BAB Classic (again): What's Missing?

Doug: Today's post last ran on April 4, 2013... Milk it for all it's worth!! But seriously, this was such a great topic when Karen wrote it almost five years ago that it's worthy of a revisit every so often. And if you check out the number of comments at the bottom, we've sure had a lot to say on the subject. In fact, I have a few ideas of my own, and am looking forward to perusing all of the previous conversation. Thanks, gang!

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Doug:  This post originally ran on June 28 2011, but I thought after almost two years it was worth revisiting.  As you read Karen's original premise and the comments that followed, why don't you chime in with any updated thoughts, wish lists that have been met, and maybe reiterate what it is that you are still anxiously awaiting.  Here's my partner --

Karen: As we've seen from posts and comments here at BAB, we all love a lot of old comics. Thankfully, a great many of the comic series that we adore have been reprinted in either hardback or TPB format. But there are still some books and stories from the bronze age that are waiting to see print.

Karen: While I'm very happy that Warlock, Captain Marvel, and Deathlok have all received the Masterworks treatment (and soon Iron Fist), how about Killraven? I know, he got his own Essentials. But Essentials are black and white, and I need color. There are a number of books that have been put in Essentials format that I would like to see in color, including most of the Marvel monster titles. Tomb of Dracula has several volumes out, but what about the short-lived Frankenstein series or Werewolf By Night? Although I wasn't a regular reader, I bet Man-Thing has its fans. And since the Masterworks started collecting Marvel Team-Up, how about some love for the Thing and collecting Marvel Two-In-One?

Karen: I'd love to have the "Who remembers Scorpio?" story from The Defenders all in one TPB. Likewise the Legion of Super-Heroes' "Earthwar Saga".

Karen: I'm sure there are some favorites you'd like to see in a nice trade or hardback -so start naming them!

BAB Re-Run: How Do You Interpret the Word "Collecting"?

Doug: We are re-running a post that originally appeared in the dawning of this blog, back in November of 2009. At the time it got no comments -- probably due to the fact that we had not-too-many readers back then. Several times in the past few weeks, our readers have commented on various purchases they've made lately that hearken back to the Bronze Age. I commented that Karen and I, too, are always looking for that next nugget that we'll parlay into a post or comics review. So, it sounds like we're all still, to some degree, buying old comics. And that brings us to today's (or way-back-when's) topic, which I've turned into an Open Forum question -- How do you interpret the word "collecting" in regard to your buying habits these days?


Doug: Thanks in advance, as always, for your participation.

Doug: Several posts ago, I made a remark about collecting comics. My posit was that I am more of a "possessor" than a "collector". I related a story about my mission of the late 1980's-early 1990's to amass a complete run of my favorite title, the Avengers. While I didn't chase after "reading copies", I was willing to accept some issues in the Good to Very Good range. Obviously, Fine or better was preferred, but as I got closer and closer and it was the very early issues that remained to be purchased, I compromised any investment potential.

Doug: While I was building the Avengers run, my friend Don was seeking to buy the entire Lee/Kirby run of the Fantastic Four. However, he was much stingier than I; consequently, he never achieved his goal -- but what he has (including FF #4) is in really, really nice shape.

Doug: I guess I somewhat fancy myself these days as having a comics library. I own a fairly nice collection of books about comics history, creator biographies, encyclopedias, and trade paperbacks/hardcovers from favorite stories/series. I would say the cornerstone of my collection these days are the four Marvel DVD-ROMs that I own -- complete collections (through about 2006) of Amazing Spider-Man, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and Iron Man. These discs have largely turned me away from collecting comic books themselves.

Doug: Of course the complaint about the DVD-ROMs is that you have to have a computer handy, and if that computer isn't a laptop then you can be talking about doing some uncomfortable reading. However, I'd argue that just the fact that each disc contains approximately 500 issues of continuity makes them a no-brainer economically. At the retail price they originally sold at, my four discs give me around 2000 comics for roughly $200. Do the math -- 10 cents an issue? DC's Archive Editions and Marvel's Masterworks offer you 10 issues for about $55 ($5.50/issue) and DC's Showcase Presents and Marvel's Essentials reprint 25 comics for around $16 (a little over $1.50/issue).

Doug: Now I do own several Archives (the complete Legion of Super-Heroes, for example) and Masterworks, as well as Essentials -- these are great things. The Essentials are especially nice, as they include complete stories, even when crossovers were involved. That would be one of the negatives about the DVD-ROMs -- no Giant-Size issues, for example. But here I am back to my original suggestion that I have become more of a possessor than a collector (as that term is generally applied to those who buy comics). To have, regardless of the format, has become my goal.

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Doug: And therein lies part of the problem: what about that issue that can't be acquired in reprint form? A few posts ago we discussed the Secret Society of Super-Villains -- not available (to the best of my knowledge). How about some of the other short-lived series of the 1970's? Black Goliath, The Cat, and others? Not available. So, am I saying that I would never buy back issues that might rekindle those childhood four-color memories? No. But I guess I no longer go out of my way to find them. I sort of envy those fans who browse through the dollar boxes to find that hidden gem. But somewhat-sadly -- it's just not me any more.

Karen: I think I am now a possessor as well. While I like having the original comics, it's just too expensive for me to try to buy them all, even in Good condition. Now that I have the DVDs, and a number of Masterworks, I feel I've filled in a lot of gaps. I can see myself spending my comics money on Masterworks for more obscure titles, or buying original comics of series that aren't too expensive. I just don't feel the need to have a NM copy of Avengers #1 - I just want a copy I can read, whatever the format.

Karen: That being said, I wish the Masterworks were like the DVDs and included ads, bullpen bulletins, and letter pages, or at least the letter pages. I like the ease of the masterworks (no computer necessary) but miss those elements.