Why Collect?

[wilsia]

Bootlegging is simply taking money from the artist and putting the money into the hands of people who have done nothing whatsoever to earn it. In short its immoral

[abacus]

There was a period of about twenty years or so, when I had stopped reading comics and had not begun collecting.
During that period a large number of comics were produced that I was unaware existed .
For me the 50s were the my nostalgic era .
I enjoy reading these old comics on the public domain sites,Would I prefer to have the actual comics ?
of course but can only buy the rare ones I come across.
As for discs I had one bought me of capt marvel comics ,I read two but I then got fed up of loading it on to the pc.
When I started collecting I was buying all the annuals and comics I saw but now I concentrate on 70s and prior to that ,because of shortage of storage space.
Found no comics at the sunday carboot and came away with two scale model railway locomotives.
Will search for comics the next time i'm on my travels

[paw broon]

"Bootlegging is simply taking money from the artist and putting the money into the hands of people who have done nothing whatsoever to earn it. In short its immoral" wilsia
The one thing it is not doing in the case of almost all British comics up to about 20 years ago is taking money from the artist. As has been noted previously, stories were written and drawn on a per word and page basis with no royalties and no rights for the authors. Once a story was completed, it was taken over completely by the publisher. The only loss is that to the publisher, who, in many cases has absolutely no interest in further dissemination of the material, even if they are aware that they have it, because, as we all know, in some cases, records have been binned, material lost in fires and generally considered of no further value. And I have heard the argument that that is important as without sales the big publishers wont publish new material. So, no more comics. Wrong, I'm afraid. We only have to look at the burgeoning world of small press/self publications. An incredible incubator for new ideas and creators.
Also, I would advise all and sundry to avoid the folk selling those discs, it's all available free elsewhere. That way, the gains accrue to those wanting to retain this wealth of material for posterity. Although Cap Marvel & co. are P.D. as is the Fawcett range of comics.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Lew;

I have replied to your above, earlier post on piracy on the new 'comics on disc' thread.

[abacus]

For me 90% of modern comics have no appeal whatsoever,and yet I realise there must be public demand for these comics,because demand dictates what comics are produced.
I would like to see the comics on public domain sites reprinted not in expensive book form but as individual facsimile comics .(talking US of course,where there is such a huge amount of material).It is unlikely to happen but it is just a thought.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Modern comics often have brilliant colouring techniques done digitally: that is their main basic appeal for me---I feel there is a lot of padding storywise though, in lots of the new stuff---the older narratives were more concise and 'better value', I thought.

[suebutcher]

Digital colouring, because you can do almost anything with it, ranges from brilliant to awful. Like most things digital. I think I'll always be a fan of flat colour, black shadows, and line shading. It's simple and versatile, and it's a technique that was developed for comics, rather than being an imitation of painting.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

The technique of colouring, like any skill, is wildly inconsistent in comics I reckon, Sue---some of the early digital colour in 2000 ad is dire, [as are my own early efforts] and yes, in the case of painting by brush, this also runs the gamut from great to gawdawfull-----

[abacus]

I do not use Ebay and have no account with Ebay though some family members do.
My main source for old comics are from carboots which are the equivalent of Ebay without the postage and packing.
Over time I have collected many bargains like the large Dan Dare 10th anniversary collectors book for a £1
The large 60 th anniversary of Popeye book for £2
Black Bob 1955 for 50p and so on.

One of the carboots I used to go to had a regular Jehovah's witnesses stand with their literature ,which I thought was odd shouldn't they be doing other things sunday morning.

There is a mixture of old and new stuff for sale, one lady who had a stand was a writer and illustrator of books
and it seems her object was to promote her work.Illustrating seemed to be her forte.I bought a book from her which she signed for me.Having read it I don't think she is destined for great things but i am pleased to have a copy.

Whenever I buy old comics I always look on Ebay to get a rough idea of the value placed on these things.
In a way i'm probably glad i am not using Ebay because i'd probably end up bidding on nearly everything.

[Phoenix]

one lady who had a stand was a writer and illustrator of books and it seems her object was to promote her work. Illustrating seemed to be her forte. I bought a book from her which she signed for me.

I wonder if this is an idea taking off. About four weeks ago when I last came home from London there was a lady author selling copies of her latest novel from a stand which was half in and half out of W. H. Smiths on the concourse at Euston station. Her name was Leigh Russell, the novel was Race To Death, her latest detective investigation for DI Ian Peterson. It was only £7.99, and I'd had a good chat with her, so I bought a copy, which she signed, and I paid for it in Smiths. Unfortunately I haven't found time to read it yet!

[tony ingram]

one lady who had a stand was a writer and illustrator of books and it seems her object was to promote her work. Illustrating seemed to be her forte. I bought a book from her which she signed for me.

I wonder if this is an idea taking off. About four weeks ago when I last came home from London there was a lady author selling copies of her latest novel from a stand which was half in and half out of W. H. Smiths on the concourse at Euston station. Her name was Leigh Russell, the novel was Race To Death, her latest detective investigation for DI Ian Peterson. It was only £7.99, and I'd had a good chat with her, so I bought a copy, which she signed, and I paid for it in Smiths. Unfortunately I haven't found time to read it yet!

I've heard of her. She's had more than one bestseller. Very surprised she'd be out there doing that.

[abacus]

The book I bought and had signed at carboot was by Marialuisa Marino.It was a slim volume of about 40 pages well illustrated and as you may have guessed cost me a pound.
For more about the author see web page.
http://www.marialuisamarino.com/

[Phoenix]

I've heard of her. She's had more than one bestseller. Very surprised she'd be out there doing that.

Maybe her fans are a bit put off by, or still coming to terms with, her verbal diarrhoea. After all, for the titles of her other nine novels she only uses two words. Such a huge percentage increase for Race To Death would startle anybody.