How I Got Into Comic Books

I am often asked by my students and other collectors how I got hooked on comics. I have always enjoyed comic books, although I never really began collecting until my teens. I had a stack of comics that were handed down to me by my brother, and by the time I understood how to take care of these treasures,

my favorites were practically destroyed. I fondly remember well perused copies of Amazing Spider-Man #77 and Giant Size Defenders #3, along with a variety of Justice League and Justice Society comic books as well. Even as a child I would meticulously examine the artwork, and loved to capture it with silly putty. As for the stories, I loved the mythology that went long with each hero, but must admit that the artwork is what attracted me to the medium most.

I began to really collect comics in 1985, at the age of 14. My locker in grade 9 was next to a kid named Adam, who, by this time, was already a veteran collector. Affixed to the inside of Adam’s locker was not a pin-up of Heather Locklear, but rather, a picture of Spider-Man in a cool new black costume. This really caught my attention and so I began to ask all sorts of questions. Adam suggested I visit the comic shop with him on Friday, and without hesitation, I did. My first trip to the comic shop was lots of fun, and I recall purchasing

Web of Spider-Man issues 1,2,3,4 and 5. I also bought my first long box and a bag of comic bags. I would visit the comic store every Friday thereafter, spending every penny I earned on comic books. I bought pretty much every new comic that was printed by Marvel and DC and I soon began to purchase silver age back issues as well. Before long, I amassed a decent run of Amazing Spider-Man – almost a complete run by my senior year of high school. By the early 90s, I focused my attention solely on older books, as I was fed up with the gimmicks the two publishers had embarked upon…multiple covers, glow in the dark covers, etc., etc. Once I left home to attend university, my collecting came to an end. My interests changed and I packed my comics away, almost selling my collection on a few occasions. Luckily I didn’t sell them and still have many gems from my original collection.

Comic book pressing and cleaning emerged out of my desire to improve the condition of many of the books I had acquired as a kid. Once I developed a stable technique, I began to clean and press comics for friends. Today, I offer this service to any collector who would like to improve the appearance of comic books in his/her collection. If you are considering pressing and/ or cleaning and would like to discuss my service further, do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail or telephone.