My Comics Addiction Confession

[JewishHobbit]

Does anyone else ever feel like they might have a real, genuine problem with comics? It's been on my mind for the past year or so and I've decided to do something about it. But before I get to that, some examples...

1) I can't stop reading or thinking about them, even when I don't have any comics on me.

2) I will always put new comics before my wife or kids' needs and get angry at myself about it later.

3) I sneak out of work every Wednesday for an hour or more to pick up my new comics. Another guy got fired for this a couple months ago but I can't make myself stop. I fear for my job.

4) The few times I haven't been able to sneak out of work, I rush my kids into the car from school and race to the comic shop immediately... typically with a bad mood toward them until after we get back home.

5) In times of tight finances, my wife and I are sure that I have enough money for my comics every week. If we do not have enough, then I cash advance checks to pay for them.

Etc. Etc. Etc.


It's gotten to the point where I am more stressed over comics (as I'm sure many of you have realized) than I am enjoying them. I am constantly talking about trying to drop things, but when I try I have a horrible time of it, often falling into horrible moods and usually return to the books I drop within a few issues. My buying budget has always been $100/month (about $50 more than we could realistically afford) but I struggle to keep it to that amount. Thus my constant whining at all things price/double-shipping/constant crossovers, etc.

So I've been thinking about all this for the past few weeks and have finally decided that enough is enough. I know it's taboo here, but I need a crutch. I began downloading comics just to see if I can manage to read them that way and find it acceptable. I don't condone downloading illegally--creators need paid--but I'm making an exception to try to get this under control. So this week was my first official week without comics.

I was working in a place that prevented me from going to the comic shop on Wednesday, so that was alright... though I was really fighting going after work. I ended up making it through the night, and then came Thursday. My wife and I had a shock in realizing that we were down to about $80 for the next week and a half and still needed to buy more food and put more gas in our tanks. We did all this and ended up with about $40 until next Friday. Well, after discussing this yesterday on the phone, I still felt itchy about the comics. I started pacing and getting cranky. I could not work. I could not do anything but think of the stupid things. Then I sneaked out of work and went to the comic shop, buying 5 of the 7 comics I had originally planned on buying. My mentality at the time was that I was compromising. Well, that compromise took the last of the money out of my account, and my wife is down to $15 until next Friday. Knowing we didn't have the money, I still went and picked them up anyway.

THIS was a HUGE eye opener for me. I suddenly hated myself and felt like scum after telling my wife that I'd gone to buy comics even though we agreed that we couldn't afford it. I just couldn't get it out of my head. It's made me sick all day. So as of now I've made the decision to not only quit buying comics but to sell everything I have (or close to it). If I keep the comics, I'll constantly be tempted to get caught up and continue. I will download to help me transition, but the trips to the comic shop have to end. The buying of physical comics have to be cold turkey. I'm done.

As for downloading... yes, it's considered despicable, and I don't condone it. But I know my mind. If I bought cheaper digital comics, I'd just buy more comics and still spend more money than I can afford. I know me too well. It's either stop reading entirely, which I can't imagine and know I don't have the strength to do, or download to help transition out of buying floppies. It's not a good thing to do and I don't want to encourage others to download... but it's what I need to do at this moment. If I'm reviewing comics here or talking about what I've read, I don't want to do it feeling like I'm hiding a dirty little lie. I'm being up front about it. I hope that in time I can drop that as well and be finished or at least get my buying under control so that I can maybe just download a few issues a month legally. Sadly, I don't think Marvel or DC run their companies in a way that makes such buying feasible.

Anyhow, I just had to get this off my chest. I often felt stupid believing I had an addiction and only found mocking or silly articles about it online. So now that I'm determined to do something about it, I wanted to make it known to my only comic book friends (yep... I have no friends in person who read comics and I don't go to any other forums... you guys are it).

Just wanted you guys to know.

 

[BillPardy]

I understand this. For a while now, I have wanted to quit the big two and support creator owned and Indie books by limiting myself to them.
Then I think, "Well I can't just STOP reading Daredevil, so I'll stick with that one... And I really Love Uncanny Avengers... I'll keep that one too..." Before I know it, I'm still buying the same comics as always.

