Which do you prefer, Single issues or trades/hardcovers

[Sentry2k2]

I was just wondering what everyone here prefers, single issues or trades. I used to be in that hardcore collector mentality where I wanted the single issues, but now as I have gotten older, I enjoy the collected more. Why?

1.) the stories are easier to follow. A six issue arc takes 6 months to read, and in that month long time span, I forget what I read a month ago. Yeah, so I might have to wait 6 months for the trade to come out from the initial first issue, but I'll have finished the story in the same time frame.

2.) take less space. I'm moving in with my girlfriend, hope to soon to be fiancee (dont tell her, its a suprise) and trades take much less space. without the ads in books, and the bags and boards per issue, a long box of a series is about 3X the space taker that 6 Marvel Essentials take up. I have the entire first series of Wolverine, issues #1-154. It takes up about 2/3 of a long box. While the trades (once the whole series is collected) would take up about 1/8 of along box.

3.) More travel friendly. I commute to work on the train, and carrying a TPB or HC is easier than a bunch of single issues in bags/boards

4.) easier to read. I'm not replacing Trades every 10-15 minutes like I would with a single issue.

 

[Texas]

I was just wondering what everyone here prefers, single issues or trades. I used to be in that hardcore collector mentality where I wanted the single issues, but now as I have gotten older, I enjoy the collected more. Why?

1.) the stories are easier to follow. A six issue arc takes 6 months to read, and in that month long time span, I forget what I read a month ago. Yeah, so I might have to wait 6 months for the trade to come out from the initial first issue, but I'll have finished the story in the same time frame.

2.) take less space. I'm moving in with my girlfriend, hope to soon to be fiancee (dont tell her, its a suprise) and trades take much less space. without the ads in books, and the bags and boards per issue, a long box of a series is about 3X the space taker that 6 Marvel Essentials take up. I have the entire first series of Wolverine, issues #1-154. It takes up about 2/3 of a long box. While the trades (once the whole series is collected) would take up about 1/8 of along box.

3.) More travel friendly. I commute to work on the train, and carrying a TPB or HC is easier than a bunch of single issues in bags/boards

4.) easier to read. I'm not replacing Trades every 10-15 minutes like I would with a single issue.

Originally, I collected Masterworks (still do), then it were trades of more current stuff and finally selected floppies t:. I prefer trades but will purchase floppies for Thor, Captain America and FF and buy the trades later.

 

[ZombieFood]

I'll subscribe/buy single issues anyday...unless it's a big event: i.e. Civil War, Secret Invasion, 52, WWH. The only thing I'll really buy out of the big events are the one-shots.

 

[Elijya]

Both, but trades more and more over the years. I buy singles for certain reasons, like when I don't want to wait 6 months or more to find out what happens, or when it's a series I really, really love and prefer to own the back issues of.

 

[CaptainCanada]

I like both; trades are great for a bunch of reasons, such as storage, but I really like the pace of a well-done monthly serial.

 

[DoomJester]

I'm somewhat impatient so I like reading the book as it comes out... I used to believe the issues would be worth something but... now... screw it, if it doesn't get bagged it doesn't-- right?!

But there is something about a good hardcover release that gets my blood pumping. I have repurchased a few books in hardcover form. They are definitely easier to store and carry, so I like that, but often I won't reread my comics, even though I buy the book saying, "yeah, I'll reread this!" In the end, I value having the issues as they come out a bit more than having the HC...

Though let me add I feel absolutely silly for not purchasing the New X-men omnibus, I love that series. I have the trades of it and I figure having it all in one book would be amazing!

 

[cerealkiller182]

Depends:

Mini series I'd rather get the TPB but with ongoing series I get the single issues

 

[J. J. Jameson]

TPBs. Everytime.

 

[Xofenroht]

Singles, unless there's a series I want to read that only exists in TPB's and that's for only if I'm trying to catch up or just sample it.

 

[Manic]

When I want to catch up on a comic, I go for the trades. Unfortunately, since trades are always one or two months behind single issues (ie. by the time a trade collecting issues #1-6 comes out, the monthlies are on #8), I end up stuck on trades.

Otherwise, if I can find a good spot to jump in, I'll buy the monthlies. As horrible as DC's OYL was, it provided me with the perfect opportunity to switch from trades to monthlies for Green Arrow and Birds of Prey.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

It all depends on the comic. For series like Invincible and Y, it's TPB all the way. Most of my collection is in single issues though. Just depends on how I think the story will read better

 

[Lex Luthor]

If it's an ongoing title, I try to get the single issues with those.

With mini series, it's about what and what, but lately I tend to go more for the TPB's.

 

[sandwraith]

Same here, I prefer ongoing singles but Events in trade. Its rather economic too.

