New comic book fan

[k2]

I was never really into comics as a kid, my love of megos came from cartoons and tv series, anyway I was killing time the other day and got some old avengers books and I absolutely love them! But I can see buying comics can get expensive.... So my question is, is there a source to get older comics on the cheap? I don't really care about condition I just want to read them

Thanks
KC

[suspense39]

Buy marvel essential volumes.....they're un colored but I happen to like that better than the colored collections....and these are a lot less expensive

http://www.marvelessentials.com/

[Operation:Mego]

Comics online are usually pretty cheap, I think 99 cents. Omnibuses can be expensive, but they collect a lot of issues.

[k2]

i have tried to get into the marvel essentials, i think i just love the colors or someting of the older books...

[torgospizza]

A good alternative is checking out Amazon for used trade paperbacks. If you only care about reading them, you can get decent copies cheap from individual sellers. Just look around. F.ex., here you can find Marvel's paperback adaption of The Empire Strikes Back starting at 1¢.

[Brazoo]

By old you mean Kirby 60s era? For late 70s, 80s and up - dig through bargain bins. Avengers comics from these years should not be too much, especially if they're not in great shape.

i have tried to get into the marvel essentials, i think i just love the colors or someting of the older books...

I'm with you - I don't like reading comics that were suppose to be colour in black and white. The linework is reproduced well though, and I like having tons of issues at once.

I personally don't like the hardcover Masterworks books. They're reproduced very poorly, the recoloring is horrible and at $50 for 10 issues I think they're insanely expensive. At least the Omnibus books give you 30 issues for $100.

BUT, there are a lot of paperback version of the Masterworks books available. They run about $14 each (for 10 issues) - or less on sale. They exactly reprint the hardcover versions, but sometimes have different cover artwork. I have bought these from time to time, and think they're passible for the money.

Comics online are usually pretty cheap, I think 99 cents.

I don't think a lot of the 60s comics are available in digital versions yet. I could be wrong though.

The last option is questionable morally and NOT legal. People upload torrents of vintage comics in runs - it's possible to download original comic scans. Personally, I don't like reading comics on a computer - but I've read them on an ipad and it's a lot of fun.

[thunderbolt]

THe paperback Masterworks are dirt cheap compared to the hardbacks especially on Amazon.

[ctc]

>THe paperback Masterworks are dirt cheap compared to the hardbacks

That was a big part of why I like them; as a casual reader I can get a LOT of story for little cash. I don't miss the colour so much; the printing back in the day usually turned it into pixelated (or whatever the proper term was) mud anyhoo. Some of the art.... especially the DC Showcase compilations.... looks a lot better without the colour.

Don C.

[Figuremod73]

Heres another alternative although it also involves reading comics on a computer. You have to look, but they should still sold in various places, try Amazon for instance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_comic_books_on_CD/DVD

[Brazoo]

As it happens Marvel has just yesterday announced a new subscription service that allows users to access their back catalog for $10 a month or $60 a year, which is reasonable. It's specifically set up to make older comics available Netflix style. I don't think EVERYTHING is available yet, but they promise to keep adding as they go.

http://marvel.com/comics/unlimited

I'm not sure I'm going to sign up just yet, but it is interesting. Maybe a step in the right direction - at least price-wise.

[ctc]

>Maybe a step in the right direction - at least price-wise

THAT'S a great idea.... for Marvel anyhoo. For back issue sales places.... Well; I dunno. I think a lot of folks who buy back issues are still looking for investments over reading, so it might not affect them huge; but there'll be some effect.

On the up-side for fans, it demonstrates an attitude of comic as reading material and not collectible; which is great. Maybe some of that thinking will filter into the new books. One side effect I kinda hope for is that there'll be sudden runs from readers for more obscure older books and characters. Maybe we'll see some great stuff with folks who's story HASN'T been done to death. (And maybe some who has; "Skull the Slayer" anyone? Anyone....?) It'd be better than YET ANOTHER origin for Wolverine, or Spidey, or Deadpool....

Don C.

[k2]

Tanks for all of the responses guys... I will start looking into them, I really like the idea of the Netflix style comics