What was the book(s) that really made you want to collect?

[alecholland]

For me, it was when I bought a copy of Sub-Mariner #1 for $10 at Rock Bottom Comics in Columbia, Missouri around 1980 or so. I loved that cover so much at the time, and realized shortly thereafter that I had become a collector.

Unfortunately I sold my collection when I went to college so that I could eat, but I have since bought a really nice replacement.

[Deathlok]

I don't know if there was one book that made me want to collect. As I started buying comics it eventually grew into a collection. I can remember several comics that were the beginnings of my collection, but individually they weren't the inspiration to collect.

[alecholland]

I don't know if there was one book that made me want to collect. As I started buying comics it eventually grew into a collection. I can remember several comics that were the beginnings of my collection, but individually they weren't the inspiration to collect.

Was it a title? Astonishing Tales #25-36 Perhaps?

[pasnat54]

Collecting just kind of evolved with me too. My older brother had some comics that I read when he was in the army; mostly DCs. The first books I really got excited about on my own were Adventure Comics with the Legion of Superheroes. Something about a group of young kids running around with super powers in the 30th Century really seemed cool to me. They're why I got in to comics.

The moment I became a collector was probably when I bought X-Men 37 from the local Thrifty Drug Store. These comics were different, worth reading over and over, and thus worth collecting.

[Deathlok]

Was it a title? Astonishing Tales #25-36 Perhaps?

That would be too obvious.

Actually, I really started buying books around 1977 (I was 8).

[jaydeebee]

The first book that made me want to collect an entire series was Marvel's Star Wars #1, even though I had collected comics prior to it's release, Star Wars made me more aware of comics other than the Archies, Disneys and Superman comics of my childhood.

[CurrinComics]

Well, back in 1979 I sold my Werewolf by Night run for $50, which at that time was a decent enough deal for a 12 yr old to take, as it let me buy more comics by Mike Ploog,as I bought a M Spot 5, Frankenstein 1 and 2 and some Man Thing issues and had some $$$ left over. It was soon after, that I missed my WBN run and wanted to get some more back issues of Tomb of Dracula and Ghost Rider, as by nature I'm a Marvel BA Horror junkie. I have since done several full runs of all the Marvel BA Horror runs and completed the Conan run once as well. This lead to getting into the super heros as well Spidey, FF, X-Men, Thor, Batman, Hulk etc... I have stopped doing the "full runs" and mainly do Key's , #1's and 1st app. A member from the CGC board member helped me do two more raw HG runs of WBN and TOD which I will keep for the forseable future. They both are sweet and I have been offered some nice coin for them, as there is not a single book in either run that would be lower than a VF/NM 9.0. I also did all the Marvel Giant Size issues in HG which took a while due to the square bound spines and such....it was fun. However, that day back in 1979 hooked me into the hobby for sure and my love for Mike Ploog art and monsters.

[CurrinComics]

.....oh, and I love Swamp Thing 1-10 by Bernie as well and consider # 12 the best non-Bernie cover. My fav Brnie cover would be # 9.

[oxbladder]

In 1979 I went to a comic store with a friend for the first time and he introduced me to The Invaders and the rest is history. I was hooked on comics from that point.

[comicworkbench]

I was buying whatever was cool on my drug store comic rack for a while. Being in a small town there was only two stores that had comics. I would go every Thursday to see what had com in at each store.
I finally went to our Ottawa Super Ex, (our city's Exhibition with rides, games and a couple comic stores had stands.) I found Uncanny X-men #136. I knew the Byrne run was important and snagged the comic. It made me want to collect the run. I would say that was my first important back issue.

[razorz000]

when I was younger My cousin came down from MN and had some Sgt.Rock & ASM books and I'd have to say that from thier on I was total hooked on the web head and then X-Men & so on..

So my first love of comics came from spidey...can't remember the issue number but I think it was #194 but that was some time ago.

