiction.

You're turning 32? I've got shoes older then you! Seriously, you're young. You're right of course. Way too expensive these days. How does a 10 year old kid come up with $5 for a comic? I'm 60. I started collecting at age 10...>15 cents @..so I'm spoiled. I have my back issues..which I'll keep. I stopped buying new issues when they hit $1.50 in the 90's. I love back issues!! You are a reader!!! I still read and collect..but it's a sickness....

I love the smell of older comics. Brings back a lot of my childhood memories! Thanks for this video.

Once you pay the "low price" for digital, you will get back to enjoy READING! Collect ONLY your favorite physical, 99% of everything else is, well let's just say, pretty cheap in $

I’ll never stop collecting comic books. Batman and Robin will Never die!!! 😎

Theres nothing as sweet as the smell of an old book... prove me wrong!!!!

I feel that this new trend started with the Avengers movie, when Thanos showed up at the very end of the film, Iron Man#55 despite Overstreet price nearly tripled. Speculators and flippers started driving prices up. Now rumors of a film or tv development send prices soaring and even worse if someone has that book they are getting it slabbed so they can sell it for even more money (a book is in the same condition whether it's in a plastic case or a bag...I hate slabbed books). I have nearly completed a 50 year run of Batman with a few holes I'm still filling and luckily most of the "keys" were already owned before all this craziness started happening.

I started to appreciate my older collection more when I took them out of the box and start displaying them on my walls with those picture frames meant for comic books. I rotate them on a regular basis and the ones I don't display I know don't bring me joy so I get rid of those. I've switched to trades for reading the current stuff and like you, have found the library to be a goldmine. I don't buy a trade unless I really know I'm going to reread it down the line.

Honestly trade paperbacks got me into comics. Getting one comic for the price nowadays is just awful and having a few issues in one volume is just so nice

I just started collecting again, and I'm kind of disgusted with variants, and the speculators. I wanted to finish some old runs but the prices are outlandish.

Libraries are the best, I did some looking around at one library I didn't goto a whole lot but when I found there TPB shelf way in the back in its own area I found a small piece of heaven

Yes, I am guilty of searching for books than reading them. Now grant it, I have read a few. Now, I have an abundant amount of unbagged books that I need to bag and board then put them away in short boxes. Books are now more expensive with a cover price of $3.99. Sometimes you find good deals on Ebay. however I may eventually steer away from the hobby. Thank you for the input.

Thank you for the awesome perspective. I’m swiftly falling down the same rabbit hole you’ve surfaced from. Great content.

I love smelling old comic books, and I have exactly the same reasons as yours. It brings back some good old memories of my childhood, especially those days when I had my first comic book. And I was studying archaeology so I can relate to you haha. I finally found some kind of spiritual answer that I enjoy reading more than collecting. Collecting was just so frustrating for me, I was worrying too much about the condition and its value. So I started buying trade paperbacks. Less stress, more fun, and more relaxing lol. I still bought old single comics (can't really move on from the smell lol) sometimes, just when it came with pretty cheap prices. Thanks for the video! (Oh btw, I almost didn't recognize you lol)

The hobby is fun and exciting when you are searching for your next comic to add to the collection. The excitement and hunt for the book is what I enjoy.

Thumbs up for this vid. I haven’t watched any of your vids, or any other comic ones, in a while because of a couple of the points you mentioned. I am a 45 year old collector who has a pretty solid back issue collection and I’m just not hyped enough on getting the new stuff for the prices they are asking. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it.

Such a great topic! I agree with pretty much everything you’ve said! I’ve definitely been loving trade paperbacks way more lately because of having everything in its entirety and not having to lug around a bunch of comics lol 😂 I haven’t bought a new comic in years as well but I do somewhat miss it! I loved what you said about going back to a time before you, which is what made me get into comics, I loved collecting old comics and then preserving them...it’s almost as if I’m trying to preserve a history I have respect for! Thank you for this video! Someone had to say it!!! 👑🙌❤️

What I’m doing is that I’m only getting the back issues for my main title. Everything else i would probably get trades.

