Why Collect Comic Books?

People collect comic books for different reasons. Some do so because they are nostalgic for the comics they read when they were children. Others collect comic books because they are fans of the characters. Still others collect simply because the right comic books can be very valuable. Whatever the reason, comic book collectors are often one of the most avid breeds of book collectors, with true emotional ties to their collections.

The first comic books were seen in the 1930s, at the same time that radio and movie serials were so popular. With colorful pictures and storylines of heroes and villains, it was the age of good vs. evil with good triumphant in the end. The comics let every child have a glimpse into fantasy.

Comics have always been the realm of superheroes and the industry really came into its own during the 1960s. Two companies led the race: Marvel Comics and DC Comics. While there have been and continue to be other smaller publishers, those two companies had the superheroes that every child craved like Spider-Man, Superman, Wonder Woman and the Fantastic Four. For all that some refer to comic book collecting as low brow, the heroes are still popular today – fifty years later!

The most valuable comic books usually have something different about them. First editions of what becomes a popular series, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, have sold for thousands of dollars at auction. Other signs of value could be the final edition of a series, an unusual cover or the book where a popular character is killed off.

As with any books, the better the condition of the book, the more it will be worth. If you know you are purchasing a comic book to add to a collection, be sure to keep it in as pristine shape as possible. This includes not getting fingerprints on it, creases or turning down any corners.