[toz1960]

I had read quite a few before,mostly big bro's Dc westerns and war from around 59'-60 but the 2 that hooked me were Thor #'s 175 & 192.Silver Surfer #11 and Conan # 16 were pretty important also.

[silverage12¢]

I had been buying comics off of the newsstand from a very young age, and my parents tell me I ALWAYS had them around as a young tad. Had an uncle who was a teenager, and he'd give me lots of hand-me-down readers, too. But, the first time I remember actually collecting was when I was about 12 (in 1981 or so). I bought my first issue of New Teen Titans, and found myself desperate to track down and find the first dozen issues of the series that I had missed. That was my first trip to an LCS, I think --- a store called Book Fair in Winnipeg. Thus began a ritual of hopping a transit bus and traveling downtown on a regular basis to spend $ from my paper route :D

[fulltimer56]

The first comics/title I collected were Our Army at War in 1965 then went into Superman, etc. I read/collect up to around 1972 and sold & give them away. Then got back into reading them in 1977 up until about 1989 (got married) then got back into reading/collecting around 2006 when She-Hulk 2 started coming out and I have been going strong ever since.

Linda

[mordo]

For me it was Fantastic Four #44-46. The interactions between the characters, the unforgettable cover of #45, the scene where Johnny first saw Crystal, and the dramatic introduction of Black Bolt; all of that hooked me early on.

[Capitalrecoveryman]

There was no book as I recall that made me want to collect, but I do remember when I decided to start collecting, I went into the Shoppette at Fort Jackson, SC and bought Amazing Spider-Man 194, Fantastic Four 206, Daredevil 158 and Captain America 233.

[Mariner]

Marvel Tales -- a bunch of heroes all wrapped up in one book

[StlComics]

I was hooked on the Wolfman/Perez run of Teen Titans and the Uncanny X-Men and New Mutants runs of the early 1980's as a youngster. Been an addict ever since.

[malaprop]

Walt Disney's Comics and Stories in the early '50s. Carl Barks Donald Duck? Nah, it was the continuing Mickey Mouse mystery thrillers in the back. Robot Army, Mysterious Pill Plot, the Monarch of Medioka, etc. Now that I think of it, I need to read those again.

[alecholland]

I had been buying comics off of the newsstand from a very young age, and my parents tell me I ALWAYS had them around as a young tad. Had an uncle who was a teenager, and he'd give me lots of hand-me-down readers, too. But, the first time I remember actually collecting was when I was about 12 (in 1981 or so). I bought my first issue of New Teen Titans, and found myself desperate to track down and find the first dozen issues of the series that I had missed. That was my first trip to an LCS, I think --- a store called Book Fair in Winnipeg. Thus began a ritual of hopping a transit bus and traveling downtown on a regular basis to spend $ from my paper route :D

Paper route money. #cloud9#

I did the same thing. Took the city bus downtown with my friends to buy comics. I think I made a little over $1 a day on my paper route.

[alecholland]

I was hooked on the Wolfman/Perez run of Teen Titans and the Uncanny X-Men and New Mutants runs of the early 1980's as a youngster. Been an addict ever since.

My wife was asking me what titles I collected when I was a kid. That's what gave me the thought to start this thread. The Wolfman/Perez Teen Titans was one of my favorite titles along with Uncanny X-Men. I really liked Michael Golden's art as well, so I was a big Micronauts fan back then. I had a lot of Warren Mags as well like Vampirella, Creepy, & Eerie.

[alecholland]

Walt Disney's Comics and Stories in the early '50s. Carl Barks Donald Duck? Nah, it was the continuing Mickey Mouse mystery thrillers in the back. Robot Army, Mysterious Pill Plot, the Monarch of Medioka, etc. Now that I think of it, I need to read those again.

Those sound very cool. If you happen to know what issues they are in, I would be very interested. I have about a dozen WDC&S issues that I bought about 6 months ago and really enjoyed them.