Dear Brother ! I used to watch your videos from France. I really appreciate them and you convinced me to collect Comics. But this time you break the roof. What you are saying in this one is SO SO TRUE - SO EVIDENT ! Thank you to remain clever on this hobby. Thank you so much.... Prices became unjustifiably high and in my opinion it is a trap. They are too high due to all the MCU movies and TV series, all the guideline comics companies that make adds in it that purchase everything on the market to a very low price that struggle the market and increase the speculation. But this is a niche market that would not last with the new generations. We are less and less every year. GREAT JOB YOU DID THERE ! Thanks

After moving from Australia to the UK five years ago I switched from single issues to trades. I agree with a lot of the reasons you give, particularly the price. They are SO expensive! I still buy back issues for runs I want to complete, but these are ones that a really important to me. I like having the issues because it keeps the sense of history you don't get in trades. Great video!

You did a great job on your video. Thanks for your information on trade paperbacks.

Prices sometimes go up when a character/team who first appeared in the book make there first appearance in a film

Oh yeah. I'm a comic sniffer😂😂 I still collect and I love collecting, but I definitely get where you're coming from with these points. Great video, Dante!👌👌

Buying back issues is after stuff in my budget is done and hopefully selling some of these when they are complete or going to comic cons and meeting some of the artist to sign or draw some custom art on the backer board and signing.

I know what you're saying. I've come and gone from comic collecting for years. I dropped out when I was just out of college, but got back in pretty quick. When I got married, I pretty much quit. And when I got divorced, I started up again. Mostly, I was buying back issues and trades. Three years ago, I got back into buying fresh from the stores. I'm slowly drifting out again, since right after Covid, they're not stocking good at the store I go to. I don't know if it's the people in the store, or the industry as a whole, but I'm tired of missing one issue of Batman and Flash a month, since those are bi-weekly. And the stories just aren't thrilling me anymore. I would rather just go back to doing the trades and the books I collect again. I LOVE the smell of back issues...And you're right, they each have their own smells. Golden Age, Silver Age, and Bronze Age all have a distinct smell. Even Copper Age to a degree. I still love collecting old issues! My main collections are X-Men, Marvel and DC horror, and the occasional other books. I, too, am starting to run out of space, which means it's time to sell some of the newer stuff. I don't hate on it....A lot of new books are pretty good. But, like you said, the trades are easier to handle. Except the Omnibuses. Honestly, I think the back issues are easier on space. At any rate, I totally respect your decision just to focus on not buying back issues. Honestly, I ebb and flow, too. Lately, I've been buying a lot, because with Covid-19, prices are pretty nice. I hate to take advantage of a pandemic, but it's definitely a buyer's market right now. Well, about the time this video came out. Now, we're seeing some huge price jumps, so I'm slowing down on my purchases. Just getting stuff I really want. For instance, the She-Hulk bump is due to the news of her being on a tv show/movie. Any time a character that has never been on a show or film gets announced, prices soar. Don't expect them to stay that way, though. Honestly, considering She-Hulk #1 isn't rare by any stretch, $65 is honestly a bit much. $25 or $30 would be fair. Definitely not $300+! That's nuts! American or Canadian money! It's inevitable that those 1970's #1 were going to go up some. Same thing happened to most of the Silver Age books about a decade ago. Thor, Cap, Iron Man...Were pennies on the dollar until their films came out and collectors noticed that those issues are not growing on trees! Speculation is a dead-end street. Unless you just like doing it. Then, have fun. I've been there and it took the fun out of it for me. I have a lot more respect for parents I see coming in getting their kids some book that they think looks cool than the ones I see in stores bugging the manager for "key issues!" For a little kid, I would much rather buy them a trade of Neal Adams work than to buy them a copy of Batman #232 that is just going to sit on a shelf. They're never going to get the love of comics like that. Anyway, I'm rambling. Great video! (Can't believe I missed it) Keep up the awesome work! And keep loving comics, if not the chasing of the back issues.

Any idea of where to go to build my collection. I'd really like to know where to find busts. I have a really hard time finding anything decent for my Marvel collection.

