Reader or Collector?

[nekobasu380]

Well, I can consider myself both as a reader and a collector.

As a reader, it's always a pleasure to read Usagi and his adventures (every issue never fails to bring surprises), even if I have to bring my copy (sometimes Saga editions!) to my workplace or through my travels. Whenever the third week of the month comes, I never forget to make a reservation to my local comic book shop (I think this is the good side of the series... it's always consistent on release dates, or it's just me), and pick it up on a Wednesday night (after work) or the weekends.

On the collector perspective... to be honest, Usagi's one of the few titles that I really appreciate and love (even if I'm new in comics), and so, I always try my best to get a copy of the individual trades and the Saga editions available (we have this local version of Kino in the Philippines, and that's where I get my UY fix as well; they're expensive, but discount cards help reduce the price). I do buy the older individual issues from the same comic shop where I get my Usagi monthly (though sometimes online on the local EBay), just to catch up with the rest of the series.

[Lobster Johnson]

I'm seriously considering starting to collect some of the s/n limited hardcovers... you people are a bad influence on me!

[Steve Hubbell]

I'm seriously considering starting to collect some of the s/n limited hardcovers... you people are a bad influence on me!

hee hee hee!

[Mayhem]

One of us... one of us...

[Lobster Johnson]

Those are funny posts!

Once the shop on Stan's website is back up and running, I think I'll be ordering my first one. I'm excited!

[shaxper]

Even I don't know what I am. I guess I can't be a collector, as I have no intention of ever selling any of my Usagi stuff later down the road, but I also have some seriously illogical collecting tendencies.

When I first purchased my Usagi books (came in around the time Treasure of the Mother of Mountains was happening), I bought up all the old floppies in runs on ebay, and ended up with a full Dark Horse run with every issue personally signed by Stan. I had trouble with the idea of continuing the run with non-signed issues, so, for a while, whenever I saw Stan at a show, I'd ask if he'd sign a few of the issues I'd since acquired, but this was not a sustainable plan -- new issues were being published a lot more frequently than I was seeing Stan in person, and really, why did I need his signature on every issue anyway? So, eventually, I gave up on this.

But then the Saga editions came out, and they are gorgeous and include the "extra" stories too, so I've bought all of those, and now I have boxes full of duplicate floppy copies, (at least half signed by Stan), that I don't want to part with, but that I also don't really need anymore.

So I'm not a reader nor a collector -- I'm the worst kind: the reader who illogically behaves like a collector.

[jabba359]

The nice thing about the individual issues of Usagi Yojimbo is that they are basically ad free. They run a one page advertisement for Usagi Yojimbo itself and that is pretty much it.

The Usagi Yojimbo single issues are some of the best individual issues in comics. The back cover and inside front cover have neat illustrations, and no ads throughout the book!

I tried to get issue #150, but by the time I made it to my local comic shop it was sold out. This last weekend, however, I found a copy while at Long Beach Comic Expo, so bought it. It's nice to read a single issue and not be inundated with ads. I'll probably still wait for the trades to come out as a general rule, but will still pick up an issue from time to time if it has a super cool cover or is a landmark issue (like reaching the number 150).

[go]

Dear Reader,
I am both.
Also I endure long periods of time without food to save money for Usagi Yojimbo purchases.
Best wishes to all!
go

[Mr-Redgie]

I am both!

I am one of those people that buys 2 copies of the comics. One to read and one to keep as Mint! (I am also a sucker for variant covers as I consider the covers works of art)

I also collect everything Usagi! It drives my wife nuts as there are collectibles everywhere in my flat

[Chopalong Slashity]

Reader, first and foremost. I'm gathering hardcover editions of the Sagas but that's just because they look nice and I want Usagi books that will last a good, long while more than anything.

[Texcap]

Great question. I definitely count myself as both a reader and a collector.

