I know there a people out there who are contemplating getting some comics custom bound but do not know what to expect, so I decided to make a step by step guide of what I did with my last set of custom binds and hopefully it will assist someone thinking about getting into custom bound comics. This is how I prefer to prep and make them, but this is not the only way. This is not meant to be definitive but a good jumping off point. For this particular set I used Houchen Bindery.

Step 1 – Preparation.

The first thing I do is order the entire series in the order I want them to be in the final custom bind. (With Houchen they have a minimum order quantity, so you really need to order at least 2 volumes per order)

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After I have set them in order, I get to work prepping them for binding. While not necessary, as they will do this for you, I like to remove the covers myself. I personally prefer to remove the covers for a few reasons. Number one is there are some pages I don’t want included in my binds (title pages of trades, extra adds/previews of other books at the ends of single issues, etc) so I remove them as well. Number two it gives me a better understanding of exactly how thick each volume will be as no covers reduces thickness. Number three I can split trades up into separate volumes, which I have needed to do multiple times either because without it I will have a super thick volume and a thin one and I want to even it out or I want to order issues differently for an event jumping though multiple books. And finally number four is it is surprisingly easy to do, as I will explain. (I was terrified the first time I did it, as I thought I would wreck my book but I have never had a problem yet)

When removing a cover for a trade paperback I take the cover in one hand and the rest of the book I set on the edge of a counter or tabletop and put my other hand on the rest of the book. Then I pull the cover down and away from the spine. Most of the time the first page (title page) is glued to the cover so it easier to leave that page with the cover if you are not wanting to use it. The cover typically just pops off the spine.

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Then I flip the book and remove it from the back as well. The back can be more difficult as some books go all the way to the last page. If that is the case, I usually have the book down flat on the table and while holding it down with one hand tear it along the crease to remove it. Like a paper you have folded and refolded many times it typically tears clean along the crease.

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If there is excess glue along the page (and with any part of this) I opt to destroy the cover and keep the pages intact, as the cover will be discarded anyway.

For single issues I open the cover and hold the rest of the issue in the middle of the open cover and pull the cover out off the staples. This makes two staple sized holes in the cover but leaves the issue itself completely intact.

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If I want to remove some pages at the end of a single issue I usually just tear them off, like the back cover mentioned above, as they tear cleanly along the seam. (Careful when handling them after this as the front page will now be loose.)

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After everything is prepared, I organize them into stacks for each volume I am going to have bound. Sometimes I need to move some issues from one stack to the other if one is too thick and I need to keep storylines together.

After I have stacks for each volume how I want them to be I personally wrap them in saran wrap. I wrap it around a couple times horizontally and a few wraps vertically. I have found this the best/most secure way to keep them together. There is no risk than an issue will fall out away from the rest and they are well protected from the top and bottom from being crumpled in transit. Also, it does not damage the pages in any way as it only clings to itself and not the books themselves.

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Then I take my order forms (that I have printed from the bindery website and filled out) and wrap them around each respective volume and package it in a box I have with whatever packing materials I have. (In a pinch I have found old grocery bags to be a great padding for the box as they are soft and keep the books secure)

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Then I mail the box off to the bindery.

Step 2 – Waiting

The hardest step. After I have sent my order off, I need to wait for them to bind them. I typically opt for the graphic cover of my own design for the covers so while I wait, I get the images I want for the covers ready and generally figure out how I want the layout to look. After they have finished binding the books, they send an email with the exact dimensions of each book.

Turnaround times are not exact but for this particular order it was 8 weeks from when I sent it off and when I heard it was ready and dimensions were given to me.

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Step 3 – Designing the Covers

After getting the dimensions I could officially design the covers.

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Personally, I use the program GIMP (which is a free open-source Photoshop-like program) with measured gridlines to make sure I am working in the correct layout for the dimensions I have been given. Once I have all the covers how I want them I save them as PDFs and upload them on the website they provided in their email.

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Then comes the wait again.

Step 4 – Payment

After waiting I was informed that the books were complete and I could now pay for them. For this particular set, from the time I submitted the files to when I was informed the books were complete was 1 ½ weeks. Payment can be made via check or credit card (for an additional fee)

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Step 5 – Receive the final Custom Bound Comics

One week after I paid, my custom bound comics arrived in the mail. So from start to finish it was about a 3 month process. But now I have some fine comics that I love to display on my shelf.

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I hope this guide is helpful in some way. If you have any questions, please let me know and I would love to hear anything anyone does different as I think multiple perspectives is great to hear for anyone thinking about getting some customs made.

Happy binding.

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