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So, I've been collecting comics since 1992. I know this because The Death of Superman storyline got me back into buying them. It snowballed from there to where I am today. I went from just buying Superman, to buying Superman & Spider-Man (at first for anything Venom/Carnage related, then the Clone Saga), to an assortment of superhero comics. Most of my collecting has been buying trade paperbacks (collections/graphic novels) since they're easier to collect, flip through, and lend to friends. From there, I tried out a lot of different titles, expanding into Vertigo comics, and then to all sorts of other comics, large and small. I've been oddly smart with most of my buying, taking advantage of sales and deals, along with my favourite godsend, BMV: a huge used bookstore in Toronto that had an entire floor for sci-fi, fantasy and comics.

Over the years, I've amassed something of a large collection. Since I couldn't lug them all with me to Toronto, a very large portion of them was left for keeping and storage at my parents' place.

And now that I'm home, I'm doing my usual routine when I'm home...sorting through them and picking it apart, finding books to sell to the local comic store (for credit...for more comics; it's an endless cycle). Plus, re-sorting them into categories and alphabetical order for the first time in a very long time. And I'm realizing...

I have too many goddamn comics.

Honestly, I'm absolutely certain my collection pales in comparison to your average comic collector. But here's the tally of boxes that I have:

-Seven and a half longboxes, mostly filled to the brim
-Five banana boxes that are a mix of comics and novels. We'll round it down to four.

As I said, I'm certain my collection pales in comparison to many, many "true" comic book collectors out there. I've been slowly parring down my collection over the years. Though that parring down goes along with a continuing of buying comics, as well. Endless, ugly cycle.

I think while I'm home for the next five weeks, I'm going to think a LOT about this large collection and see if I can do a very large purge of them. Still to sell to the local comic shop, but at least I won't get as much worth in credit to buy the same amount again.

Want me to add mine to your pile? I got out of comics about the time of the Death of Superman, so they should dovetail quite well together*.

--Patrick
*Not a genuine offer. MINE!

PatrThom said:

Want me to add mine to your pile? I got out of comics about the time of the Death of Superman, so they should dovetail quite well together*.

--Patrick
*Not a genuine offer. MINE!

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I have a shit-ton of comic, as well. Only they are destroyed. Water damage and a nesting dog combined to make my collection nothing more than brightly colored paste.

What you need Nick is more trades. They take up a lot less space than their respective floppies and you can store them on bookshelves.

Boom! lots of content, less space.

*sob* I wish it were that easy.

Most of my collection already is trades.

So after going through all the boxes, sorting them and picking out things here and there, I've managed to cut down to 7 and a half long boxes, and 2 banana boxes. Most of that was just separating comics from books (novels, reference books, etc).

I only collect trades these days, infinitely better way to collect.

Having a comic collection is horrible. You could never get what you paid for them out of it but they are too valuable to just give away so you end up with box after box. Dave, you're the lucky one. Fate destroyed your collection. I have several boxes as well. They take up so much space and my wife is always on me about getting rid of them. I would part with them for cover price on the entire collection but for every original Dark Knight comic I have a dozen Dazzlers. What was I thinking? I love trade paperbacks. I don't associate a value with them like I do with a single comic so when I've read a trade I pass it on to friends.

Quick question Nick, do you double comic bag your comics? It helped bring my collection's physical space "size" down by more than you'd realize.

Shegokigo said:

Quick question Nick, do you double comic bag your comics? It helped bring my collection's physical space "size" down by more than you'd realize.

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My roommate does this. I don't, but am considering.

I do it because it makes it more compact and easier to find what I'm looking for.

Shegokigo said:

Quick question Nick, do you double comic bag your comics? It helped bring my collection's physical space "size" down by more than you'd realize.

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I used to. I don't bag or board my "floppy" comics at all anymore.

ThatNickGuy said:

I used to. I don't bag or board my "floppy" comics at all anymore.

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Nick I say this as a person who reads your posts and find your avatar amusing. YOU'RE A MONSTER!

Oh, getting rid of them won't be an issue. I'll be selling them for credit at Strange Adventures (local comic store). It's just a matter of trying to actually pare the collection down.

Shegokigo said:

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Most of mine have been moved from box to box and house to house, never bagged or catalogued. They were all purchased to appreciate, though not in value. A handful are bagged for specific reasons. Some have had...incidents.

--Patrick