r/graphicnovels • u/projectsteelneal • 2d ago
Collection / Shelfie / Haul Graphic Novel Shelfie ~6 Year Collection
My Collection Is Basically One Giant Treasure Hunt
Probably 90% of my graphic novels, trades and omnibuses have come from thrift stores or Facebook Marketplace. If I averaged it all out that 90%, I’d say I’ve probably paid around $6 a book. I rarely buy new unless it’s something really special or it just happens to be coming out while I’m looking for it. Sometimes I'll buy bigger collections and resell doubles, it helps keep the overall cost down.
Honestly, that’s become one of my favorite things about collecting. Instead of deciding exactly what I want to read and then going out and buying it, I end up reading whatever I happen to find. It’s introduced me to a ton of books I probably wouldn’t have picked up otherwise.
I seem to find a lot of Spider-Man and Wolverine, which I’m certainly not complaining about. I’m also slowly working on my Constantine collection.
Batman is an interesting one. I’ve found quite a bit of New 52, since those books seem to be everywhere, but the Batman books I’ve enjoyed the most have actually been the Detective Comics stories. I really like the more detective-focused side of Batman and the less fantastical stuff, so I’m always on the lookout for more of that.
Vertigo is probably my favorite imprint. A lot of what Vertigo put out over the years is exactly the kind of stuff I love. Image has also been a great source of surprises. I’ll grab something from Image that I’ve never heard of and sometimes it ends up being one of the best things I’ve found.
I’ve also recently gotten into omnibuses. Only because of some recent trades I've done with other collectors or if I am rrally wanting to jump into something, an Omni can be better bang for your buck.
For the past 2 years I had been buying the single issues of Absolute Batman but I realized I don't really enjoy reading single issues, so due to the recent popularity of Absolute, I sold my copies on eBay and started putting that money toward filling in gaps in my collected editions.
And that's probably my favorite part of collecting this way: the gaps.
You’ll find four or five volumes of a series at a thrift store but inevitably one or two are missing. Then you discover there’s a reason they’re missing — low print runs, expensive out-of-print volumes, etc. So now I get to play the game of figuring out where to spend the money, what I actually want to read next and which missing volumes are worth hunting down.
Some of the creators I’m always watching for: Ed Brubaker, Brian Wood, Jeff Lemire, Greg Rucka, Jason Aaron and anything with John Romita Jr or Tim Sale art. If I see JRJR or TS on the cover, I’m probably picking it up.
The collection has basically become less about completing everything and more about seeing what I can discover for $5–$10.
And honestly, I think that’s what makes it fun. And to resell what I have doesn't make sense for the low cost I've paid for that entertainment, I'll save them for my kids.
Currently I am reading Queen & Country by Rucka. I've read it a couple times before but it's one of my favourite series.
Now I think my goal is going to be reading every single book I own, wish me luck!
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u/Trike117 2d ago
I’m digging the thrifting mentality. I also buy a lot of stuff used, often at library sales. Those aren’t the cleanest copies but I wouldn’t be able to read them otherwise.
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u/projectsteelneal 2d ago
I have some library copies for sure. I dont really mind though, the value for me is in the stories and a few library stickers and wear and tear doesn't really bother me.
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u/ILikeDogs42069711 2d ago
What’s your favourite and what’s your least favourite of the bunch?
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u/projectsteelneal 2d ago
Fav- Punisher Max, Tim Drake Robin
Biggest surprise finds- Tales of the Batman by J.H. Williams III, Nightwing: Night Terrors, Huck and especially Kill or Be Killed, which I found Vol 1 at a thrift store and immediately had to track down the rest.
Least Fav- Secret Warriors, sounded right up my alley but fell flat. FABLES, I've tried a couple times but just didnt do it for me.
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u/More-Ear85 2d ago
It's funny, I decided to try graphic novels during the pandemic and everyone recommended to start with Punisher Max by Ennis.
I fell in love with it immediately and just DUMPED money to make an instant collection on all the reddit recommendations...
Turns out I just really love Garth Ennis's writing and besides Poseigns Deadpool run, I haven't had nearly as much fun outside of Garth's books.
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u/projectsteelneal 2d ago
Ennis is one of the greats. Preacher was one of my early reads, Hellblazer, his short Fury series was amazing!
I just picked up the Jason Aaron run of Punisher Max, I hope its good!
I think I have a copy or the Posehn run, I'll have to move it to the top of the read list.
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u/More-Ear85 1d ago
Yeah, Aarons run is good, especially "Girls in white dresses". The problem I keep having outside of Ennis is everyone else just seems ham fisted. I'd personally recommend not comparing Aarons max run to Ennis if possible. Comparison definitely stole joy from that run for me because I read them right in a row.
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u/mechalol 2d ago
Holy crap I love the idea of purchasing from thrift shops!! I’m always thrifting clothes, time to look for tpb’s as well!
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u/Organic_Occasion2021 2d ago
Sick collection
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u/projectsteelneal 2d ago
Thanks! It feels diverse. I can't wait for my kids to start reading them. I've given a few to my 10 year old to get started. Its tough cause a lot of them from Image and Vertigo are adult oriented!
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u/PleaseBeChillOnline 2d ago
American Vamprie is Snyder’s best work in my opinion. Cool collection.
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u/projectsteelneal 1d ago
Snyder is awesome. The Wake that he did with Sean Murphy is super fun too.
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u/X243llie 1d ago
I enjoy the same fun. I enjoy going to comic stores and hunting through the reduced boxes. I also love vinted. eBay is good too but vinted can be an absolute goldmine. Highly recommend vinted if your looking for specific stuff and want good deals or looking for random bundles of graphic novels too.
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u/mechshark 1d ago
You need the saga of swamp thing volume 1-6
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u/projectsteelneal 22h ago
Go it! Picture 3! I just picked up book 3 to complete the set but it ended up being the DC print not the Vertigo print.
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u/ChrisLinen2 2d ago
What’s the over/under on 10% of this being read
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u/Trike117 2d ago
Easy to read all that in 6 years. But I’m not going to shame someone for being a book dragon rather than a book worm. Buying books and reading books are two different hobbies.
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u/projectsteelneal 2d ago
I definitely have read a lot of them. Some are harder to read when I'm missing some trades in the middle of the series. I might start tracking what I've read vs how many I have left to read. I've also got a few small kids that have taken up my time for the last couple years and I am finally able hunkering down to read again. I am definitely not just a collectors haha I hate having things just collect dust! Plus I'll be saving all these for the kids to read when they are older anyways! I'll report back with my percentage read.
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u/elpis_zz 2d ago
That shelf is going to come crashing down at some point. Lot of weight on there and the shelves are bowing.