To add to number 3. Trade paperbacks have better paper quality than what the individual comics were printed on. Older issues were printed on what seemed liked recycled paper where the colors are all faded out.

I totally understand collecting and stopping. 1 thing that tends to bring me back every 10 years is going to shops and talking to people. I started with single issues, moved to trades (Got rid of everything to make room for kids), now I'm just starting to read digital. While on lockdown, I'm also having a ton of fun trying to track down deals on keys etc.... but Im really looking forward to going back to store in 2/4 years because my eldest daughter will be able to read em, and taking her to store will be something special.

My friend, the only answer I can give you is this. Every man must go his own way.If your way is to stop collecting comic books then stick with that.Or if your way is to take a break from them and maybe one day you regretted your decision and wanna go back then go do that again your way. I love comic books too , but for me my way is not spending on comic books cause I agree with you they're too expensive and the other reason todays comic- books are total trash many of them I can't enjoy anymore I'll still get them"but now I have to be more selective but I mostly like comics comic-books from yesteryear for DC 1935- 1985.For Marvel 1961-1986 you go your way my friend and I'll go mine.

I have a 30/40 year collection that I havent touched since about 1991 or so. During the stay at home order I got them out and realized I had a lot of good issues that I just havent looked at for years. I just sent my first 8 to get graded which included a Hulk #181. Now, it has sparked my interest again. Was just curious why you stopped.

I really really wanted to become a comic book artist😢

its due to the characters being in movies or them about to appear in upcoming movies or shows

I stopped buying singles a long time ago and switched to trades. I am a silver age and golden age collector and the money to get the books is too expensive now. Only thing I buy now single wise are the annuals from the 60s and 70s. That to me is fun, and they look good framed and displayed

I can relate, actually! Still purchasing some runs I enjoy and back issues here and there but have recently moved to Omnibus/Absolute editions for full stories and decent pricing :)

Whaaat?! You are one of the reasons why I‘m collecting single issues. This hour long video of you showing Keys was a big push for me into this hobby. But hey, if you are happier this way go for it!

A lot of people come back I left maybe one day I look here and there for a few books.

Great video... I kind of agree the prices are getting ridiculous. I’ve been reading mostly digital but TPBs are amazing. I haven’t read “floppies” in a while myself

I haven't bought a new comic in about 2 or 3 years or so. About the same time you made this video. I have collected most of everything that I've wanted. The things that I haven't collected are so far out of price range for me that I have accepted this is just where my collection ends because these books on my list will *never* be obtainable. Speculators, flippers, and certain mentalities have pushed me out of the hobby.

Dude. All five reasons are spot on. Great video, sire!

I feel the same way honestly. After collecting for a long time and all the money I spent and how the market is changing Day by day. I found myself just wanting to read and enjoy the comics instead of hoarding them.

I quit about 10uears ago. I read them digitally on the marvel app. I have a lot of my old. Oos but ive sold some too.

U r right I don’t have time too go every week and buy comics I like the omnibuses better. Question when do think diamond will start distributing again I ordered some books scheduled for release in April they are not shipping what can I do?

like , i want all my ROM comics back, but those prices have climbed.

Dude, I agree all of your reasons. I definitely have spent more time tracking down issues than actually reading them. It’s become a chore of sorts. That’s not fun! I definitely went the way of the trades and holding on to one shots and 1-2 issue stories. And I will check out the library. Thanks for the tip!

Thanks for the video and for sharing your ideas on why you stopped collecting comics. Respect. This is a hobby after all - it is meant to bring joy! I started collecting comics a few years ago. I have a limited budget and don't want boxes full of comics, so I buy comics sparingly. My favorite character is X-23, and I collect a selection of her books up until the end of Marjorie Liu's run of X-23. I also collect other comics for the cover (hi David Finch!) or the story in a specific issue. I sometimes buy valuable comics on the cheap to flip them, for fun and profit. And that's it. After three years my core collection is maybe 80 comics. I only once bought an expensive book, NYX 3, the first appearance of X-23. Cost me 120 dollars, it was a joyous day :-) My most beloved book is Exiles 16 (2002), my first comic ever. No market value at all :-D Right now I have twenty comics that I really hope to add to my collection, and I will slowly add them over the next year. Most are 2 to 10 dollars. When I buy one or a few (sometimes I can combine a few in a single shipment), it is a moment of sheer joy. That's my way of collecting. I love it, and it doesn't break the bank!

