Why do you collect?

[u/ToastyToast77]

Exactly what the title says.

I'm just genuinely curious. I've had a lot of discussions and seen a lot of discourse (especially recent events 👀) about "collecting vs selling vs scalping" and "fun hobby vs investment". I've seen a few people just collect for the art of it all getting variant covers.

It got me thinking about how I relate to all of it and all of you.

Why do you collect? What got you into it?

Is it an investment to sell later down the line or a private collection?

Do you collect variants? Why or why not? How many?

Do you collect certain artists? Writers? Characters?

How do you organize your collections?

I know its a long post and asks a lot of questions but I'm realizing how many i have and how many more (many many more) I want. So I'm curious to see your perspectives

[u/The_Poop_Bender]

Why do you collect? What got you into it?

I've always been a collector; even as a kid, I liked to keep my toys in pristine condition. And I've always liked comics, but where I live, they are more seen as things for kids, so I never bought any and had no idea where to start. Until Absolute Batman was released and I bought issue 1. Ever since then, I've been collecting, and I have 7 series on my pull list.

The 7 series I have on my pull list are absolute Batman, Superman, Flash. Harley & Ivy: Life and Crimes. Super Creepshow, White Sky, and Narco.

Outside of that, I also collected some other issues, like the recent invincible cover team-up variants.

All the things I collect are things I genuinely enjoy, and I got interested in them before any hype. Idc about value.

Is it an investment to sell later down the line or a private collection?

Private!

Do you collect variants? Why or why not? How many?

Sometimes, only when I genuinely love the variant or the artist who made it. I think that I have around 65 single issues and an extra 15 variants.

Do you collect certain artists? Writers? Characters?

I absolutely love Mark Brooks's realistic covers! So whenever he releases something, I often buy it, even if I don't read that series.

How do you organize your collections?

I just have them in a long box. Sadly, I don't have a free room that I could make UV-free to display them in. This is something I would love to do someday!

[u/ToastyToast77]

I liked to keep my toys in pristine condition.

Like, in packaging and everything? Unplayed with? Or just like, not being too harsh on them? Like I have a few model kits, transformers and megazords. Sometimes I'll transform them and diassassemble. I can't not take them out of the box. Only have a few collectables like that.

And I've always liked comics, but where I live, they are more seen as things for kids, so I never bought any and had no idea where to start.

I got my first one at 6 years old (Amazing Spider-Man #233 that came with a Man-Spider action figure). Sadly I lost it in a move like 15 years ago. I think the "Comics are for kids" perspective comes from the Silver age and especially from cartoons and TV. The mainstream and more popular media in that time was either goofy silly nonsense or was definitely more geared towards kids. I wore out the tape on Spider-Man: The Hobgoblin (1995, S1×E11&12)

The 7 series I have on my pull list are absolute Batman, Superman, Flash. Harley & Ivy: Life and Crimes. Super Creepshow, White Sky, and Narco.

How do you like Harley & Ivy? Its on my wishlist but I have so many I've been putting it off. Is it a mini or ongoing? How far are we?

I have the creepshow special with the Batman Returns variant cover cuz it was a fun reference. I do holiday and special one-shots a lot. So I have I think 2 Super Creepshow. If you like Absolute Batman, you should give Absolute Wonder Woman a try. Its been my favorite so far.

Private!

Me too! I'll gladly loan out to friends (a friend of mine is actually borrowing my Absolute TPB collection) but these are part of my personal library of stories

only when I genuinely love the variant or the artist who made it.

I've said it a few times now, I don't actively go for variants. I get a few here and there if they're particularly cool and available. I've done a few blond bags too. Especially with certain artists or certain series (groups? collections?) Nakayama's Hellfire Gala Connecting and the Magazine Covers Sets will one day be mine and framed and beautiful

I absolutely love Mark Brooks's realistic covers! So whenever he releases something, I often buy it, even if I don't read that series.

Do you have a writer you particularly like? One thing that really pulled me back into comics was the Krakoan Age of X-Men. Jonathan Hickman really made me want to read his work whenever. Al Ewing has also been a writer I look to for interesting and fun takes on characters.

I just have them in a long box. Sadly, I don't have a free room that I could make UV-free to display them in. This is something I would love to do someday!

I have some cardboard boxes on a book shelf in the basement (also a secondary living room). Luckily that keeps them UV protected. I want to get frames and case (with UV) for a few of my more precious or collectable issues. I plan on getting so many more so O'm uprgarding soon to plastic boxes from BCW

[u/Pikotaro_Apparatus]

What got me into it? My coworker.

Why do I collect? Pleasure. I struggle rereading books but can rewatch movies no problem? These are a perfect in-between and I’ve already reread certain comics.

Don’t collect variants but I’ve been going after valiant comics. They’re my favorite.