But, I'm a single guy, who doesn't drink or smoke. I spend 60$ a month generally on comics. Its not a big deal.

For you, it sounds like you should go cold turkey for a few months. Read some free Web comics, and support them by clicking on the adds.

 

[C. Lee]

Not sure if you should sell off all you already have (I did that back in '84 because I needed money....I still regret selling off most of them)....but stopping cold turkey for awhile is a good idea.

 

[venom892]

This is something I always feared. That's why I try to keep it to five monthlys and I try to assess what I really enjoy and sell off things I don't want anymore. I have over 2000 comics and some of them are not even properly stored because I buy comics instead of boxes. I don't have kids and a wife, but I know the struggle of wanting to have certain things and then justifying it with everything will be all right. I also collect action figures and I put a limit on myself as well because I never wanted it to be out of control. I hope it all works out for you. If I were you I'd keep those comics you binded together( those were unique and neat. It be a shame to sell them.) Keep what you truly love and sell the rest.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I've sold all my comics twice before due to finances. Due to that I've not bothered picking up any older more expensive ones, so it's not like I'm losing Amazing Spider-Man 121 again. I may keep some of them for nostalgia sake, but as I said above... I know my mind. One story will lead to one title will lead to a bunch of titles, etc. If I no longer possess the previous issues, I will not be tempted to keep buying the comics. I'm still debating on keeping a few titles that I really love, but I just don't know. My main weak spot is X-Men, but how do you stick with just a title or two of X-Men? They all connect and influence each other. And with how invested I've been in X-Men since 1993 (give or take) I feel connected to nearly ever aspect of their universe. To only buy a portion of that would drive me nuts, so it's better to not buy any of it. And the only way I'll be able to make myself do that is to not own the rest. That's the reason why I tested the downloading on X-Men first. I knew I'd need to have a digital copy of those for this to work due to how attached I am to them.

Aside from those, I'm debating on keeping some of the New 52 titles that I've really been enjoying or maybe set runs like Bendis' New Avengers... maybe.

 

[KevanG]

I read a few current ones like X-Men legacy but I find that I'm going for older issues or TPBs more often. They tend to get much cheaper as you go, to a point anyway. I'm actually getting rid of a large number of my old books by giving them to my nephews as gifts since they all love comics but I keep the ones I love, like the Infinity Gauntlet. I still have an almost complete set of What ifs? though and I'm just missing a few.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

I'm ridiculously attached to Spider-Man, so attached my armpits sweated while playing a Spider-Man game cause there is fire in the level, and the room was cold when I played the game
And no matter how much I detest a ridiculously terrible Spider-Man story, I return to it and enjoy it eventually, I even enjoy the old ugly looking Ralph Bakshi portion of the 60s show, and enjoy reading OMD & OMIT
So I do kind of understand what you're going through with the X-Men titles

Then I decided 2013 is a good time to drop new comics in general, saves energy and frustration over not having issues I really look forward to have, but can't, or anticipate and find they are disappointing or lackluster

Just think everyone is dead now, kind of no return dead, Ben Parker dead, there is no purpose in continuing to follow, it helped me a lot, I do kind of share your problem in obsessions with comics, particularly titles on characters I really really enjoy and follow strongly

And focusing on current important events happening in life, having another hobby (preferrably less expensive) to pour more attention to helps too

 

[O_B_Juan]

I fuel my comic addiction by getting the trades from the library. Sure you're constantly behind in the stories and it's hard to avoid online spoliers but budget wise it helps alot.

 

[VICTORVONDOOMX]

I had that problem in the 80s and 90s when comics were still readable and coherent but I can't imagine having that problem now, JH. Just quit buying current issues and focus on completing your Silver Age collection and everything will be OK.

 

[Doc Ock]

Something like this happened to me last year, I made a new years resolution to start buying comics on a regular basis instead of a casual one. I said I'd only buy one series, then it became two, then three, then four, and it eventually got impossible to keep up with to the point I was using the gas money my mom was kind enough to give as I would go home on weekends as I'm a college student who at the time would stay at the dorm only on weekdays(i nowhave a work study job on the weekends nowi cant really go home too much) eventually I had little money to use for anything else.