I started my Usagi collection, after several of years on the edges enthusiastically looking on, by buying the single "floppies." After a good dozen issues or so, and the rising costs of individual comics, I decided that TPB/HC collections were probably the best route for me to go financially. So, I began waiting for the collection and let go of the floppies pretty much across the industry. During this period I WAS fortunate to be able to purchase every UY collection to-date, and dive into so many of the stories I had missed to that point (absolutely amazing stuff).

That said, the collector in me couldn't be silenced. I decided some time back that I really didn't want to miss out on those fantastic single issues in that I'd love to own the covers, the interior B&W art is larger than the collections, and there are numerous extras including: letter pages, commentary by Stan, and often back-cover illustrations. Moreso, I'd like to help support the book in this format as well, so I've been buying the floppies again, and am now working on filling in the massive holes in that collection. It will likely be a slow, methodical, process but one that I'll enjoy.

I also collect the Hardcover Saga editions, large reprint collections, and UY-related collectibles, so there's definitely that collector side in there thriving on this great material!

[Krash01]

I consider myself both. I enjoy collecting limited editions, because I like the unique signature plates and the HC binding. But my principle is: I collect only those books, that I'll read. I usually read comics/books before sleep, so If I buy something, maybe I read it some months later. But if after a few page I'm not intrested or simply I don't like the story after reading it, I sell it.

Usagi is absolutely my favourite comic book series, I buy the Saga editions, slowly the ltd. books as well, and of course the hungarian edition (the translation of some names sounds funny in hungarian, it's intresting to compare to the original version). And I like to collect original art, displayed. For example nowadays, when I wake up the first thing that I see is my Usagi commission and the mornings are better, even on Mondays . Unfortunately the space on my wall is not endless, but I try to hang as much art, as possible.

[Warren]

Hello!

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.

I can relate to this. Unfortunately it means that while I'd like to buy the floppies every month, my pull list in the minimum-6-items-on-a-monthly-pull-list LCS was whittled down so much that Usagi Yojimbo was the only title remaining on it!* (Well, that, and the occassional BPRD) And the reason for that was because new creative teams and directions never seemed to change things for the better over at the 'big two', alongside the interminable universe reboots and the increasing sense of maintaining a property rather than telling a story. As was said, UY is different: consistently entertaining, informative and awesome (in a couple of senses of the word) without being 'samey', and I have to say, one of the most charismatic cast of characters I've stumbled across.

*The 'L' in this 'LCS' isn't so accurate, so picking copies off the shelf each month isn't always easy. Not to mention that the shop's stock of UY was so patchy, even when it was on order, that I barely noticed the three-year gap between UY #144 and #145! Well, there were 47 Ronin and Senso in the meantime, but still.
In the meantime, I picked up a few random TPBs and then decided to start at the beginning, some time ago, with the first Fantagraphics book. I decided to do an anti-Netflix and stagger the purchases, so I didn't burn through all the available material in one or two binge sessions. (I think that qualifies me for some kind of iron will award - holding off is as easy as it sounds!) The last buy was the last Fantagraphics book - Gen's Story - and I've just recently found that the Saga collections are a thing. I'm ready to jump into those, now.

[Steve Hubbell]

Hey Warren, Welcome to the Usagi Yojimbo Dojo!

I always envy readers of Usagi who have still not read all the stories because they have so much more enjoyment to look forward to than just the next new issue to be released.

I guess I have always been lucky in that my LCS has never set a monthly minimum comic requirement, I doubt I have ever bought 6 new release comics in a single month during the past twenty years that I've had my pull list there.

[Warren]

Thanks Steve!

I always envy readers of Usagi who have still not read all the stories because they have so much more enjoyment to look forward to than just the next new issue to be released.

I am looking forward to it! Saga #1 is on order.

I have a bit of collector in me, that needs certain specials like Yokai and The Art of Usagi Yojimbo, but I'd like to keep up and plug some gaps with my reading enjoyment, and I think that means finally jumping into digital comics. What's the best way? Direct from Dark Horse? Through a distributor like Comixology? Is there a handy previous discussion on the Dojo?