[Ijiwaru Sensei]

In 1979 I went to a comic store with a friend for the first time and he introduced me to The Invaders and the rest is history. I was hooked on comics from that point.

The Invaders. Yeah, my dad brought me home an Invaders 22, and thus began my collecting.

1979? Th e year the Invaders ended. :(

[marvelguy]

Hi Ijiwaru, Welcome to the Corral!

Invaders is a cool series back in the day. Any chance you're reading the newest series Avengers/Invaders? The first issue rocks!

[clayface]

Pep 32. Has it as a kid. Reaquired the exact same copy of it as an adult. Great Montana war cover.

[Ijiwaru Sensei]

Hi Ijiwaru, Welcome to the Corral!

Invaders is a cool series back in the day. Any chance you're reading the newest series Avengers/Invaders? The first issue rocks!

Yes, I am. It's definitely fun to see the old group together again. It will easily be much better than the New Invaders series.

I'm also following the First Avenger: Captain America film set for 2011. Apparently the whole film will be set in WWII. I'm hoping for at least a tip of the hat to the Invaders or maybe even a cameo. Yeah, probably won't happen, but I'd love to see it.

[silverage12¢]

When I think back, in addition to the regular superhero titles I always liked, I also LOVED reading old issues of Mad and Cracked that were laying around. Handed down to me (by my then-teenage uncle) they were the best! My Mom never really liked me having them, 'cause she thought I was a little young for some of the humor, which added to their appeal.

The best part: those fold-in back covers revealing the hidden image :D

[Ijiwaru Sensei]

I had a few of those Craked when I was a kid, too. The fold down back covers were great. The humor was pretty tame by today's standards.

[marvelguy]

Yes, I am. It's definitely fun to see the old group together again. It will easily be much better than the New Invaders series.

I'm also following the First Avenger: Captain America film set for 2011. Apparently the whole film will be set in WWII. I'm hoping for at least a tip of the hat to the Invaders or maybe even a cameo. Yeah, probably won't happen, but I'd love to see it.

I can't wait for that movie. I have a feeling that since the movie takes place in WW2, the Avengers movie that follows will re-introduce him in Avengers like in the comics. :p

[Ijiwaru Sensei]

I think you are right on that.

[stupidman]

I had a few of those Craked when I was a kid, too. The fold down back covers were great. The humor was pretty tame by today's standards.

When I was 6, I wanted some of those comics on the spinner rack so bad, but mom wouldn't let me. But for some reason, she would let me buy Cracked (because it was a magazine?). Not until years later did I find out that the artist I really liked in Cracked was John Severin. Mom gave in on the comics about a year later, and I've been buying comics ever since...

[yarmak]

When I was little I had Phantoms Archies Donald Duck (beep beep) The Road Runner and some others.
One day out the blue I just started collecting the phantom and after that old Aussie comics ( pre 66) followed by Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge.

Dave

[jimjum12]

My Aunt had gathered up enough comic books from her High School PE students...voluntarily ,of course,...to fill the trunk of her Chevelle.They were meant to be sent to the troops in Viet Nam but the shipping was WAY more than she could afford back then so she gave them to my cousins and I.I distinctly remember an FF 47 in there.I was young and my 2 foot tale stack was scattered to the wind....but I had been bitten.A few years later my Mom brought home a bunch of comics from a Church Bazaar that I had been too lazy to attend.A copy of this was in the stack...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e30/jimjum12/FF35SL-1.jpg

That got me started.Next was the Howard Rogofsky mail order catalog for FF 8 & 11.And MANY more through the years.GOD BLESS...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)#angelic#

[Ijiwaru Sensei]

Rogofsky! I ordered more than a few comics from him when I was a kid. He helped me complete my original Invaders run back in the 70's.

[Duffman_Comics]

I bought a bunch of stuff from him in the early seventies too - TOS 39 for $10 and a TOS 40 for $4.

His catalogues (note spelling) were great fun - things like an original Buck Rogers bicycle from 1939 for $2000.

