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James Woodcock
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8570
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| Posted: 03 July 2026 at 11:24pm | IP Logged | 1
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Tomorrow I sell my comic collection - the whole collection.
Obviously this is a massive step, but it has been a really long time since I
have read a physical back issue.
Like, nine years.
So I have theses 34 long boxes of comics, taking up a ridiculous amount of
space in my house. I don’t read them, my son doesn’t read them, I can
access the vast majority digitally (pending an EM pulse of the whim of
Bezos removing them from my Kindle library).
I’ve been contemplating this for years, and even sold a few key issues
during covid. But I finally took the plunge a few weeks ago and contacted
someone who was advertising that they buy collections.
Has anyone else taken this step? Do I need to watch out for depression
kicking in in about a week’s time? Will I wake up in a cold sweat screaming
‘What have I done?’
Or will I feel liberated at the space I have freed in my house?
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Trevor Smith
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 September 2006
Location: Canada
Posts: 3683
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| Posted: 04 July 2026 at 12:15am | IP Logged | 2
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I sold mine off years, hell, decades ago, and at the time,
a switch had just flipped - it was just time, and it sounds
like that's kind of what's happened for you now, James.
I've now bought a few hardcovers collecting works of
specific creators since then, like JB, f'rinstance, but
I've not spent even five seconds thinking "oh geez, I wish
I hadn't done that". I hope that allays some of your
fears!
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Edward Aycock
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 13 July 2024
Location: United States
Posts: 237
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| Posted: 04 July 2026 at 12:16am | IP Logged | 3
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I am going through it right now. I am keeping all my JB stuff and George Perez stuff but everything else must go. Spider-Man stuff goes the fastest. I came to the realization that not only did I not even remember half of what I had, but some of it can bring in some money. Not enough to live on but enough to keep me afloat for a short while. I, too, wonder if I will regret it. But again, they've served me well. And it's been a real gas revisiting everything on the floor of my living room.
I still have all my first edition books, and I am keeping those.
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Bill Collins
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005
Location: England
Posts: 11624
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| Posted: 04 July 2026 at 6:50am | IP Logged | 4
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I sold a lot of non-valueable issues at car boot sales. The
good stuff is in my loft and my cousin's son is having them
as he's a fan and i know they will give him pleasure and be
looked after. The very good stuff i am keeping, hardback's,
omnibus's etc. It took me a while but i had to move a lot
to make use of a built in wardrobe and to decorate the back
bedroom. At my age i needed to de-clutter a lot of stuff! I
sincerely hope you don't get withdrawl symptoms James. Like
you i haven't read a physical copy for about 10 years, the
exception will be Elsewhen when i get back from holiday. I
do have a lot digitally, but again i haven't read those for
a few years.
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Edward Aycock
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 13 July 2024
Location: United States
Posts: 237
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| Posted: 04 July 2026 at 9:52am | IP Logged | 5
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Going against Marie Kondo, this stuff still doe spark a lot of joy, but I've had some of it for over 40 years and maybe time to share that joy.
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Brian Price
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 June 2012
Posts: 103
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| Posted: 04 July 2026 at 1:57pm | IP Logged | 6
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I'm slowly selling off the books I don't care about any more on Atomic Avenue and eBay. My plan was to whittle my collection down from about 100 short boxes, but I ended up using the proceeds to add about 20 more. My plan is to have everything organized and a buyer lined up before I go so when my time is done my daughter can liquidate my collection without too much hassle.
I do mostly read stories digitally, (and mostly on the crapper, lol) but for the stories I like and want to collect I still want the paper version.
I've given serious thought to selling my collection while I'm still around and becoming more of a nomad. Still might someday, but I'm not ready yet.
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Peter Hicks
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 30 April 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 2137
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| Posted: 04 July 2026 at 3:33pm | IP Logged | 7
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I will turn 65 in 4 years and I have committed to start selling off my collection then. I have 1,800 high grade Silver and Bronze Age books, and about an equal number of most recent books that are just great reading. I am unsure how I will feel when the time comes after 40 years of collecting.
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James Woodcock
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8570
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| Posted: 04 July 2026 at 9:08pm | IP Logged | 8
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Thanks all.
The deed completed this morning, and I’m feeling good at the moment.
It really does feel the right time. It was interesting to look at some of these
issues during the process, but I had an awful lot that held zero emotional
attachment.
Now I just have to make sure I don’t buy more Star Wars toys to replace the
comics, although I may see about putting my Micro Machine sets on the
shelves where my Star Wars comics used to be.
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Josh Goldberg
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 25 October 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 2151
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| Posted: 04 July 2026 at 10:26pm | IP Logged | 9
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About 30 years ago, I thinned out my collection by giving away about half. Nothing of any financial or sentimental value. Just stuff that I had saved up out of habit.
About 20 years ago, I sold off the few things I had that had financial value.
Since then, left mostly with those of only sentimental value, I have continued thinning out the collection by giving comics away slowly to acquaintances, friends and family. The primary recipients in recent years have been 5 nephews and 1 niece. For the past year or so, it has become harder and harder to find comics that I can live without in my few remaining long boxes.
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