Reader or Collector?

[maichan]

I also consider myself to be both collector and reader.

Trevis summed it up pretty well with his post. I tend to agree with much of what he said, and said so well, especially this part...

No other creator or book presents a more satisfying character and overall positive reading experience than Usagi.
Twenty years from now people will still be reading Usagi... ...Usagi is a constant, consistent and timeless property. Everything else is a distant second place.

The collector part comes from me being somewhat of a completest. I do not collect for investment purposes. I collect because I like to have various iterations of something, because of the art, the story, the originality of what it was when it first came out.
That's why I collect the singles. I started fresh with the Mirage series when it was published and haven't stopped since then. It took a little doing, but I eventually acquired most of the early issues, as well as some odds and ends (thanks to the help of Dojo members).
I collect the standard TPB's and have all of them. It wasn't until late (2011) that I decided to collect the HC. I recently was able to complete the task and have now acquired all of them.
In regards to the Saga series, I only collect the HC's.
I will also collect any other HC's that are released.

Like Trevis I also parted with most of my comic book collection. I had accumulated close to 50+ short boxes over the past 25+ years. I gave away most of them to a friend, and kept only those few titles that really meant something to me. Usagi Yojimbo was at the top of the list, and is the only title I will never, ever part with.

I usually don't read a story until it is complete. One-shots I'll read right away, but stories that run several issues I will wait for them all to come out so I can read them all together.

Jabba, Usagi Yojimbo is one of the few titles you can read uninterrupted (they are without any annoying ads in between), and I recommend you pick up a copy one day.

[Lobster Johnson]

I also consider myself to be both collector and reader.

Trevis summed it up pretty well with his post. I tend to agree with much of what he said, and said so well, especially this part...

No other creator or book presents a more satisfying character and overall positive reading experience than Usagi.
Twenty years from now people will still be reading Usagi... ...Usagi is a constant, consistent and timeless property. Everything else is a distant second place.

The collector part comes from me being somewhat of a completest. I do not collect for investment purposes. I collect because I like to have various iterations of something, because of the art, the story, the originality of what it was when it first came out.
That's why I collect the singles. I started fresh with the Mirage series when it was published and haven't stopped since then. It took a little doing, but I eventually acquired most of the early issues, as well as some odds and ends (thanks to the help of Dojo members).
I collect the standard TPB's and have all of them. It wasn't until late (2011) that I decided to collect the HC. I recently was able to complete the task and have now acquired all of them.
In regards to the Saga series, I only collect the HC's.
I will also collect any other HC's that are released.

Like Trevis I also parted with most of my comic book collection. I had accumulated close to 50+ short boxes over the past 25+ years. I gave away most of them to a friend, and kept only those few titles that really meant something to me. Usagi Yojimbo was at the top of the list, and is the only title I will never, ever part with.

I usually don't read a story until it is complete. One-shots I'll read right away, but stories that run several issues I will wait for them all to come out so I can read them all together.

You have more patience than I do! I can barely wait long enough to get home from the comic book store to read the new issues!
It'll be a while before I start collecting the HC's, if I ever do. Whenever I think of it, my wallet starts crying.

[maichan]

You have more patience than I do! I can barely wait long enough to get home from the comic book store to read the new issues!
It'll be a while before I start collecting the HC's, if I ever do. Whenever I think of it, my wallet starts crying.

I think I was lucky to jump on the HC bandwagon when I did. I was able to buy most books for reasonable prices. A few pushed my spending limit, but overall I think I did good. It will be interesting to see how prices go now that the Saga series is out.

I read somewhere (Facebook maybe?) that one comic shop was concerned that the Saga series was starting to stagnate - that the print quantity was too large, and books aren't selling.

[Lobster Johnson]

I read somewhere (Facebook maybe?) that one comic shop was concerned that the Saga series was starting to stagnate - that the print quantity was too large, and books aren't selling.

I hope not! I hope the Saga books are selling.

[BuckRogers]

You have more patience than I do! I can barely wait long enough to get home from the comic book store to read the new issues!
It'll be a while before I start collecting the HC's, if I ever do. Whenever I think of it, my wallet starts crying.

I think I was lucky to jump on the HC bandwagon when I did. I was able to buy most books for reasonable prices. A few pushed my spending limit, but overall I think I did good. It will be interesting to see how prices go now that the Saga series is out.

I read somewhere (Facebook maybe?) that one comic shop was concerned that the Saga series was starting to stagnate - that the print quantity was too large, and books aren't selling.

You have to admit, though that they are absolutely FLOODING the market right now with the Saga series. Maybe they sense it is a good time but they have been pushing these out so fast and in such huge runs. I am not a business person but it doesn't seem good to me. I have stopped buying the Saga series at #4 b/c they are so expensive and they are such huge runs that I imagine that it will be pretty easy to pick up any volumes from, probably #4 on, on ebay for very low prices in a year or two.

The first 3 might be hard to come by and a bit expensive in the future but with such large runs, and all so close together, doesn't seem like a very good idea.

[Robert Kassebaum]

Both.

[Eltanin]

I'm a reader.

I "collect" trade collections of the comic books I read, because I like to have complete series and reading copies. I also like to have hardcover or artist/gallery editions for some books, but I couldn't care less about single issues (it seems to me it's mostly an american thing). And even if I like to have some HC editions, I don't care if they are limited prints or if there are a million of them. I like a beautiful book the same way whether it's a reprint or a first edition.

Since I missed the first Saga HC book, I will just get the complete series in softcover. Which is not a bad thing as it will leave me more money for original art.
Because unfortunately for my wallet, even if I don't collect comic books I collect original art.

[Mayhem]

You have to admit, though that they are absolutely FLOODING the market right now with the Saga series. Maybe they sense it is a good time but they have been pushing these out so fast and in such huge runs. I am not a business person but it doesn't seem good to me. I have stopped buying the Saga series at #4 b/c they are so expensive and they are such huge runs that I imagine that it will be pretty easy to pick up any volumes from, probably #4 on, on ebay for very low prices in a year or two.

I'm inclined to agree, in part, as I was expecting to see them published at 4-6 month intervals, but instead it's been 3 month gaps.

[Steve Hubbell]

You have to admit, though that they are absolutely FLOODING the market right now with the Saga series. Maybe they sense it is a good time but they have been pushing these out so fast and in such huge runs. I am not a business person but it doesn't seem good to me. I have stopped buying the Saga series at #4 b/c they are so expensive and they are such huge runs that I imagine that it will be pretty easy to pick up any volumes from, probably #4 on, on ebay for very low prices in a year or two.

I'm inclined to agree, in part, as I was expecting to see them published at 4-6 month intervals, but instead it's been 3 month gaps.

Personally, I am glad that they are pushing them out fast, much less chance of someone up the line deciding to pull the plug on them partway through the series.

And with more of them readily available for purchase, more chance of new readers picking them up if they know they can still get most of them relatively easy.

And they sure look totally awesome lined up on my shelf!

There is an auction for a custom bound copy of Saga #1 currently running on ebay, makes me wonder how much it would cost to do something like that and have the binder actually match or reproduce the cover from the hardcover edition.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Bound-US ... 1694372224

[Casey Burns]

That custom bound book likely only cost around $30 to have bound. People are overbidding on something I don't think they realize is easy to get made. It was probably done by Herring and Robinson. They have those two dies on the spine ready to go as well.

http://www.herringandrobinsonbookbinders.com/

http://www.herringandrobinsonbookbinder ... _dies.html


Back to the Saga discussion, I too am happy they are all coming out at once, getting us all caught up to the current stories fairly quickly (and like you said, not getting cancelled after two or three volumes).

[estee]

I have a few trades. But I buy individual issues for the most part.

The majority of which remain unread in the old long boxes.

[Jubei]

Most Dark Horse books have one ad in the middle, and then most of the ads in the back. Usagi is even better, and has no ads. I think books from Dynamite Entertainment follow the same route as Dark Horse, and put most of the ads in the back, with one or two throughout the book.

I'd completely forgotten how many ads tend to be in DC/Marvel comics until picking up the new TMNT/Batman crossover... spoiled as I am with Usagi and Mouse Guard (no ads), and IDW TMNT (a few at the back).

I have to ask, how is that TMNT/Batman crossover? It's a strange combination to say the least.

Myself, I am more of a reader than a collector. I'm much more interested in the quality of the story rather than any possible investment value or even commitment to a title. If the story isn't entertaining to me, I won't read it nor hesitate to drop the title in question until a either a new creative direction is allowed or a new creative team installed. So I have vast amounts of incomplete title runs.

Here lately, to help save on space and time, I've switched to reading digital for most of my comics. The exceptions are those few characters for which I have a long-standing affectation and love about, for whose books I still love to hold in my hands and read.

Usagi definitely fits into that category. I still buy all current issues as they are released, for a number of reasons. The colors and content of the cover, the back cover art, the letters page are always fun, and getting more detail on Stan's art. (No ads is a plus as well). As for earlier back issues or runs, I have little. If I come across such copies in a comic store or bin box, I would probably buy them but as for actively hunting down those copies online in places such as eBay, I usually don't have the money to do so in any sort of bulk fashion.

Now, I have gotten a majority of the trades through eBay and other areas over the years. When it comes to re-reading, I'd much rather prefer the comfort of the extended collection over dragging out the individual issues. Typically, I'm more comfortable with SC copies of the trades. I've also tried my best to acquire recent special editions such as the HC Saga editions, the Art of book, the Gallery edition, the HC Yokai, and such. Though medical bills of late have put a dent in those efforts.

So, yes, Stan and Usagi is only one of two comics that I make an effort to buy in all forms such as monthly issues, trades, and collections. (The other being Lazarus by Rucka and Lark)

[Trevis Woods]

You have more patience than I do! I can barely wait long enough to get home from the comic book store to read the new issues!
It'll be a while before I start collecting the HC's, if I ever do. Whenever I think of it, my wallet starts crying.

I think I was lucky to jump on the HC bandwagon when I did. I was able to buy most books for reasonable prices. A few pushed my spending limit, but overall I think I did good. It will be interesting to see how prices go now that the Saga series is out.

I read somewhere (Facebook maybe?) that one comic shop was concerned that the Saga series was starting to stagnate - that the print quantity was too large, and books aren't selling.

I think Daniel posted something about Saga volume 1 paperback possibly being reprinted because it was sold out. Obviously there are some still out there but some LCS may be out and other brick and mortar stores as well.
I feel like the market flooding with Usagi has given it such a massive presence online, on eBay, Amazon, etc...I never saw Usagi on the shelves of the local book store and now I do. I am thrilled they are releasing every three months as well because once again it is something "new" and Steve is so right, they look awesome lined up on the shelf. We had to wait for Usagi after the 47 Ronin hiatus so keep em coming! I wish we didn't have to wait until May for vol.6:(
I've also read many comments that people have fallen in love with or tried Usagi because of the Saga editions.
The Saga volumes are the equivalent of binge watching on Netflix and that is a very trendy thing culturally. People like to consume in mass quantities over short periods of time. Price point is also key for me because now I'm not so worried if one gets ruined or lost I can replace it for less than a $20 bill.
I'm thankful Darkhorse is continuing to market and promote Usagi and not pushing it aside for the next big thing. They already have a goldmine of quality stories and art and simply needed to reach that next new fan or casual reader.

[Mayhem]

I have to ask, how is that TMNT/Batman crossover? It's a strange combination to say the least.

Based on the first two issues so far, it's actually looking quite good. And it's sold buckets for DC in the process...

[Mormegil]

I'm a reader. I don't think I would be a collector even if I was wealthy. I like to by the edition that is easiest to read. I mean the best way to take in all the art and not get distracted is the individual issues. It's nice being able to open them completely.

If it's a series I love line Usagi or TMNT then I ll buy the issues to stay caught up with the story. Other than that I just go with the cheapest. I can read a lot of different series that way. I enjoy IDW's stsr trek and Dark Horses Star Wars. But if I was a collector I would just have to stick with a couple titles.