I started collecting in the 90s but I always kept my collection as small as possible so I have mostly key or signed issues only and in my head She Hulk #1 (which I have) is about a $20 book. That con sounds insanely overpriced.

THE current FMV for a CGC 9.8 is 600$ and a CGC 9.2 is 170$USD based on actual sales data.

Speculators probably make up the largest amount of new comers to comics and collecting, and the have caused many comics books to rise quickly. I am not sure if the market can handle the heat generated by these buyers but it definitely turns off the traditional collector. Shehulk is on the rise because of the Disney plus deal.

I agree I’ve been buying trade paper backs because it’s a great way to get a large portion of the story

I went crazy buying old cheap back issues last year and now I think I’m close to five thousand comics and started bagging and boarding them and added up the amount spent so far and I’m finding it hard to justify such a large outlay anymore,I easily now have two thousand comics I have yet to read and said only the other day the thrill is gone,so no more purchases for me I’ll buy bags and boards and keep going with what I have,but to be honest I’ve read a few modern ones and even though the covers are stunning the interior art and stories have been shite,will stick to collecting Batman toys.some good points on the video well done.

Sad to hear that, actually you inspired me to collect comics.. Anyway, Good luck and thank you🙂

I’m pretty new to comics/and comic book collecting in general but I’m glad to say I haven’t run into these problems right now(I’m only 18) and I agree that the prices have increased tremendously. But I’ve been getting a lot of my comics from half priced books and they are steals and I try to only collect what I feel I’ll enjoy reading

I smell comic books. Yeah.

I refuse to buy new comics at full price at the LCS sadly......the prices these days really limit as to what you can afford.....so now you really have to hone down on just a few titles....unless of course you have a decent budget and awesome storage capabilities....that being said, the problem now is....when you go into a LCS, there are literally over a 100 choices each week compared to the good old days when DC and Marvel only hard around 30 titles each in total each month.....anyway, I know simply go to second hand stores or LCS discount bins and look for issues that I'm interested in and refuse to pay more than $2 for any issue.....perhaps this is wrong but there is only one way to protest the cost and that is by simply not buying them new anymore....if the demand for new comics decreases.....one might think the price would go down....of course, the argument will be made that reducing pricing doesn't impact or create greater demand for comics...whereas price increases may shed a few like me, but the increase more than makes up for the drop-offs......so...anyway, I won't be paying $3.99 or higher for comic book......the industry should be looking for ways to DECREASE pricing, NOT increasing.....whether it be reducing the number of pages or simply paying less to creators......something has to give eventually as paying $4.99 per issue is....well...INSANE.

Play the shots games every time theirs a sound effect on slide changes 🙄 you’ll be hammered 🥴

I love trade paper backs too but they don't have resale value.

I stopped reading comics, because at 4-5 bucks an issue was not economical. I agree with you on getting the TPBs. You can save money, and get to read all the issues right then. Another thing I stopped caring for is, the fact that, nowadays you get only 20 pages of read, and the rest of the book is ads. Comics don't smell as good as the ones from the 1950's and 1960's. I know today's comics have much better paper, but I liked the older paper, and I preferred a real inker and colorist working on the books than, digital colors. I still read some titles, and I thoroughly enjoy going to the comics conventions, wearing the t-shirts, and buying some of the statues and action figures. I am thankful that I still like it, and I can thank my Mom for all of it, because without her having comic books around, because she read them, I would have missed out on a really fun and worthy hobby. After college, I managed a comic book and baseball card shop in Georgia, for 15 years. Those 15 years were some of the best years of my life!

