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**Nostalgiabuff** · Oct 20, '12, 8:49 AM

you can find digital copies of most comics on line or on ebay, they are scanned and burned on CD and you read them on the computer. that is one cheap way to get the complete run if you just want to read them

**Blue Meanie** · Oct 20, '12, 8:56 AM

If you want to start with gaining some knowledge about the books, who wrote them or the artists on certain issues, this is a great on-line resource:

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http://www.comics.org/

It give you covers for the issues and if they are indexed it gives you information about the books contents. The only problem I have with the site is that it really is spelling specific. I think to bring up Spiderman...you may have to spell it like this: Spider-Man. I find myself using the GCD site a lot when I want to find out what other titles an artist has worked on. You can search titles, artists, inkers, story titles...it's an absolutely SICK resource of information on comics. I hope that helps.

**ctc** · Oct 20, '12, 9:00 AM

Hmmmm....

A lot of the Marvel and DC stuff is being collected into them big Essentials/Showcase Presents compilations. Those are fantastic for people just looking to read the stories. If you look around online you can find some good stuff too:

Digital Comic Museum

http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/

The best site for downloading FREE public domain Golden Age comic books. Free file downloads, online comic viewer, plus a helpful, knowledgeable community.

Don C.

**PNGwynne** · Oct 20, '12, 9:05 AM

^ I agree, Marvel Essentials/DC Showcase Presents is a great resouce for inexpensive, readable reprints (note: B&W).

**VintageMike** · Oct 20, '12, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by Den82

I'm really into comics now. I feel as if my interest in toys will start taking a back seat to them. Which can't happen. Toys have created a lot of problems recently in regards to money and other personal issues relating to family.

I'd love to have a complete run of say, The Amazing Spider-Man from #1 till let's say the early 80s. But I know that will just never happen unless I become rich one day. I'm envious of these older guys who've been in the collecting business for 30+ years now.

Anyway, until now, I haven't bought comics since I was about 10 which was 20 years ago now.

I want to soak up as much as I can regarding the silver age. I want to know what key issues to look out for, become more familiar with artists and learn as much about stories as I can.

Rather than read stuffy old info books or go to Wikipedia, I want to learn from the very source: the books themselves. I can't afford good copies of most of them. So what are alternatives?

I bought a few Marvel Milestone Editions recently. Those seem to be a good start. Also looking at trade Paperbacks that compile early issues. Even those look a bit pricey though.

While the silver age stuff while always be somewhat pricey, condition plays a huge factor. Meaning outside of "key" issues many 70's titles can be bought affordably as long as your not you don't mind some wear. If you just want to read them it really a win-win. You got all the fun of collecting, all of the fun of reading the original editions, and none of the price tag unless you want/can make an exception here or there. I've always considered the classic 70's/early 80's X-Men run too pricey. Using what I've described I've gotten issues for as little as $4. One time while looking in an antique mall I picked a bunch of 80's ones for about $3 a piece. If you're going tot he early 80's you find a TON of that stuff, (depending on title) in 50 cent and dollar bins at shows.
There are also deals to be had on silver age stuff depending on what your budget is. Earlier this year for example I picked an Amazing Spider-Man #11. It was complete but missing the back cover. The price: $35.

**thunderbolt** · Oct 20, '12, 4:57 PM

I've been picking up the paperback Marvel Masterworks for around 15 a pop on Amazon. cheaper than 3-4 of todays comics.

**madmarva** · Oct 20, '12, 5:31 PM

Those paperback Masterworks are good deals. Only wish they had started earlier.

**thunderbolt** · Oct 20, '12, 5:41 PM

I hope they get around to the Atlas stuff in TPB eventually. Loves me some Kirby Monsters.

**suspense39** · Oct 20, '12, 6:50 PM

Originally posted by PNGwynne

^ I agree, Marvel Essentials/DC Showcase Presents is a great resouce for inexpensive, readable reprints (note: B&W).

I second that! I'm selling all my silver age comics since I found out about these!

**Bruce Banner** · Oct 21, '12, 3:59 AM

I generally avoid the Essential & Showcase volumes as they're b&w.
The softcover Masterworks are cool, albeit a little more expensive.

**thunderbolt** · Oct 21, '12, 4:46 AM

usually 10 bucks cheaper than cover price at Amazon, and you can help out the Museum by clicking thru the banner.

**bleit1701** · Oct 21, '12, 5:19 AM

The Essentials/showcase collect tons of issues in one volume and are an easy way to catch up but are in black and white.

Masterworks/Archives are in color/hardcover and can be pricey. Sometimes you can find some deals though. But they only collect 10 issues at a time. Masterworks are now

coming out in paperback which makes them cheaper.

If you still want the thrill of the hunt, go with the Marvel reprint titles from the 70's. They can still be found in $1 bins in lower condition.

I also bought many cheap comic lots on Ebay to fill in the titles then sold of the doubles/triples. I filled in 90% of the Marvel Superheroes with Hulk/Sub mariner (Tales

of Suspense) that way.

Marvels Greatest Comics (Fantastic Four) mostly out of $1 bins which go way past issue 100. The recent X-Men classics which fill in the cockrum/Byrne/claremont stuff.

Marvel Super Action for Cap/Ironman from Tales of Suspense and some Avengers and Marvel Triple Action for the later Avengers. That will get you up to issue 76 or so.

Marvel Tales will get you Spiderman up to 100 and well beyond. Marvel Spectacular= Thor.

Marvel Collectors Item Classics have early FF, Hulk (1-6), DR Strange (Strange Tales) plus some later Ironman. They can more expensive but there are cheap lots on Ebay if

you're patient.

Most of these books tell you on the first page what issue they reprint. I had a ball looking for them but it took a few years to do.

**Blue Meanie** · Oct 21, '12, 10:12 AM