Comic Books

What makes you (actually Me, Ian) such an expert?

You of coarse mean besides my fabulously huge Ego, and that I have time to spare in order to put up a web site? Other than that, I have been collecting comic books since I was 10, I'm now in my late 20's. At last count I had over 4,500 comics, and that is just by going off this simple mathematical equation: (300 X 15 = 4,500). In other words, I have 15 long boxes, and each is supposed to hold around 300 comics or so. So I may be a bit off, plus I think I need to buy another long box or two. I have started to catalog my comics, and find out what I am missing, and what I have duplicates of, but this is a long and tedious process. Once I get them cataloged I need to alphabetize them.
The program I use is Realms of Wonder, which is shareware, and very cool. This program Rocks! With it I can do a batch entry, I entered 200+ X-Men issues in a matter of seconds. I can put in comic book cover scans, and I can do reports. The reports are fairly extensive, I have done a full missing issues report and found out you can only selected titles. My friend Per used a commercial product that is no longer being produced. So Per switched to Realms of Wonder also. All his data from the old program got converted over, and now he is able to add more data to his old data.

Well Expert, what do you like?

I like a lot of comics, Captain America, Batman, X-Men, Excalibur, Elfquest, Fantastic Four, WildC.A.T.S., Wolverine, BattleChasers, Danger Girl, Dark Minds, Witchblade, Darkness, Nightwing, Catwoman, and more. I also get a lot of English translations of Japanese comics like Gunsmith Cats, Ah! My Goddess, Masion Ikkoku, and Ranma 1/2. Some I just get in Trade Paperbacks, like Sanctuary, and Mai the Psychic Girl.

Chicago Comic Con

Recently, Per & I went up to Chicago, for the Chicago Comic Con. This was our second year that we had done this. Last year we met John Kovalic, and he signed a number of books for me. This year, I managed to get an Elfquest book signeed by Wendy & Richard Pini, plus once again John Kovalic signed some more of his books. I think I just need to try for a full set of John's books (Dork Tower) signed.

So Why do you collect comics, isn't it a kids type of thing?

At one time it was a kids type of thing, but it has become more and more an Adult type of hobby also. There are comics out there that due to their graphic content, and adult themes (and I'm not talking T&A either) are more for adults that kids. I also use it as a way to relax.

Do you have a page dedicated to a certain comic book?

Not as of yet, but I am working on them. I will be doing a number of pages that are basic synopsis of what is going on, what I like about them, and that type of thing.

Do you have any Comic Book based projects?

Well Sort of.
My friend Per & I at one point came up with our top 10 lists of the hottest Girls in Comics (Yes we are pigs, why do you ask?). Well you will find our list here for your viewing pleasure.

Per's Choice Ian's Choice
  1. Death
  2. Kitty Pryde
  3. Newt
  4. Free - Fall
  5. Ariel
  6. Phoenix - Rachel
  7. Boom - Boom / Boomer / Meltdown
  8. Magic
  9. Avengylene
  10. Joker (Tangent)
  1. Kitty Pryde
  2. Fairchild
  3. Catwoman
  4. Batgirl
  5. Witchblade - Sara
  6. Phoenix - Rachel
  7. Psylocke
  8. Batgirl II
  9. Moonstar
  10. Joker (Tangent)

Of coarse we do have a whole page dedicated to this with all our witty comments and pictures. However, it is not up yet as we are still getting pictures, and witty comments. Other than that, nope not currently.