So I simply stopped. I subscribed to Superior Spider-Man and said I would stick to just that and buy other comics every once and a while, usually focusing on a specific series I'm interested in and continue buying those until I reach a good stopping point or complete the collection and simply read a sequel series in trade form or something. I'm more of a graphic novel fan anyways. Comic books were becoming too expensive for me but luckily some of my local stores have great deals on back issues so I can still buy some every once in a while. I hated it at first but it worked out.

You can sell some comics, but I don't know about selling all of them. You might regret it later! I've kept all the comics ever bought or give to me although my collection is probably...err most definitely smaller than yours. It's definitely up to you though. If X-Men is what you love most then maybe keep all of them and sell everything else? I know I'd keep my Spider-Man, Star Wars, and X-Men comics over everything else...

 

[Dread]

I was curious why I was the only one who posted at the B/T thread. I stopped reading comics (mostly) during my high school years, aside for the Ostrander/Ferry HEROES FOR HIRE and even that was rare. Ultimate got me back in during college but I'm buying a lot more now than back then. Anyway, when it becomes more of a chore than a hobby and finances prevent it, that's a good time to take a break. Good luck!

 

[The Squirrel]

I'm able to keep new issues at my monthly budget, in fact I've just dropped three titles to do so. But I find that I'm spending to much money still on back issues that I find at Half Price Books or the dollar bin at the store. THAT'S what I really need to stop doing.

 

[Spider-Jay420]

I don't know, man. I don't think you need to quit altogether. If you can cut it to what you really enjoy, you can find a happy medium. Be a grownup, JewHob. You can do it. We all go thru times we have to cut back. Except Pheadrus. That dude buys everything. But you just do it. Here's a quick start. Drop everything you complain about. How many titles do you buy? 10? Cut it back to 5 or 6 that you really enjoy and actually look forward to and it'll take care of itself, dude. After a couple weeks you won't even miss it and you (and your wife) will be proud of you. It's easy.

I mean let's be honest, we're not talking about Crack here.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I've been thinking about cutting back on my comics to take up drinking. It'd probably be cheaper in the long run.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I don't know, man. I don't think you need to quit altogether. If you can cut it to what you really enjoy, you can find a happy medium. Be a grownup, JewHob. You can do it. We all go thru times we have to cut back. Except Pheadrus. That dude buys everything. But you just do it. Here's a quick start. Drop everything you complain about. How many titles do you buy? 10? Cut it back to 5 or 6 that you really enjoy and actually look forward to and it'll take care of itself, dude. After a couple weeks you won't even miss it and you (and your wife) will be proud of you. It's easy.

I mean let's be honest, we're not talking about Crack here.

I regularly buy about 20 comics and do not complain about any of them. I complain about Marvel as a company, their procedures, prices, etc. but not the comics. There are maybe 3 comics at most that I could drop and feel alright about, but that wouldn't put a dent in my buying. I honestly don't know what I would cut of the rest. I can't bring myself to cut any of them. Half of them I've cut before for financial reasons only to come back to them and get back to where I was a couple months later. Trust me... I've been trying to cut back for nearly a year and am worse now than I was when I first started... and there are about 4 or 5 more upcoming comics that I'm dying to buy that will only add to the number, and I don't know what I would drop to make up for them. If you follow more than one genre, it just adds up and adds up.

And with the modern way of comics (I guess it's not exactly just modern, but you get the point) it's hard to just stick with the titles you like. Say, I'm enjoying Hickman's New Avengers. I liked it up to Infinity. But it's a direct tie-in to Infinity, so I need to buy Infinity to make any sense of a 4-issue run. Okay, fine... but as it turns out, Infinity is only a complete read if you buy both Infinity, New Avengers, AND the twice-a-month-shipping Avengers. I'm not talking tie-ins... I'm talking direct continuations of the story. Well, I bore through that and now we're learning from Hickman that New Avengers will be running much closer and influenced by Avengers coming up soon and that there will likely be another big Infinity-like story involving both. So in order for me to just read New Avengers, I also have to start buying Avengers to get the New Avengers story. So as of this month, instead of spending around $52 on New Avengers, I've spent around $102 on New Avengers, Infinity, and the Avengers tie-ins to Infinity... and that number will only increase once New Avengers and Avengers start strongly affecting each other.

