How to get started reading and collecting comics

 

 sup bby.

Well before I start, I figured I'd mention that I left that publication I was writing for around a week ago. It was a tough decision, but due to the need for change in my personal life I decided to do what was best for me and my family and move on. Luckily, everyone there responded very well and I'm glad to say that things turned out for the better. I'm currently looking for a paid writing position, but until that happens, I'll have to settle in the muggle world and do something less pleasant (and much more boring). Also, I ended up having to go casual in the clan. That was heartbreaking, but at the same time, really necessary as I can't commit to set practice times in my current life schedule. Hopefully one day I'll be able to go back to being an active member, but until then, I'll live vicariously through their forum! But, moving on.

all done with my personal crap no one cares about. here's a chibi hatsune for your trouble

Now, let's talk about comics, shall we?

yes, let's. 

 I've gotten a ton of requests on Twitter asking what comics I read, what sort of genre I'm into, what my favorite heroes are--literally just about the most fun questions I could get. However, totaling more than all of those combined were the direct messages I received on just how to get started reading and collecting comics. I was somewhat surprised, considering there are tons of great resources out there addressing this very question, but I'll try my best to accurately explain how I got started and what I do collect. Also, I'll make a separate Q&A post for my personal comic preferences--I haven't forgotten about that, I promise.

When getting into comics, the best thing to do is follow your own preferences and likes. Ignore the opinions on the web concerning which comics are "good" and which ones are "bad". Your own opinion is king/queen, and whatever you think may be interesting is the best choice. Usually, most people start with the big two: DC and Marvel; and personally, I started off with Marvel via X-Men as a kid. Now that I'm an adult, however,  I much prefer DC comics out of the two. On another note, something that a lot of people take for granted is the plethora of absolutely incredible work by smaller publishing houses with somewhat less pull that is available more than ever before. Independent/smaller publishing offers a great experience in the sense that they have the freedom to really express ideas and story lines that the bigger publishers may consider too much of a risk in today's market. Amazing titles like I, Vampire, Danger Club, Aphrodite IX, Demeter and my absolute personal favorite of all time, Saga, are such amazing treasures just waiting to be read--and almost always ignored by DC/Marvel-heads.

So, where do we start first?

The first thing you should decide is what format you'd like your comics in. Nowadays, digital comics are all the rage, and comics can be purchased with a few taps on a smartphone, tablet, or eReader--this is very popular. The other option should you not have a smart device or prefer not to use one, is the tried and true traditional method of print copy collecting. This can be very rewarding in and of itself, as the actual hunt for the issues (and the care/display/organization of them) is a most enjoyable pastime for most comic book consumers. I, personally, purchase digital copies when I can for portability/time/resilience's sake as well as print copies for my collection that I usually bag and board (more on this in a bit) and put away.

If you choose to purchase your comics digitally, there are a plethora of methods in which to do this. My personal favorite is via a comics app named ComiXology available on iTunes, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows 8, etc. Via this app, you can purchase comics for the same price as in store, download it immediately, and have it saved to a singular account that you can sync to any device you may be using. If you don't have any of the aforementioned devices but still prefer digital, some websites offer digital comic support and offer the option to purchase the comic and download it to your PC or Mac and read it there. Marvel and DC both offer this feature via a built-in ComiXology app in their digital store.

If you choose to purchase print copies of your comics, there are a few steps to take. Firstly, locate your nearest FLCS/LCS (Friendly Local Comic Shop) via Google (or 411 should you find yourself lacking an internet connection) and make the trip. If it's a decently stocked store, you'll see dozens of white boxes with comics inside, usually labeled on the outside by title/publisher. Take your time in perusing the boxes, taking issues out, looking them over (carefully) and deciding what you'd like to purchase (and replacing them in the order in which you found them should you choose not to purchase!). You may get asked if you need help--there's no shame in accepting it! Tell the salesperson you're new and they may be able to help narrow down a good collection of books for you for your first time; or, just as easily don't. Personally, I almost never ask for help in comic book stores as I love going through a store's longboxes (the white boxes used to hold the comic issues).

In choosing comics, a major question usually asked is how to catch up to storylines that are already hundreds of issues ahead of you (like Superman, for instance). In comic books, story lines are divided into story arcs--or, small openings in the story line that give the reader the feeling as though they're starting the story from the beginning. By choosing to start at a more recent story arc, you can collect your favorite character without having to worry about the hundreds of issues previous to today's offerings. Should you want to catch up on the original stories, many comic book stores offer large tomes called omnibuses which package several issues of a certain comic in one volume--such as the Marvel Iron Man Omnibus. If you don't have the time (or cash!) to invest in an omnibus, there are tons of websites offering information on the histories of characters--just make a Google search and you can get caught up in no time.

So, now that you've chosen a comic, how do you protect them? All comic book shops will carry "bags and boards"; literally, a plastic sleeve with a hard sheet of cardboard that you place the comic in (cover facing front, board behind the comic against the back cover). When buying comics at the store, they should already be bagged and boarded, so this shouldn't present an issue. It's good to always have a few extra on hand should you buy a comic at a sale or a convention (two major events you should always take advantage of for excellent pricing--I make a LOT of my purchases there!) that has no bag. To store your comics at home, you can also purchase long/short boxes (those long, rectangular boxes you see at the FLCS) to house your comics in. I keep mine in a specific bookshelf that has space for all my issues; although soon, I'm going to have to start purchasing my own longboxes and make space in my already overflowing closet.

my comic collecting is getting out of control

So, there you have it. Super simple, very easy, and the best part is that comics are cheap. Most issues are priced at a modest $2.99 to $3.99 (depending on the issue/publisher/content/length) and debut with enough time between issues to make sure you always have enough for at least one new comic. There is one note of caution I didn't mention above though: when handling your comics, try to wash your hands before touching the pages, as well as handling the pages as little as possible. On everyone's hands is a thin film of cutaneous oil (skin is naturally greasy) that can stain your comic pages and mess with the delicate ink used to color those gorgeous images we all love. Oil stains can lead to the value of your issue dropping over time, so be careful! Other than that, have fun reading and collecting as many comics as you can. They're excellent fun, good reads, and perfect gifts to hand down to younger siblings, children, or even spouses (if you want to get them into that sort of thing!).

and this is why i collect her. 

go on, try her out. you'll never go back.