From $5 to above $7 I just can't afford it anymore. So I just don't pick up new ones. Its over $100 a month and that doesn't include any trades! I feel sad for new fans.

Yep, as a 55 year old guy who has been reading comics since since 1972 the old comics have that classic scent that the new ones don't. When I started reading Batman an issue cost .25 cent now they are 4.99

She Hulk is spiking because Disney Plus is making a series. It's a speculation spike. Same with Madame Webb in Amazing Spiderman #210 and What if Jane Foster #10 with the upcoming, "Love and Thunder".

I kinda like single issues because they offer stories in short bursts where I can quit reading go do something else and grab the next issue when I am ready. I totally get your feeling on the money/space/frustration of modern collecting. The collecting market is a bit less fun/interesting as prices for titles have skyrocketed, it's an "issue" (see what I did there) that I am currently evaluating how I want to go forward.

I sniff every comic book and even books that old vintage smell is so good. I also the same I love seeing the old advertisements for games and merch in the old comics as a fan of history.

I used to need a comic book in my hands as well but now I love reading digital comics. Mostly expensive back issues(golden and silver age) that I could never afford to buy. You can pretty much read everything for free online now but I do subscribe to Marvel Unlimited. It just takes time getting used to it like an ipad, amazon kindle or reading from your phone. I haven't even been to a comic book store or local comic book convention in over 10 years! I use the library as well. I just checked out a hardcover book containing the first 30 issues of Fantastic Four.

I really enjoyed ur video and a lot of ur reasoning I agree with. To answer the question of the high prices for some comics, I've learned that a lot of people at comic shops and comic cons price using ebay and looking at present and past listings, which on ebay key comics typically sell for much higher than listed in the price guide. And the seller uses the reasoning of, 'if it sold this high on ebay, I can sell it for the same price.' For me personally tho I will continue to read and buy comics, tpbs etc. but I understand where ur coming from and I enjoyed your video Also I've learned that at smaller comic cons and at some LCS stores you can find low prices for comics

I love comics and I love the art but I never chase a book that people spec on for the movies

What pisses me off, is that comic shops are charging ridiculous prices for newer comics. One that retails at $3.99 they try and sell for $9.99 and $19.99. They try to sell 1in25 variants for $300 and shit. You cant even afford to pick up a few newer titles weekly/monthly unless you want to spend $200 a month in newer comics.

Sorta same boat tho what I've done is I've trimmed down my collection sold a bunch that were one offs and only dedicated to collecting one specific run. Everything else I'm not too invested in I just read as a TBP or sometimes even there are youtube videos in here that do dramatic readings of the stories.

Comment time: 1- yes some prices are out there. I'm out of any lcs location by two hours but when I do get to one I go to the bins and find what I need to complete runs or storylines. Unfortunatly new issues are not on my list for awhile (not so intresting for me atm) 2- you were doing it wrong. You buy titles you like, read them, keep them safe to read again. I got up to 10 - 15 a month at times because I liked the books (they were cheaper then) 3 - 9:02- that is exactly how comics are ment to be read, the anticipation is what kept me going. (Bags were optional although I do use them) Trades are good for the reasons you mention but still do not replace the single issue. I am guilty of using the library for catch up purposes( again, at least an hour to find one) 4 and 5 - space is an issue....and multiple moves.... I agree with digital but you are only "new old fashioned "(I just made that up) with trades. Still, the paper in hand is best way to read. Close - go to the brick and mortar stores, look thru the back issues, I guarantee you will find treasures for cheap. Remember, they are competing against the web, a lot are just trying to get rid of hard copies and make room for something else. ^note:this may only be true for used book type stores^ Anyway, thanks for the info and keep enjoying your collection.

i wish i could go back and read all the comics that don't exist anymore, like all those JSA and 1930s/40s comics

I became a trade waiter about 10 years ago. I have never been one to sell his singles and never collected books for monetary gain. Just love the art-form. I began reading the books when they cost .12 cents a piece and became a serious collector about 39 years ago. With the various types of collected editions ( trade paperbacks, hardcovers, absolutes & Omnibus ) they can become just as interesting a form of collecting as singles and you don`t have to bag them unless you want to. Also, stores like B.A.M., B & N and Half-Price Books have a remainder section where you can find older collections for as low as 2 dollars.

