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Beau Smith: “Hey! I’m huntin’ for comic books. got any?”
by beau Smith
I spoke with a buddy the other day who has been reading comic books for only a couple of years. He didn’t grow up reading or collecting comics like I did. He always knew they were around, and that some of his closest friends read them, but he never joined the hobby.
I asked why, now and not then, and he didn’t really have an answer. He didn’t know why. So I asked him how now? (No brown Cow jokes.)
He told me that a couple of years ago he was at a local library sale purchasing books. They had a deal where for $2.00 they would give you a plastic sack and you could fill it up with as numerous books as you could shove in it. how could he pass up that deal?
He said that he picked through the shelves and got the books he really was interested in and a couple that he might be interested in, but he still had some room left in the bag. He looked and looked and just couldn’t find anymore history or fiction books that were in his realm of interest. Then, while sorting through a larger pile, he came across some recent comic books that were marked 10 cents each. He asked the kind library lady if these counted as books for the sale. She nodded her head yes and pretended she could hear him.
He was able to fill his bag with the stack of comics that they had. He figured he’d give them to his nephew or some other kids in the family. Those comics never made it into youthful hands.
Later that weekend, my buddy had time to really go through his library haul. He pulled out the comics and for whatever reason, at that moment, their flashy, colorful covers grabbed him. He chose best then that he’d give them a shot and read a couple. That couple turned into the whole stack. That evening he read the adventures of The X-Men, Spider-Man, Batman, Transformers, 100 Bullets, Scalped, and various other fun-filled four color features.
The 1960s
He delighted in the way the books were childish, yet mature; soap opera-like and yet filled with fist-fighting fantasy. He could see why so numerous of his friends (including me) had been readers for so numerous years. These comics were like the TV shows and films that he loved and delighted in so much. He admitted to me that he could kick himself in the butt for not joining our comic book reading community sooner. He tried to jump my case that I didn’t tension enough how good comics were. I paid him no mind because I had been on his case for years. He was the only person to blame and he knew it.
Needless to say, I gave him a stack of comic books that I had written. like a dope dealer, I told this pile was free, after this, he’d have to purchase his own. I could see he was gonna be a new comic book junkie. I had him hooked.
The 1940s
While we were talking over lunch, he told me that he was enjoying his new goal for his comic book reading and collecting. He is now making it his goal to purchase 10 comic books from each decade. While he has the last four decades already covered, he said he’s finding it a little pricey as he continues his hunt into the 1960s, 1950s, 1940s, and even the 1930’s. Granted, he’s not searching for mint condition or very popular comics; he’s just searching for ones printed in those decades.
I could see my own childhood passion in his eyes and voice as he told me about “The thrill of the hunt.” He got all amped up as he told me of missing some issues on eBay when he was outbid, but to find the issues the next week when he discovered some of the issues at a local convention. It was great to see that passion that I had through another person’s eyes. I was very pleased for him. I practically went home that night and dug up some old issues I had from those decades to give him, but that would cheat him out of the hunt and what makes some comics so very special as new decades drift on by. Sure, if he gets stuck I’ll help him out, but I think he’ll really treasure those comics on his list if he knows he found them on his own.
The 1950s
There are a couple of reasons why I’m telling you this story. If you’re like me and have been reading comics forever, I want this story to rekindle your passion to hunt down some unread comics that you’ve always wanted to read. If you’re semi-new to comics, then maybe, like my friend, you’ll be inspired to set some reading goals for yourself and discover a whole new world of entertainment. In collecting, having sub-collections are always a blast. I invent new ones for myself all the time. There’s nothing like a new hunt to get the comic book juices going.
Put on your Elmer Fudd hunting hat and get out there and find you a comic book with a “Wascally Wabbit” in it. There’s your first sub-collection to start with. Don’t say I didn’t give you anything.
Good hunting,
Beau Smith
The flying Fist Ranch
www.flyingfistranch.com