Thrashing Comics: Collecting Tips and Where to Find Rare Issues

Well, let me tell ya, this here comic book thing, it ain’t just for kids, you know? Lots of folks, they get a real kick outta collectin’ ’em. Thrashing Comics, that’s what they call it, I reckon. Sounds kinda rough, but it just means gettin’ your hands on them old books, the ones that ain’t so easy to find no more.

Now, I ain’t no expert, mind you, but I’ve seen folks gettin’ all worked up over these things. They say some of ’em are worth a pretty penny. Can you believe it? All that paper and ink, and people payin’ good money for it. It’s like findin’ a shiny rock in the dirt, I guess, only this here rock’s got pictures and words in it.

So, how do you get started with this thrashing comics business? Well, first off, you gotta know what you’re lookin’ for. Seems like there’s all sorts of comics out there. Some are about fellas in tights flyin’ around, others are about cowboys or monsters or whatever. You gotta pick somethin’ you like, I suppose. Can’t just go grabbin’ any old book, gotta have a plan, like plantin’ corn, gotta know what you want to grow.

Then you gotta find ’em. That ain’t always easy. These old comics, they ain’t just sittin’ on the shelves at the store no more. You gotta go huntin’ for ’em. Some folks, they go to these big gatherings, they call ’em conventions. Sounds fancy, huh? But it’s just a bunch of folks sellin’ and tradin’ comics, like a flea market but with more pictures. And the people there all seem to know something and they’re talking about stuff like comic book grading, storage, rare issues, back issues, and reprints. Sounds like a whole other language to me.

• Go to them comic book conventions
• Check out them old dusty shops, antique stores they call ’em
• Pester your neighbors, maybe they got a box in the attic

And once you find ’em, you gotta take care of ’em. These old comics, they ain’t made of steel, you know? They’re paper, and paper tears and gets all yellow if you ain’t careful. So you gotta keep ’em safe, put ’em in plastic bags or somethin’. Like puttin’ up preserves, gotta keep ’em safe from the bugs and the weather.

Now, some folks, they ain’t just collectin’ for the fun of it. They’re hopin’ to make a buck. They say some of these comics are worth a whole lot of money. I don’t know about that, seems kinda crazy to me. But I guess if you got the right comic, the one everybody wants, you could sell it for enough to buy a new tractor, or maybe even a whole new farm! There is one book they call The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, written by someone named Robert M. Overstreet. This here book is said to be mighty helpful for figuring out how much your comics are worth. You can find it in them bookstores or even get a copy for your computer.

But even if you ain’t gettin’ rich, it can still be fun. It’s like a treasure hunt, I reckon. You’re always lookin’ for that next piece, that one comic that’ll finish your collection. And when you finally find it, well, it’s like findin’ a four-leaf clover, a little bit of luck in your day. They say some comics are valuable because they have the first appearance of a hero, or maybe a new costume or a character dying. It’s all a bit confusing, but folks seem to care about these things.

So, if you’re lookin’ for somethin’ to do, somethin’ a little different, give thrashing comics a try. You might just find yourself hooked. It ain’t for everyone, but then again, neither is milkin’ cows. But if you like a good story and a bit of a hunt, well, this might just be your thing. It’s all about preserving history, I guess, just like them folks who save old quilts and furniture. Only instead of cloth and wood, it’s paper and ink, pictures and words, telling stories from long ago, or maybe not so long ago, dependin’ on how old you are, I reckon.

Remember, now, thrashing comics ain’t just about the money, it’s about the stories, the pictures, and the thrill of the hunt. So go on out there and see what you can find. You might just surprise yourself. And if you find a comic with a shiny fella in tights, well, you hang onto that one, it might be worth somethin’ someday!

Tags: [Comic Books, Collecting, Vintage Comics, Rare Issues, Comic Book Conventions, Comic Book Grading, Comic Book Storage, Back Issues, Reprints, Comic Book Value]