And that's an easy one. I'm an X-Fan. Do you honestly think I can only buy one or two X-Men books and NOT get swindled into buying 2 or 3 more fairly regularly? Plus, I'm REALLY enjoying the New 52 titles. In order to understand what's going on in Justice League I have to buy Forever Evil. In order to read Justice League Dark and Phantom Stranger right now (my two favorite books currently) I have to read Constantine and Pandora (for an 18-part crossover). I love Aquaman... but I won't know if I need Aquaman & the Others until after it comes out. Should I try it or just wait?

We all know how this works. Marvel and DC both depend on our little addictions to keep them running. New buyers are rare, so they have to milk us to make up the difference.

I've been thinking about cutting back on my comics to take up drinking. It'd probably be cheaper in the long run.

My wife keeps telling me to take up both smoking and drinking for the same reason.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

I've been thinking about cutting back on my comics to take up drinking. It'd probably be cheaper in the long run.

My wife keeps telling me to take up both smoking and drinking for the same reason.

Comics addiction is safer, please don't replace it with something or another far worse
Thank you

 

[JewishHobbit]

Don't worry. I'm 32 (almost 33) years old and have never smoked a thing or drank any form of alcohol. I have no intent to start now.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Thank you

 

[Themanofbat]

If you spent 62.5% of your family funds that you might NEED for one week on comics, then there is a problem.

You need to look at how you can still read the comics, but not spend the money.

I'd suggest a Marvel Subscription... you'll get your books for 1/2 price... might make a difference one day in your relationships with both your wife and/or kids and/or the power company/bill collectors.

Just my two cents...

 

[The Squirrel]

There's also discount mail order services you can look at too, like Discount Comicbook Service. I don't buy nearly as many books as a lot of fans do, but even their service could save me money.

 

[random_havoc]

I have some experience helping with addictions and yes it sounds like your certainly addicted. Using money you don't have, having a bad attitude toward family due to it, etc are clear signs.
Your best chance is to go cold turkey. If you can hold out for a while you'll get used to the idea that it's okay to be without new issues.
Also extremely helpful is having an accountability partner, someone that you trust and will be honest with who will help you keep your word not to buy any more.

 

[Tron Bonne]

It sounds like a lot of your issues could be solved by just dropping the main two comics and sticking with a handful of indie comics devoid of crossovers that you find you enjoy. I see you don't read many indies by your list, but I think you should seek out some stuff by authors you know and enjoy and do that instead. It's a very refreshing thing to do when you get in this kind of funk, and it sounds like it's going to do well for you financially.

 

[BillPardy]

It sounds like a lot of your issues could be solved by just dropping the main two comics and sticking with a handful of indie comics devoid of crossovers that you find you enjoy. I see you don't read many indies by your list, but I think you should seek out some stuff by authors you know and enjoy and do that instead. It's a very refreshing thing to do when you get in this kind of funk, and it sounds like it's going to do well for you financially.

I thought about recommending this as well. But I think before taking that step, you need to first prove you can go cold turkey, and get your financials sorted out.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I actually don't have any favorite writers. I don't buy comics for the quality of writing as much as I do my love of the characters. Therefore, Indy comics never really held much appeal for me. I've gotten into some (Sojourn, Planetary, Y the Last Man, Walking Dead, Umbrella Academy, and Project Superpowers come to mind) but I typically try to stick to more PG-13 type of comics and Indies are often a bit more than that. I don't like language, sex, or nudity in my books. Just a personal preference. An occasional exception is made when a book is so good and gets such rave reviews that I risk it and get sucked in so badly that I can over look it (like in a couple of those mentioned above) but those times are few and far between. Saga will probably be my next 'risk' due to the high praise it gets. My love of comics isn't so much the medium jor creators as much as the characters.

 

[JewishHobbit]

I just closed my file at the comic shop after having it for around 10 years or more. That was so unbelievably hard knowing that doing that will likely result in my not going in there again (or at least not for a very long time). God... I feel like I could cry.