Comic Books Collecting

What better time to delve on this long-forgotten activity than these days, when our typical movie fare now comes replete with comic book super heroes portrayed on the big wide screen, on multi-million dollar budgets and stultifying special effects. Quite a far and distant cry from the 50-75 cents that we used to shell out for our favorite comic books, those gritty artwork and catchy dialogues incased in balloons were more than sufficient to transport us to the fabled land of fantasy and youthful escapism. Of course, that was then to be expected and tolerated because after all we were kids and did not know any better.

Wrong! Because even today as adults, we still engage in those self-same forms of escapism including those newly created and woven into our malleable or growth-resistant psyche, much more pronouncedly than before and definitely on much greater scales and expenditures. Superman Returns! Batman Begins! Spiderman I and II, and III? Catwoman! Elektra! Daredevil! Of course, the X-Men I, II, III! And who knows what else Hollywood has tucked on its cuffs ready to spring a surprise, especially that midsummer is now with us. – All grand and no-expense spared productions! Each next one bigger and better than the previous one.

All for kids? I don’t think so. Then how come middle-aged adults are the ones critiquing and reviewing these movies? And grand old men deciding on which super heroes to bring to larger than life and whose deep pockets are invariably commandeered for their productions.

Let’s admit it. It is indeed for the kids, and just as importantly, for all the kids that are in all of us adults – from 18 to 90 years, who still cannot wean or break away from the idyllic times of our youth – a youth of careless irresponsibility, of almost non-existent worldly cares, and of a world where everything, absolutely everything, is possible.

Thus, by extension, comic books collecting, should also be out there – relevant and apropos. Enjoying good and satisfying patronage. For kids of all ages.

We seem to believe that Marvel Comics has the lock on most of the popular super heroes familiar to most of us – like Spiderman, Captain America with his corps of Avengers, Sub-mariner, Hawkeye, and Daredevil.



And the less known, but more artful ones, such a Dreadstar, Black Dragon, etc.

But guess what, here is the lineup for DC World’s Finest Comics – Superman and Batman, the Green Lantern and his Justice League members such as The Flash, Aquaman, Hawkman, and Shrinking Violet.

Do you remember Mighty Mouse? Or the appropriately miniscule Atom? BulletMan? Or the elastic PlasticMan?

And for Batman specially, from just mere comic book on newsprint, we now have him, redubbed as the Dark Knight, in aptly collectible book form with magnificent artwork and stunning colors.

So what are you waiting for? Start or revive that dusty off-to-a-corner collection of comic books. Strike while that hot Superman Returns movie is still sizzling.

Better still, retrogress even further, dig out those pencils and crayons from storage, or purloin some from your toddlers if you have any, and start that super heroes drawing/coloring book.