I used to think collecting every single issue was the only way to be a real fan...

Back in 2015, I had a full run of Amazing Spider-Man from #300 onward and it felt like a job. I'd hunt down back issues and spend over $50 a month just to keep the run going. Now, I just buy the trades of stories I actually want to read. The change happened about two years ago when I realized I was buying comics I didn't even like just for the number. Who else gave up on the completionist grind and just reads for fun now?

3 comments

3 Comments

maryh9624d ago

That mindset shift is such a relief, isn't it? I read a piece once where a long time collector said his hobby only became fun again when he sold off his "obligation" boxes and just kept his favorites. The space and money it frees up lets you actually enjoy what you have. Chasing a full run can turn a fun escape into a second job with no pay.

leow9024d ago

But it's just stuff, not a job you can get fired from.

the_henry12d ago

See, the hunt was always the fun part for me. Finding that missing issue in a dusty box at a con or finally getting a good deal online gave me a rush that just reading a trade never could. My collection isn't a chore, it's a map of all those little victories. Letting go of the run would feel like erasing the story of how I built it.