It was only years later I realised what he was doing with his advertising/ marketing. Some ads had him as Howard M. Rogofsky and others had him as Howard D. Rogofsky.

The application of the M or D initial depended on whether the ad was in Marvel or D.C.

A neat way of telling, via his name on the incoming mail, which ad was working for him.

[pasnat54]

I remember the name Howard Rogofsky. Wonder what ever became of him. For all I know, he could be a big-time dealer.

By the way, one of my Holy Grail comics is Fantastic Four #5. I remember as a kid seeing that cool shot of Doctor Doom playing with the FF as chess pieces. It was my uncle's book, and he would have been glad to give it to me if I'd asked. I just forgot about when we went back home to LA.

It's out of my range now.

[comicstock]

Robert Bell & Passaic Book Center are others I ordered from in the 60s & 70s.

[jimjum12]

I remember the name Howard Rogofsky. Wonder what ever became of him. For all I know, he could be a big-time dealer.

By the way, one of my Holy Grail comics is Fantastic Four #5. I remember as a kid seeing that cool shot of Doctor Doom playing with the FF as chess pieces. It was my uncle's book, and he would have been glad to give it to me if I'd asked. I just forgot about when we went back home to LA.

It's out of my range now.

I saw an ad in the classified section of CBG a couple years ago from Rogofsky.There was also a VERY good article in CBM several years back about him and Bell.Can't remember the issue number .GOD BLESS...

-jimbo(a friend of jesus)#angelic#

[stupidman]

By the way, one of my Holy Grail comics is Fantastic Four #5. I remember as a kid seeing that cool shot of Doctor Doom playing with the FF as chess pieces.

Maybe your uncle showed you a copy of JLA #1 and then the cover of FF #5, and your young mind melded the two? :)

[mordo]

Robert Bell & Passaic Book Center are others I ordered from in the 60s & 70s.

Robert Bell for me too in the early 70's.

[Ijiwaru Sensei]

I ordered from J&S Comics back then as well. I think they were out of New Jersey.

[comicstock]

I sold some books face-to-face at Jim Walsh's (J & S) house many, many, many years ago. He began advertising well after Rogofsky & Bell were established. Lived down near the Jersey shore if I remember correctly.

[Quato]

All the Marvel superheroes I'd seen on TV started me seriously buying. Perhaps the clincher was seeing the Rhino battle the Hulk in Hulk #157. I knew the Rhino from the Spiderman cartoon and I was shocked to see him in a different title. I was collecting long before I started seriously collecting. I started seriously collecting when the Mile High Comic ads showed X-Men #94 being worth $60. A comic going from 35 cents (or whatever it was) to $60 is a serious jump! I started bagging my comics after that and being a little pickier on condition. Nothing like we see today, but still pickier than the average collector at the time.

Q

[jaeldubyoo]

This book is the humble beginning of my collection. This was the first back issue I ever bought as a collector back in 1973. It cost me a quarter at the legendary Bob Sidebottom’s Comic Shop, one of the first shops devoted to comics. I decided to collect comics and was looking for a first issue. I got this from the piles of comics he had strewn all over the floor of that dark little shop. This was the seed that germinated into my very own garden of delights.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/bronze%20dc/tarzan207.jpg

[Duffman_Comics]

Still in great shape after 35 years . . . .#clap#

[alecholland]

All the Marvel superheroes I'd seen on TV started me seriously buying. Perhaps the clincher was seeing the Rhino battle the Hulk in Hulk #157. I knew the Rhino from the Spiderman cartoon and I was shocked to see him in a different title. I was collecting long before I started seriously collecting. I started seriously collecting when the Mile High Comic ads showed X-Men #94 being worth $60. A comic going from 35 cents (or whatever it was) to $60 is a serious jump! I started bagging my comics after that and being a little pickier on condition. Nothing like we see today, but still pickier than the average collector at the time.