Prices are going up due to speculator boom and sellers on eBay just throwing out crazy prices for items not necessarily in great condition

Prices are gone insane due to movie/tv spec and 9.8's...9.8's are sometimes multiples higher than a 9.6 or 9.4 people are willing to pay the price so dealers charge them

I'm with you Dante. I'm 46, if I get the itch I might spend $5 on a 1976 Amazing Spider-man or Flash. More or less rounding out my missing issues. Yes I could read at age 3. Thanks Grandma ❤

Hi Dante, I hear what you are saying about the prices. I don’t collect comics at all. I do collect vintage merch from the band Kiss (so I do have the Marvel Kiss comics from 1977/1978). Look up those prices if you want to see over priced and insane. It just feels as if people out there are seeking things they know a lot of people love, and exploiting it. Plus, everyone is a bit desperate for money at the moment and that makes sense. Just takes the fun out of it. It won’t last forever and the prices will drop as interest drops, as it had with you and many, many others. Great videos by the way. Daniel

Beat ya to it! I've been doing the. library thing since the late 90s, as a preview kind of thing for possible later purchases! I generally stopped buying new comics cause I was sick of the gimmicks like "events" and stores inflating the price on a special issue, and then not putting more than 3 on the shelf, while hoarding 8 more in the back! Today, I only collect 1 or 2 modern comics, but continnue to do the tradePBK thing!

i 100% feel you on #2... i need to stop lol

Trade paper backs are a part of the collection too. Not just the original single issues. In fact, tpb's have a much better paper quality.

How's the working out going?

There is a tv show for She Hulk coming out, so that is why the book spiked hard.

I got to a similar point in life. The money was what was killing me. Personally, I was enjoying reading my new comics but buying so many was burning me out. What's really helped me is just committing to reading more back issues and making sure I read my new issues. Kinda feels like it justifies the hobby. Anyway, very great points. I skimmed the comments, but I didn't see anyone mentioning the She-Hulk. I think she is getting a Disney Plus show, hence the spike.

Time travel is possibly I traveled years through time since I was a young child. However going backwards in time might be impossible.

I try to fill out an entire series run,and then I like to make it a point to read them, however long that should take. If not an full series run,I like to at very least reach a nice,high, even number of consecutive issues. Like 40 or 50. And yes,this DOES often ultimately have the effect of me focusing more on collecting than actual reading.

I applaud your decision. The fact that you feel happier now is proof that you made the right move. At the end of the day, a comic book is a luxury item with limited utility value, and that value lies mainly in its ability to entertain, instruct and inspire -- benefits you're going to get only if you read the darn things. Me, I'm a born cheapskate and I try to avoid paying more than $5 for any single issue and generally won't pay more than $20 for any one comic-art item at all -- including TPBs, hardcover books, etc. I'm perfectly happy to purchase coverless comics, water-damaged comics, beat-to-hell comics of all types, so long as they contain material I want to read. (I'm fortunate to live in a community with a great LCS that offers a huge selection of $3 comics that includes a generous amount of material from the '60s and '70s.) Furthermore, I live in a multi-cat household where no reading material is safe from damage -- when li'l Flurry unexpectedly jumped on the EC Aces High annual I was reading and left claw marks in the pages, my only comment was, "and THAT'S why I buy reprints." No stress, no mess, no hard feelings toward kitty. :) One other avenue I'd encourage you (and everyone else) to explore is the world of no-cost online public domain comics, available through websites such as ComicBookPlus. Enjoy!

I am a comic book sniffer. You are right cons have become ridiculous in their prices. I stopped going to cons years ago. Most of the pricey Marvel's I have I bought long boxes of years ago at cons for less than.50¢. (2000-20007). I feel funny reading trades and reprints. I feel like I'm cheating myself unless I have the original comic book. It sounds weird but that's how I roll, lol. I do feel blessed to be in an area where I can find older gems at decent price. The way the market has just dramatically turned downward your going to see back issue prices drop significantly soon.

