After ~12yrs of collecting comics it's suddenly dawned on me that I could save a packet by going for the compilations rather than buying the issues each week. Does anyone do this?

Thing is: a very quick search brought up the Justice League #2 (issues 7-12) compilation for ~£19 (hardcover!!) which is about the same cost as buying the issues individually. Is NewDC just releasing compilations in Hardcovers now or do I just need to wait a teenie bit for the softversions to come out ?



Also: looks like compilations are 6 issues in size, which would mean, with me having just put in my advanced order for a whole bunch of #18s, I could be on the verge of saving a bundle.

Noticed a raft of quite definite 4-6 issue stories over the past few years? Yup, that's marketing for you... A fairly successful comic writer told me a couple of years ago that the publishers aim to break even with the comics and then trade sales are pure profit. That seems a very simplified version of events but it gives you a rough idea.

Yep, softback versions will be due, NewDC are following Marvel to a certain extent, there, who do "premium" hardback versions before softback editions but Marvel don't do it with every storyline. Also, give it another year or so and you'll get trades that collect 12-18 comics of the newer stories.

I've taken a long hard look at my 4000+ comics, and the long/short boxes taking up space in the house, and decided that from now on all the new stuff I'm interested in will be tested out digitally and, if I like them, I'll pick them up in trade or the house will collapse! As well as the save in cash!

^yup those boxes DO take up a great deal of space. Really wish I'd decided on going the compilation route ~1.5 yrs back. That time would have been ideal, what with NewDC52 thing starting then... darnit.

So timeline from comic issue to coming out softcover compilation could be ~1 yr... wozers - going a year without any Batman whatsoever could be hard. Guess I could always spend the time rereading the 10yrs of backissues - but seriously whoever does that

Maybe I won't go the SC route right this min, instead just keep an eye on when the SCs DO come out and how many issues they hold, then in the future when a title brings out its p4/4 (so completing the current arc) I can decide whether THAT'S a good point to jump off.

Check out Previews or the Diamond website to get a better idea of when the trades are out. When i was considering picking up Saga the trade came out within a few months of issue 5, too big a delay would mess with momentum, audience interest. Seems strange if DC drag their heels...

Do libraries stock TPBs? Jeeze that'd really save me a fortune.

Yep. The past 3 libraries I've joined have had pretty big TPB collections, though allowing children to easily pick up stuff like The Boys made me question how much they actually knew about them.

One library in particular was buying all their stock from a shop and paying retail prices rather than going via Diamond and getting stuff at trade. The 23 yr old librarian left in charge of getting the books in was even overheard bragging about the kickback he was getting from the shop so that says it all...

Depending on libraries systems they can't just buy from where they like, only certain retailers or professional sellers. I know in my library work I'd love to be able to buy from Amazon (for the speed of delivery mainly) but can't as they won't give work a credit deal longer than 30 days, I have to choose from a couple of selected sellers on our system.


In fact my local libraries have moved to a system where all ordering is done from a company that picks it all for them, no need to make choices.

About 12 years ago, when I last lived there, there were copies of some of the Preacher trade paperbacks in the kids section of Dundee central library. Dunno if they're still there.

I thought about telling the library they might be unsuitable, but then I thought, to hell with it, it is Dundee.