Byrne Robotics: The thrill of the (comics) hunt

The John Byrne Forum
Byrne Robotics > The John Byrne Forum

Topic: The thrill of the (comics) hunt

Author

Message

Edward Aycock
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 13 July 2024
Location: United States
Posts: 196

Posted: 23 May 2026 at 10:44pm \| IP Logged \| 1	post reply

When I was 11 in 1983, I was looking for a cancelled book (Super Friends issue 2) that had come out several years earlier. All I had to go on was going to store after store and looking. No luck. At that time, you really could barely give back issues of the book away, and it wasn't listed on places like Mile High Comics. One day in 1993, I came upon it by chance in a shop and I was elated. Back then, a ten-year search between 11 and 21 felt like an eternity. And then later that year, I was trying to find issues of "Namor" and "Next Men" but it was all piece by piece.

I am sure many of us of a certain age have similar stories. So, for those who jumped from manual searching to online, does anybody really miss the old days, the thrill of discovery in a store, deep in the racks or do you prefer the instant gratification of searching today?

What was your holy grail?

profile | search

John Popa
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 20 March 2008
Posts: 4759

Posted: 23 May 2026 at 11:43pm \| IP Logged \| 2	post reply

The first comic I ever had to order through Mile High Comics was "Kitty Pryde and Wolverine" #6. At least in Canton, OH it was rare, at least I couldn't find it at the few places my parents would take me. Even the one comic book store that was downtown so I had to BEG to get taken there didn't have it.

Of course, in those days ordering something took 'four to six weeks for delivery' which felt like a LIFETIME.

In the great scheme of things, no, it wasn't a rare comic but I didn't understand that at 12 years old.

I do miss the thrill of digging in quarter boxes, at least nostalgically. At this point, I only buy hardcover reprints of things I want to preserve.

profile | search

Steve Gumm
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 10 May 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 1495

Posted: 24 May 2026 at 1:12am \| IP Logged \| 3	post reply

My thrill of the hunt happened on two fronts. I was buying comics somewhere around 7 years old FF, Avengers, Spider-Man and MTU, BUT somehow X-Men where a complete blind spot I didn’t see or buy them until around X-Men 150. About then, I tagged a long with a buddy to a store with nothing but comics and records, they even had boxes and boxes of old comics…WHAT?!? My mind was blown and saw my first wall of great comics behind the register there, in all their shiny glory, were the Byrne X-Men comics. Oh man I had to figure out how to get those cool issues. That was a fun chase. I was just wanting to have them, so I would always buy the somewhat dinged up ones when they popped up. Then, I found the John Byrne comic book checklist in the back of the Art of John Byrne book (5 out of 5 stars). That’s when I started going on the hunt for all John’s past issues. That was a fun endeavor which I haven’t quite completed after all these years. I enjoy digging through the bargain bins and pulling out a random Byrne treasure, something like a MTU 70 for $2 will make me buy it again… hey it’s a sickness but a fun one!

Edited by Steve Gumm on 24 May 2026 at 1:16am

profile | search e-mail

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum