From time to time, I subscribe to a new comic book title. Most recently, it was Robin.
When I first begin to think about adding a comic book, I usually pick the title up from a crossover from one of my main titles. Here, I begin to get a feel for the writing and the on-going storyline within the title itself. If I really enjoy the title, I begin to think more about it.
As I consider the new title and it begins to interest me more and more, I begin to consider the cost factor. Do I have enough to spend more money on another title? I try to budget only about 20 title at a time, but will go higher if there is a mini-series that I want to read. Most comic books cost $2.99 and this adds up pretty quick. So, budgeting is the first question.
The second question that I ask is about space. In my situation, I don’t have very much storage space–and to some degree never will until I retire. I also move every two to three years. Needless-to-say, I don’t have the room to carry around comic books for the sake of carrying them. Right now, I have about eight short-boxes stacked in a closet so I can get to them. I will be forced to put some in the basement because of what I am buying now. Is the title worth adding more bulk to my collection? I ask–“Do I have the space?”
The final thing that I consider is whether the comic book fits in my strategy for my collection. I have a collection of primarily main line characters–Superman, Batman, Spider-man, etc.), and primarily DC Comics characters (Superman,Batman, etc.) I try to keep my collection revolving around these main titles, with some flexibility to branch out into new areas. I own almost the entire Star Trek:The Next Generation, Volume Two series, but I will be selling that set when I return to the states for this very reason. I like to have continuity and as I build, I want to go in one major direction, rather than being disorganized and scattered. The final question I ask is “Does it fit?”
Anytime, I get antsy to build my collection with a new title–and get all excited I have to ask 1) Do I have the money? 2)Do I have the space to handle the new title? and 3) How does it fit into my collection? We all have different formulas for building up our collections of whatever it is that we collect–this is just my way of not going overboard in a hobby that could consume me.