Do you guys feel like you collect too many titles?

[Nick K.]

I am currently collecting 22 titles. I'm sure a lot of you are collecting the same and many more. I just am wondering how many titles is too many... I mean I want to get so much but it's hard to keep track of, keep up with, not enough space to store, too much money, etc.

Do you guys feel like comics are a problem sometimes? LOL =/

[Bubblegum Girl]

I don't think its wrong to collect alot of comics. The problem is finding a place to put it all and how much it's feeding off from your wallet. ;)

[Hatter]

I really need to drop some books. Not really because of budget restraints (I always seem to scrape up enough) but just because I've lost interest. I'll be dropping Birds of Prey this week, and Wonder Woman at the end of the current arc. Same with Flash - I only caught it at the very end of Kolins' run, and it hasn't been the same since. I've really been dissapointed in Fantastic Four these past couple of issues, but the upcoming Galactus arc seems promising. So, I think I'll hang on for now.

[PaQ]

Well right now I'm getting about 19 titles.. and I really want to add a few more.. So I definitely feel like I have too many, I want to drop some because it's not like some of them are great reads, but more I get them out of habit. I'm probably going to drop a Superman title, especially since they stopped the whole, all the comics tie into eachother a few years ago or whenever.. Gah.. I'll have to go over what I have and decide someday soon.. >_<

[kid_flash]

I have 18 a month and I'm looking to ditch some. But I can't. I could...for instance, FLASH hasn't been very interesting at all since issue 200, but I have a complete set since issue 141, so there's no way in Hell I'm quitting on that. So yeah, there's a coupla titles like that, but with the rest I'm just holding out and praying they'll get to where I can be excited about them again, because there are very few books I'm excited about month after month.

[Who?]

Unless you are being forced to buy the comics you will never be buying too many. You are collecting as many comic books as you want. I currently collect almost all DC comic books, with the exception of the Batman and the kiddie books.

I used to buy New Xmen, but now the only Marvel book I can stand is Astonishing. I dropped Ultimate universe ever since it became clear they were only re-doing the original material rather then creating something new.

[Somejerk]

Unless you are being forced to buy the comics you will never be buying too many. You are collecting as many comic books as you want.
I have to disagree with you, I used to have a really bad habit with comics back in teh 90s. I would buy them and for some of them I would skim through them once and never read them again. Thsoe were comics I could have done without. I was buying almost every marvel title that was out and really caring baout the story or anything, just to have them. Now I only buy what I really want to read.

[Nick K.]

I have to disagree with you, I used to have a really bad habit with comics back in teh 90s. I would buy them and for some of them I would skim through them once and never read them again. Thsoe were comics I could have done without. I was buying almost every marvel title that was out and really caring baout the story or anything, just to have them. Now I only buy what I really want to read.

OMG... He understands me. =]

[Chime]

well, my addiction is manga, does that count? yeah, 21 titles. i buy them all the time and then my friends borrow them and read them. it sucks.

[Nick K.]

well, my addiction is manga, does that count? yeah, 21 titles. i buy them all the time and then my friends borrow them and read them. it sucks.

Manga doesn't count in here... sorry. =P

I guess it does... If you must talk about it...

And don't let them borrow stuff if it sucks.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,


Manga doesn't count in here... sorry. =P

I guess it does... If you must talk about it...

Manga is comics and this is the Comic Book Culture Forum, so therefore manga counts in here whether you like it or not :p :).

I think some comic collectors get kind of obsessive about some titles and keep buying them even after they've lost interest. That's about the only explanation I can come up with for X-fans continuing to buy X-Men comics even whenall they do is complain that, "I hate what they're doing with the characters." I've seen the same thing happen with Batman a lot, too.

If I feel like I'm collecting too many titles, it's really because I'm running out of longboxes to store them in. I've gotten pretty vicious about axing titles that aren't performing at their peaks lately.

-- Ed/Ace

[kid_flash]

Howdy,
I think some comic collectors get kind of obsessive about some titles and keep buying them even after they've lost interest. That's about the only explanation I can come up with for X-fans continuing to buy X-Men comics even whenall they do is complain that, "I hate what they're doing with the characters." I've seen the same thing happen with Batman a lot, too.

I love that mentality though, man. How can you not get behind it? There's this great quote from the Cameron Crowe film, Almost Famous...

“They don't even know what it is to be a fan. Y'know? To truly love some silly little piece of music, or some band, so much that it hurts.”

Apply that to comics. I love the fan mentality that you just keep picking it up, month after month, out of sheer love for the characters and not merely a want but a NEED to see them done justice. And when that time finally comes, the pay off must be unbelievable.

It's like I said in my previous post about FLASH...I don't really like FLASH anymore. Hated the moment when Wally asked for his secret identity back. Hated the "Blitz" storyline. And the current stuff has been run-of-the-mill, with Johns just relying on making all the villains really "edgy," and forgoing what made his take on the Rogues so good...making them real characters (the Mirror Master issue had potential...and then that last panel hit). But there's no way I'm gonna stop reading it. FLASH is my book, always has been, and it'll stay that way 'til the hopefully-nonexistant day when they cancel it. And I made it sound like I'm just doing it 'cause I have all the stuff from 141 on, but it really is my love for that character and that legacy. No, that book stays.

