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Dilemmas, Solutions
Dilemmas, Solutions
Feb 08I know you have all been on the edge of your seats since I announced my dilemma re: whether or not I should just give in and buy a brilliant Lea Hernandez Prickle bunny. Basically, I “solved” this one by dropping copious hints to a certain someone and also by having a big birthday (rhymes with “schmirty”) that required that someone to buy me presents. Thus, Husband Jeff heroically ordered me the last Prickle of the first wave, Happy Birthday to meeeee! I can’t wait to see what she looks like cozying up to Icebat and Gloomy Bear.
OK, so now a New Dilemma, suggestions most welcome. Husband Jeff and I just moved and it was all very painful and annoying and many of our happy fun activities just kind of fell off the map for a while. One of those activities is regular comic book buying, and now I’m way behind. Do I take this opportunity as a clean slate: ie, forget about the issues I’ve missed, re-evaluate my pull list and start anew with just a few titles? Or maybe use this time to convert to trade paperbacks, which has been discussed a few times in my household? Or attempt the arduous task of catching up on everything, which feels a bit like a chore at this point? I just don’t know! I feel bad that I’m so behind on Civil War, especially after Matt’s stirring post. On the other hand, there is something liberating about heading into the comic shop with fresh eyes, almost like a new customer, and deciding which titles I actually want to commit to. My nice friends gifted me with Hi De Ho currency for my schmirtieth birthday, so at least I have some seed money.
Ooh, what a great opportunity.
1) take a look at what you’re behind on and decide if you’re really missing it. I find I get caught in a loop, buying something because it’s coming once a month. But ask yourself how much you’d want to read it again later – and if the answer is not much, drop it. If it picks up again later (ie someone says it’s great), TPBs are you friends. If you were kind into it, but not that keen on continuing, see if it’s mid-arc, and consider finishing the arc, then walking away. If you like it, but are patient, switch to TPBs. And if you like it, but can’t wait, gather up the singles as best you can and then keep going. Ideally you want to do this one a year anyhow.
2) Poke around the recent releases, stuff you didn’t get, but can now buy a handful of issues of (if not an entire series, if it was a short run) in one go. Better yet, some stores package runs together and sell cheaper – it’s like buying a TPB, but not. You’ll find a few good goods you didn’t pay attention to before.
3) If you’ve cut down a lot, look at TPBs of things that you should own, but might not. Like New Frontier, or Ex Machina, or whatever.
I can lay all this out, as I’m in the middle of the same kind of account clearing. Exiles continues to dodge the bullet, but Checkmate only lasted the first few issues (which might not have been giving it enough time, according to Matt) but I can’t buy everything.
You’re schmirty?! That be old!
I would definitely take the chance to look over ye olde pull and see if you can do trimming, or replacing if you’re okay with the budget you’re working with.
On the trades front, I am finding that I feel some current series are just better served by trades–Brubaker’s Criminal and Daredevil both just fell into that pile. I try to save the floppy buying for titles that will never be entirely traded (like Superman or something) and the big-ticket marquee universe titles (the core Marvel and core DC that I collect).
Shit, I still can’t believe you’re schmirty. Do you need a cane? Perhaps a collostomy bag?
“Shit, I still can’t believe you’re schmirty. Do you need a cane? Perhaps a collostomy bag?”
I’m schmirty-pour. You got summthin’ against people in their schmirties?
(puts up fists)
oh, i’m schmirty as well. i feel your pain.
i’m tired. my fingers hurt. i’m so old!
I like pudding.