Hey, comic folks! I hope everyone reading this has been having a wonderful day. And if not, you and I can be sad together because it beats being glum alone. I may not feel sad right now, but I do feel bad. I haven’t been able to publish a proper newsletter for a month now. There is a reason for that, though. Early readers have an idea of what’s slowing me down from posting. I’ll get into it later in the newsletter. For now, I want to update you all on where I’m at with comic books! This year I’ve been in a weird situation that I felt like sharing. It’s all comic-related, don’t worry! I think the best place to start is what the sub-title implies!
Road to 1000!
I’ve been collecting and reading comics for 5-6 years now! With countless trips to the comic shop, book store, convention, and online buys, I’m close to reaching 1000 comic books! The thought of reaching that milestone is kind of crazy to me. I remember buying my first sets of comics and being super confused because of the sheer volume of these mags. Now, look at me! Still confused, just a little less, haha. I’m a big fan of Spider-Man, which means I’m collecting his runs. That alone is so difficult to do. He has numerous different titles. Of course, I went with the hardest one to do. And that’s the Amazing Spider-Man. You know the one I’ve been discussing in previous newsletters? It's diffcult for me because around here, older books are scarce, plus they're expensive. I could order most issues online, but that doesn't give me the feeling I get when I find them in a box at the shop. It may take a long time to collect the whole run, but it will be worth it! Most of my comics are from the 70s-90s. It’s by far my favorite era. The characters, storylines, covers, art, and dialogue are primarily untouchable compared to today’s comics. I still enjoy a handful of modern mags like Moon Knight and Thor. And with all that in my mind, I probably sit around 830 comics across 100+ titles. The last time I did a count was in November of last year, so it might be time to recount soon. I haven’t been able to visit the comic shop as much as I did last year. It might take longer to get 170 comics. But I’m very excited to reach 1000 issues no matter when it happens. I hope I feel as happy as I did when I purchased my first solo comic. What these books brought to my life is indescribable. It’s truly a blessing.
I’ll Take It!
In the beginning, I bought any issue that had my favorite characters. Spider-Man, Adam Warlock, Captian Mar-vell, Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, Avengers, etc. I was going ham with it then a problem arose. I started reading, and things weren’t making sense. Why is Doctor Strange a Zombie now? He just fought Dormammu and was fine! Oh, Peter and MJ are made for each other. Wait, what do you mean they aren’t a couple anymore?! Who are these new Avengers? They weren’t even mentioned in the last issue! I was dumb not to look at the titles and volume. I was only looking at the issue numbers. Once I realized what to look for, I decided I’ll only collect one big run in its entirety. That’s my glory run, and it’s the Amazing Spider-Man! I still buy other issues, but I’m more careful. If it isn’t #1 of a series, it has to fit with a title I already have. That way I’ll be filling in spots or starting from scratch. There are two other factors in buying; keys issues and covers! If a comic has great significance within the lore then it’s a must-have. If I see a gorgeous cover, I’ll buy it because they’re pretty rad. I mean, who doesn’t want to show off badass art? Sometimes I’ll buy an issue if one of my favorite writers or artists is attached to the issue, but that rarely happens. And finally, graded comics. I have a couple of CGC slabs, but I don’t see them as must-haves. I love reading, so it wouldn’t make sense to keep them all sealed. Most of the time, I’ll buy slabs when I get a good deal. I’ve only sent one issue to get graded. It’s my 9.6 Secret Wars #8 (1984)! The origin of the black Spidey suit, the cover looks dope, immense crossover, and it’s signed by Jim Shooter! It’s absolutely breathtaking.
Here’s to Hope!
There are a lot of things I hope I can do with comics in the future. Before I get a bit serious, I want to expand my range in comics. I mostly have Marvel comics. I want to learn more about DC and other comic companies. I have some knowledge of them. It isn’t like Marvel, though. I hope I can visit the comic shop more often. There was a time when I would go every weekend, but it isn’t like that anymore. I would be lying if I said it didn’t make me sad. I love the Dragon’s Lair, my go-to comic shop! They have a great selection of books, figures, cards, etc. Besides that, the people who work there are very welcoming. One of the best things about the visits is getting the possibility to talk to them about comics or life in general. One of the employees has his fair share of opinions, and even though I don’t agree with them, it’s nice listening to him passionately express his thoughts. Hopefully, I get a chance to go tomorrow! I stay pretty busy with work during the week. By the weekend, I’m too burned out to do anything. It’s the main reason why I keep slacking off with the newsletters. I’ll have a plan for the week. Then when the day comes, I don’t feel any motivation. I feel so bad when I’m not on my grind. Something people might not know is my passion for film. Last year, I shifted my focus on films to dive more into comics and comic book movies/shows. My intent this year is to give myself more time to do these because I enjoy talking about comics with you all. Not only that, I need more time to read comics! Out of the 830 comics, I probably read 40% of them. I remember reading 10 comics a day before the next year started. I miss those days. Fewer trips to the comic shop, losing time to write newsletters, and less time reading makes me feel down. These are things I’m passionate about, but I don’t know if I’m in a block of some sort. It isn't just with comics, but it's writing in general. I continue to feel stuck in a place that I can't get out of. It’s a bit gloomy. I try my best to stay positive because I know I can get back to how I was before. I definitely want to get back on track before Secret Invasion releases. I’m excited to guess who is who every week!
Favorite Issues this Week
Here are some of my favorite issues I’ve read this week!
Marvel Premiere #2 Featuring The Power of Warlock (May 1972) Vol 1 “The Hounds of Helios!”
Writer - Roy Thomas Penciler - Gil Kane Inker - Dan Adkins Letterers - Herb Cooper Editor - Stan Lee Editor-in-Chief - Stan Lee
Warlock #11 (Feb 1976) Vol 1 “How Strange My Destiny Part 2”
Writer - Jim Starlin Penciler - Jim Starlin Inker - Steven Leialoha Letterers - Tom Orzechowski Editor - Mary Wolfman Editor-in-Chief - Gerry Conway
Thor #32 (March 2023) Vol 6 “Blood of the Fathers, Part Two”
Writer - Torunn Grøbekk Penciler - Juan Gedeon Inker - Juan Gedeon Colorist - Matt Wilson Letterers - Joe Sabino Editor - Wil Moss Editor-in-Chief - C.B. Cebulski
Thor #33 (April 2230) Vol 6 “Blood of the Fathers, Part Three”
Writer - Torunn Grøbekk Penciler - Juan Gedeon Inker - Juan Gedeon Colorist - Matt Wilson Letterers - Joe Sabino Editor - Wil Moss Editor-in-Chief - C.B. Cebulski
Hello there! I’m happy you took the time out of your day to read my post. Remember, if you have any questions or want to have a discussion, leave a comment! Till next time comic folks! Happy days and take care!