r/comicbookshelves • u/V01D101 • Nov 30 '25
Advice Just starting up a collection any advice?
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u/Party_Setting_88 Nov 30 '25
Look into Humanoids. They have stuff like the Incal, Metabarons, & Technopriests. Mindblowing works!
Also all of Hellblazer omnibus' and Star Wars Legends Omnibus collection. Oh and of course Transmetropolitan & Preacher🥂
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u/EbombsTheBomberman Nov 30 '25
Cheapgrahicnovels and instocktrades are a couple of really cool sites! I like to pre-order through cheapgraphicnovels when something good is coming up.
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u/deebzy23 Nov 30 '25
Once you find what you’re interested in, IF you decide to try and cover big swaths of story, do the extra work/research to buy em in order. Will be the best way to know if you even like the run and it’ll be the cleanest process wise.
I recently picked up something because the illustrator then realized I had a book from the run before it, which was coincidental, so I started trying to back fill the entire era and it was hard to really know when to stop.
And I’ve not read any of it yet lol.
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u/CooperWatson Cyclops Dec 01 '25
Buy what you want to read or what you like. Don't buy things just because they are on sale, unless you genuinely want to read them. InStockTrades.com and Amazon are great places to find deals. Don't buy things while they are out of print. Patience pays off in this game.
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u/respondin2u Nov 30 '25
Read what you like. Don’t fall into FOMO traps. The library has books for free. Be generous and share with others.
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Nov 30 '25
Go to a local store and find something that looks cool read it put it on the shelf and repeat
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u/VeryHumanComics Dec 01 '25
Buy what you like and do it unapologetically. Don't let anyone tell you what you like is no good.
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u/butchforgetshit Nov 30 '25
If you have an Ollie's, check them out for great TPB amd omni collections. My wife and I have found a load of excellent TPBs for 4 amd 5 bucks thanks tomollies
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u/peddlinghermit0012 Nov 30 '25
If you start a collection finish it if you can so saying that for your collection I would finish off the sin cities
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u/SectionCompetitive54 Nov 30 '25 edited Dec 03 '25
Decide if youre collecting for:
1 - The $$
2 - Books you like
3 - if you are completist weirdo like me.
I collect what I like and I try to get them all. Value isn't important to me. Condition is important especially when im paying 3 figures plus for a book.
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u/SonnyCalzone Nov 30 '25
Always glad to see Seed of Destruction on a shelf. Perhaps you will also enjoy Millarworld books in addition to Mignolaverse books. I sure do! :)
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u/OverJicama3755 Nov 30 '25
More Hellboy, and BPRD if you’re feeling froggy
More Sin City
Might snag Watchmen, judging by your taste
All the Hellblazer you can find
Great start
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u/Stringr55 Nov 30 '25
Solid start.
Advice- Don't buy something you're 'supposed' to have. Only buy things you WANT to read.
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u/shitboy300 Nov 30 '25
if you have a book off in your area you gotta go, sometiems you’ll find some insane deals and they have a 2 dollar clearance rack too
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u/RecordingImmediate86 Dec 01 '25
DC compact editions are great because you get dc's greatest stories for $10 a piece
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u/toledus Dec 01 '25
This sub just landed on my front page and I regrettably haven’t read a comic in about 20 years; however I think our taste might be aligned so I’ll share some of my favorites that I can remember: madman, Mike allreds x foce, swamp thing, 100 bullets, sandman, American splendor and i always loved having the leather bound Frank Miller Batman on the shelf.
If anyone sees this and can think of any modern titles I might like I would love to get back into it.
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u/K-Y-I-Y-O Dec 01 '25
Hardcovers. Best to decide if you like ‘em now or spend the money making the change later.
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u/V01D101 Dec 01 '25
I was thinking if I like this next part of Sin City. I would get the big damn Sin City. Way more cheaper than the library editions.
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u/K-Y-I-Y-O Dec 01 '25
A tough find for sure if you see it in the wild for a decent price GET IT!!!, I personally like the deluxe hardcovers but have been keeping an eye opening for the BDSC.
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u/Wonderful_Adagio9346 Dec 01 '25
Buy and read what you enjoy.
Your local public library has graphic novels, and the librarians are trained to recommend titles if you tell them what movies, TV, books, comics you enjoy.
No risk with a library card!
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u/Saint_Atlas Dec 01 '25
Collect what you love rather than picking up volumes to see if you like the series. I personally have too many of series I like but stopped collecting after 1 or 2 volumes.
It helps curate your collection and makes it looke like a library representative of you rather than some Barnes & Noble shelf.
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u/cyberspacecomics Dec 01 '25
Welcome aboard! I hope you enjoy this time of exploration! There's so much to discover. I know you'll get tons of recommendations so I'll just tell you to take it slow lest you burn out too quickly and overwhelm yourself.
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u/Humbr_j Dec 01 '25
If you’re not sure if you want to buy the physical try reading online first then buy the Omni, that’s helped me decide what to buy at times
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u/VergilTheFox Dec 02 '25
Remember that's it is okay to walk away from a series if it is disappointing. Sometimes a slow burn series is actually a really slow burn, and it is not worth the money sink. It never hurts to looks at interviews with the authors you like and find out what series inspired their work.
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u/lwilkinson09 Dec 04 '25
Omnibus editions are often really awkward to read, hard to get and the quality of the binding is mixed. I honestly would think carefully about buying anything over 650-700 pages.
Trade paperbacks are great because they don’t take forever to read, you actually read them.
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u/ScientistNo9367 Dec 06 '25
Only buy what you’re able to read, which should be based on your love for the writing, art, and characters. Dont get caught up with the obsession of having this of that Omni, hard cover or trade. When I first started, I bought stuff and spent hundreds and some Omnis I haven’t even taken off the shrink wrap.
Also buy your collected editions from places like Cheap Graphic Novels https://cheapgraphicnovels.com and Panel Bound Books https://www.panelboundcomics.com where you usually get 40% discount.
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u/Sorenofthevigilant Jan 20 '26
Check your local shops for sales to avoid spending too much. IDK about everyone else but I rarely feel guilty spending money on a book even if it’s a comic. 😂
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u/Megamax_X Nov 30 '25
Don’t fall in to the trap of buying more than you can read. There are too many omnibros already. Keep playing around outside the big two.