Q

I love the cover to Hulk 157. I just recently picked up a copy to replace the one I sold when I sold off my collection back in the early 90's. Rhino was always one of my favorite villians when I was a kid.

[alecholland]

This book is the humble beginning of my collection. This was the first back issue I ever bought as a collector back in 1973. It cost me a quarter at the legendary Bob Sidebottom’s Comic Shop, one of the first shops devoted to comics. I decided to collect comics and was looking for a first issue. I got this from the piles of comics he had strewn all over the floor of that dark little shop. This was the seed that germinated into my very own garden of delights.


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c18/jaeldubyoo/bronze%20dc/tarzan207.jpg


These Kubert Tarzan books are hard to beat! Kubert is one of my favorite artists and his run of Tarzan is one of the best IMHO.

[dudeman5000]

My uncle knew a guy who worked for Marvel from 1978-? and he used to get a bunch of "not for sale" books that were stamped as such of had their covers removed. He would read them and give them all to me. My early collection had no superstars that spring to memory, and most were just the great stuff at the 7-11's at the time. My mom sprung for a Star Wars subscription and that really got me going. I used to go to the corner pharmacy (Grannis Corner Pharmacy in New Haven, Ct) and would take my allowance (lunch money) and buy comics. My awareness of how comics should be stored bagged and boarded (nothing fancy then-saran wrap and a piece of Christmas box cardboard!) was when I bought Uncanny 173-the classic Wolverine and Rogue cover. I had to have the rest of the story and began to actually seek out back issues at book stores and actual retailers in downtown New Haven (Starship Excalibur then Whirligig comics). X-Men 173 was the grail that started it all for me!

:p Chris

[rodan57]

Hard to remember exactly which book made want to collect but it was around January of 1970. It could of been Sub-Mariner #25.

[Hepcat]

This one that I read when we were visiting the farm of friends of the family:

http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Balticprince/Comics/GreenLantern11.jpg

I was just overwhelmed with the sense of mystery pervading the Green Lantern mythos.

:cool:

[malaprop]

Hey JLW, I used to spend a fair amount of time in Bob Sidebottom's shop too. In the early seventies I was based at the language institute in Monterrey, and my sister lived in Sunnyvale. He had a copy of Mickey Mouse FC 214 on the wall, and when I bought it he said "Goodbye, Mickey" with a definite cry in his voice.

What started me collecting was Walt Disney's Comics and Stories in the early '50s. Not the Carl Barks Donald Ducks, the Mickey Mouse continuing stories in the back. Stories like the Robot Army and the Mysterious Pill Plot were magic to my impressionable young mind.

[USArmyParatrooper]

I was too young to remember the first, but my first memorable purchase was Wolverine 1 in 1982. I was a kid and some teenager on my street collected and got me into collecting.

[jaeldubyoo]

Hey JLW, I used to spend a fair amount of time in Bob Sidebottom's shop too. In the early seventies I was based at the language institute in Monterrey, and my sister lived in Sunnyvale. He had a copy of Mickey Mouse FC 214 on the wall, and when I bought it he said "Goodbye, Mickey" with a definite cry in his voice.


We may have crossed paths. I was going to San Jose State University in the 70s. Did you go to the Comics and Comix around the corner? Or the two used bookstores on the same block? I spent many hours in those shops. Plus the huge flea market on Berryessa. That was comic heaven for me back then.#cloud9#

[USArmyParatrooper]

We may have crossed paths. I was going to San Jose State University in the 70s. Did you go to the Comics and Comix around the corner? Or the two used bookstores on the same block? I spent many hours in those shops. Plus the huge flea market on Berryessa. That was comic heaven for me back then.#cloud9#

I remember that place! How 'bout Cosmic Comics?

[jaeldubyoo]

I remember that place! How 'bout Cosmic Comics?

I graduated and moved before it opened. Although I've been back to the area numerous times since, I've never gotten around to visiting it. Is the store still there?