I continue my list of 25 essential items to any comic collection:
12) Newspaper Strip Reprints. Newspaper strips are very essential to comic history since they are basically where comics got their start. I have actually belly-laughed at a collected edition of Popeye comics from the 1930s. The strip began as Thimble Theater in which the main characters were Olive and her family. But the sailor man came along and stole the show. I also enjoy reprints of Batman strips from the 40s. I have three volumes of dailies and one volume of Sunday Batman strips.
13) Comics of Various Shapes,Sizes, and Formats. These days we have everything from trade paperbacks, to digests, to hardcover Archives, Masterworks, and graphic novels. As a kid I was especially fond of the tabloid sized comics from the 70s including reprint collections, movie adaptations, DC/Marvel crossovers, and sometimes entire Golden Age reprints including original commercials. Two of my favorites are DC's Famous First Edition reprints of All Star Comics # 3 and Detective Comics # 27. Even these over-sized reprints are worth something now.
14) Comics based on Classic Literature. Of course Classics Illustrated, reprinted many times, is the granddaddy of this genre. I understand that Roy Thomas is doing a great job as of late adapting classic literature for Marvel Comics.
15) At least one comic signed by the writer or artist. Comics in our collection include the signatures of Dick Giordano, Dennis O'Neil, and a few others. My elementary-school-aged daughter was especially pleased to meet the creative team of Tiny Titans at a comic convention last Fall. Of course they signed our kids' comics and the artist even sketched and signed a picture for each of them. My girl requested a picture of Robin and our boy got Cyborg.
16) Book and Record Collections. When you hear the beep it's time to turn the page. Anyone out there still have a working phonograph?
What formats do you particularly enjoy? What have you enjoyed in the past? What would you love to add to your collection?
To be concluded.
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