Becoming a True Believer: The Beginning of my Comic Collecting Career

It’s probably difficult to believe, but I didn’t seriously become a true comic book fan until freshman year of University. Sure I knew about Spider-man; who didn’t? I watched The Incredible Hulk on T.V. whenever it was on; Lou Frigno was the greatest Hulk I ever seen! I even downloaded the X-Men theme song from the 90’s as my cell phone ring tone. But really, I hated the idea of collecting comics for the soul purpose of continuality, by the time I was old enough to appreciate comics, single issues were always some part of a larger arc, and I hated being out of the loop!

By the end of freshman year, however, I picked up my first real graphic novel; Ultimate Spider-man Collection 1.
When I first read through the pages of the trade paperback (tpb), it was like going to an arcade for the first time, I knew all about the material, but never experienced it. Everything felt familiar, but at the same time new. Parker was still a geek, but he was witty and fun. The spider was no longer radioactive, but genetically engineered. Like a shot from Spidey’s web I became caught in this narrative of Spider-man mythos! Eventually, I started to collect these tpb via Amazon.ca. And it began…

Soon enough, a friend of mine, the legendary Aaron Feldman, asked if I wanted to go to Rogues Gallery with him. I never went to a comic shop before so I didn’t know what to expect. All I had as expectation was the sarcastic, fat, balding Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons. But when I entered the wooden door into a small room filled with boxes of comics, T-shirts, and Thor toys, I knew I was welcomed. Even George, the real comic book guy, was approachable and friendly. About seven tbp’s (and about 160 dollars) later, I’ve discovered my new hobby!

But still no single issues.

That’s why this project of getting single issues was so important. I have finally become a collector of comics, but I needed to find out why I really hated collecting singles. I went with Jeff Lemire’s Sweet Tooth.
Already they were thinner than usual, making it less likely to survive in my room. Tpb’s always survive cramming and shelving because their books. Singles need to be carefully put away in plastic covering, too much effort on my part. Secondly, I wasn’t able to go every week (because heaven help me, I have expensive sushi/comic tastes), so sometimes I would miss a chapter. And there is nothing worse then waiting for something that has already come out. But thankfully, I have up to issue 8, so I’m not behind.

So that’s the lengthy origin of my super hero comic hobby. Since then, I have collected nearly 250 different trades, and have managed to branch out a little from the capes to Maus to The Nobody to Gears of War...

And so I say in conclusion the famous words of Stan Lee...

Aw forget it.