There's another reason I forgot about: The ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN reason, or at least that's what it's called now. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN is a decent book, there's nothing really WRONG with it. It's just not an AMAZING book. It's not blowing my mind, it's nowhere near some of the best Superman stories. I could ditch it and not think another thing of it. But I love the creative team behind it, and I'll watch every move they make with Superman, a character I love (though not enough to read unconditionally...see the 2003 Superman titles).

[theodoreLogan]

I think some comic collectors get kind of obsessive about some titles and keep buying them even after they've lost interest. That's about the only explanation I can come up with for X-fans continuing to buy X-Men comics even whenall they do is complain that, "I hate what they're doing with the characters." I've seen the same thing happen with Batman a lot, too.
-- Ed/AceI agree to an extent. I love the X-men...although it does get ridiculous sometimes I try my damndest to collect every issue and every series that has spun off of the x-men. (Including the unexpected return of a not-so-great-selling X-force). I have been with them through good times and bad, and to me, every story that has been written is a part of the x-men mythos and history...so it is written, so it shall be (and has been done). And I will continue to participate in my love/obsession of the ever-changing world of the x-men. That being said, I beleive that it is well within a fan's rights to express their like or dislike of events that are transpiring with their favorite super-heroes. It's kinda like complaining about the president...even if you voted for him. If anything, true fans have more of a right to express their opinions than some shmoe who just picked up the book because of a brilliant change in creative teams.

More on the subject: If your not buying the books to READ them (and enjoying them, too dammit!), then you shouldn't be buying them. Yeah, collecting is fun, but I don't think you're a true collector, unless you're collecting the books for their true purpose...entertainment.
I'm currently getting over 25 titles, and I enjoy every one! :)

[halinar]

I agree to an extent. I love the X-men...although it does get ridiculous sometimes I try my damndest to collect every issue and every series that has spun off of the x-men. (Including the unexpected return of a not-so-great-selling X-force). I have been with them through good times and bad, and to me, every story that has been written is a part of the x-men mythos and history...so it is written, so it shall be (and has been done). And I will continue to participate in my love/obsession of the ever-changing world of the x-men.
And that boys and girls is why we get wolverine in the Avengers :)

Everyone I'm sure has books they pick up but are not sure why... either for hopes that they will come back to some past goodness or something. Guess old age has made me just pick up books that I enjoy, not to keep a run going. 250 x-men issues in a row was dropped when I gave up hope on uncanny many years ago....

[theodoreLogan]

And that boys and girls is why we get wolverine in the Avengers :)

Everyone I'm sure has books they pick up but are not sure why... either for hopes that they will come back to some past goodness or something...250 x-men issues in a row was dropped when I gave up hope on uncanny many years ago....
They'll keep making them whether I support them or not. I am a completist when it comes to my collection...it's like having a favorite sports team--or favorite anything for that matter--you stick with them through good times and bad. Bad writing (occassionally) on titles such as the X-men, does not make me care for the characters any less. I grew up with them, and will continue to grow old with them.

[Chad Bonin]

I pick up roughly 10 titles a week.

... I can't wait for some mini-series and story arcs to end. Not that they're BAD... but I try to complete a run of comics if it's 6 or less and interests me. I'll miss Bite Club, but when it's over, I save 3 bucks a month. Identity Disc ain't great, but I'm gonna finish it. JLA "Pain of the Gods" is good, but once again, that's money I could save...

If ya cut out all mini-series, I probably regularly collect 10-15 titles a MONTH.

[Bryangst]

I read roughly 30+ titles a month.
But when there's maybe an arc that I have no interest in, then I'll just skip that arc and wait for the next to start. Also, some of what I read ARE mini's, so when those end in a couple months, I'll be down a few titles until the next batch starts up in November and December. But even then, it's still about 30. And as long as I keep setting aside that $50-$60 a month for comics, I shouldn't need to cut down on any titles.... just the amount of CRAP that I will never buy again.

[Russkafin]

I think we need, like... Comic Collectors Annonymous or something!

I only currently collect about 10 titles, but that is after cutting it way down... I too have been in that boat of picking up a title out of a sense of obligation. I have bought comics and then never even read them, just bagged and boarded them and put them away.

When a book comes in and you don't even want it, know you will never read it, and would honestly rather not buy it... but you buy it anyway because you feel like you have to... you know you have a problem!

[Nick K.]

I read roughly 30+ titles a month.
But when there's maybe an arc that I have no interest in, then I'll just skip that arc and wait for the next to start. Also, some of what I read ARE mini's, so when those end in a couple months, I'll be down a few titles until the next batch starts up in November and December. But even then, it's still about 30. And as long as I keep setting aside that $50-$60 a month for comics, I shouldn't need to cut down on any titles.... just the amount of CRAP that I will never buy again.

Rios!

That is scary... promise me you won't go insane.

[Pyro]

Yeah, I buy too many books considering how dissatisfied I am once I've read through them all. I think I buy too many comics just because they feature my favorite characters or because I don't want to miss an issue. I think I'm only going to buy comics I know will be enjoyable from now on instead of buying ones that should be good and end up being disappointing.