Yeah, I started collecting comic books as a young kid. I was an 80's kid, so we thought comics were actually investments back then. Ended buying, bagging, boarding, hoarding, storing, etc. As a kid, I used to skip meals to use the lunch money to buy comics instead. As a teen, I saved up hard earned money from odd jobs to buy so called valuable collector's issues. This was before the internet, so I used to run all over the city trying to hunt down that missing must-have issue to complete my collection. If any comic accidently got damaged (like a crease on the spine), it would drive me crazy, and I ended up wasting more money to buy another perfect copy. I must have bought Jon Sable #1 like 3X. LOL. Ridiculous right? In the end, most of the stuff in my collection turned out to be worthless junk anyway. I once did possess a copy of She-Hulk #1. Bought it for 50 cents in a bargain bin. Thought the character was too silly to ever be popular, and eventually threw it away. Oops! In the end, I wasted time, energy, and a small fortune on my hobby which became an obsession. Like you said, one became so focused on collecting comics, one wasn't taking the time to actually read and enjoy them. As a middle age man, I still read comics. But like you, basically stopped collecting them many years ago. It's now TPB's from libraries or purchased from retailer. Don't even need comic stores anymore. Can get comics on Amazon or local B & N. I also started reading digital comics several years ago. In fact, I've gotten so used to digital comics now, I actually prefer them over physical comics. And I'm an old school comics reader! So give it a try. Once you get used to it, you may never want to go back.

I've been collecting comics a little longer than you've been alive. This might be my final year collecting.

More and more, I've had comic dealers asking if I want to sell my books. I do NOT sell or trade ANY books, even lesser shaped extras. I KNOW what dealers are like. I know how they aim to buy dirt cheap and sell sky high The days of an even steven trade as well,are long gone.. These people rely on someone being VERY ignorant about what they have, or VERY desperate for cash. I think that shortly after 1965, they set forth to get as many first issue copies they could get their hands on, and there are those out there with plenty of vf-nm keys stashed. I've seen piles and piles of warehoused 1960s-70s books back in the early 1980s,thousands of never sold books that blew my mind. One can tell from the way a book opens, that you are the one opening it for the first time.

She hulk got a big bump because of the news from Disney Plus having a show. I personally go out and look for those .50cent to $2 back issue books, BUT I have yet to read even half of them.

I feel you, man. Collecting back issues cause depression, coz we never gonna have enough money to get what we want.

Found an awesome comic store they sell at reasonable prices there lots of silver and golden age

She Hulk supposed to have a show. So speculation jacked up the prices. Just like the first appearance of Captain Marvel (Avenging Spiderman #9 was a dollar book before) when the movie news came out, the book sky rocketed.

My biggest problem is that i want the first 100 xmen but cant get them for a good price and some are just to dam pricey for me it kills the dun for me i stopped and sold all of mine maybe othwrs will have better luck i just cant go back they new stuff doesnt excited for me at all nope well have fun all im done

For me owning an old comic is sort of like owning a piece of history.. digital can never replace that.

I started collecting comics in 2015 because I never could as a boy. I just read what the libraries had. So in 2015 my inner child bought up 1,000 back issues. But I quickly realized I didn't want to accumulate 50 long boxes and piles of issues. I became an exclusively trade paperback and other collected edition reader, buyer and waiter. In 2018 or 2019 I bought the entire Dark Horse Conan run in 7 omnibuses. Imagine trying to hunt down all of that in issues. I read trades from the library too so then I end up just buying favorites. But I'll buy new series trades that I am eager for just because I don't want to wait until the library eventually gets them.

I think like most collectors every few years I get heavily into it then out for awhile then back in! As I get older I’m more selective.

The pricing for many back issues has gotten so ridiculous and any stupid piece of news related to a book in dollar bins jumping to ridicule prices in a matter of hours. Once Hollywood is done making superhéroe movies or any comic book related series, the back issue market will suffer a little after that. It won’t happen for a long time but it’s coming.