 

[OcStat]

for a while i stopped reading comics, and the trades were the best way to get caught up. but after catching up on everything, im goin single issues. if i pick up a tpb its because im catching up with a certain title that i barely started (daredevil for instance, never read it before, started with decalogue due to the covers and bendis, getting the stuff before hand in TPB form) or the actual issues are proving to be a little pricey or hard to find.


i hate when i have an issue of a mini-series, and the rest of the issues are expensive. (x-men: deadly genesis) i dont want to have the TPB and then issue 6 of 6 just lying there.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Single issues. I buy trades strictly to catch up on things I missed while the issues were coming out, but if it's an ongoing, I'll just buy the trades until I'm current and then switch over to single issues. I reserve hardcovers for things I'm a really, really, really huge fan of, like Brubaker's Captain America run or the Sandman series; or if I missed the single issues and the hardcover is just more cost-effective, like the Planet Hulk hardcover was.

But if I'm aware of a series that's currently being released in single issues, I'll buy single issues if I can find a decent jumping-on point. "Waiting for the trade" doesn't exist in my comic reading vocabulary.

 

[ZombieFood]

It is really nice to be able to take TPB or HC comic collections on the road with you. I'm kind of obsessive when it comes to collecting singles. Once I pick up a title I stick with it; no matter how shoddy it gets. I'm buying the singles for collection and investment purposes.

ARG. There are so many things that can factor into the decision though! It's actually pretty hard for me to say I favor one over the other....because I buy them both!

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I buy issues because I consider them the way comics were meant to be read. Comics are periodicals on a monthly schedule and, in my opinion, should be read thus. If creators are "writing for the trade," they should just be writing graphic novels. I'd gladly follow American OGNs volume-to-volume, the same way manga fans follow manga.

 

[ZombieFood]

I buy issues because I consider them the way comics were meant to be read. Comics are periodicals on a monthly schedule and, in my opinion, should be read thus. If creators are "writing for the trade," they should just be writing graphic novels. I'd gladly follow American OGNs volume-to-volume, the same way manga fans follow manga.

Good point!

 

[Odin's Lapdog]

trades unless the single is too awesome to wait....

used to collect monthly reprints in the uk which printed 3 floppies together, very convinient, especially with crossovers. They also included some retro stories sometimes...

good ol astonishing spiderman, those were the days...

 

[Elijya]

Once I pick up a title I stick with it; no matter how shoddy it gets. I'm buying the singles for collection and investment purposes.

ZF, I gotta call you on this - collecting for "investment" is the most foolish thing there is. I would wager that every single comic reader who's been buying comics for the past 15 years would get less for selling their collection then they spent on buying everything over all those years. 99% of comics go down in value, not up. If you want to invest, go for the stock market and talk to a broker. The fat guy behind the counter in the Punisher T-Shirt living in his parents basement is not a good financial role model.

And buying an ongoing no matter how terrible it gets is an addiction. You're bending over and letting the comics companies ream you, and you're paying for it. That's like if CocaCola all of the sudden started adding onions, garlic, curry, dog food and burnt hair to their sodas and you said "Once I pick up a soft-drink, I stick with it, no matter how crappy it tastes!"

 

[arachnid-guy]

Boo yah. The only storyline ive collected in single issue, for Ultimate Spider-Man, is The Clone Saga.

Hm. I always collect USM in Trade form. It makes for a good collection. :]

 

[Egotastic]

I prefer single issues. I've read trades in B&N or whatever, but I've never purchased one. If I want to get caught up something, that's what eBay's for, in my opinion. I usually snag the single issues for cheaper than the trade, anyway.

 

[ZombieFood]

ZF, I gotta call you on this - collecting for "investment" is the most foolish thing there is. I would wager that every single comic reader who's been buying comics for the past 15 years would get less for selling their collection then they spent on buying everything over all those years. 99% of comics go down in value, not up. If you want to invest, go for the stock market and talk to a broker. The fat guy behind the counter in the Punisher T-Shirt living in his parents basement is not a good financial role model.

And buying an ongoing no matter how terrible it gets is an addiction. You're bending over and letting the comics companies ream you, and you're paying for it. That's like if CocaCola all of the sudden started adding onions, garlic, curry, dog food and burnt hair to their sodas and you said "Once I pick up a soft-drink, I stick with it, no matter how crappy it tastes!"

LOL!!! I do see where you are coming from and some of the logic in what you are saying, but don't misconstrue my meaning. I already admitted that I am obsessive when it comes to collecting. No big deal. We all have addictions that need to be pacified and we're all getting "reamed" whether you admit it or not. (Do you purchase gasoline? Do you realize Gas prices are up, depending on where you live, an average of $1.30?)

I'm a long-term investor. My comic collection may be worth less than what I paid for it, but when my children are all grown up they'll probably be worth a little somthing. Regardless...I'm investing in my imagination and the imaginations of my children. They are going to grow up with the stories that I enjoy now. Investing isn't only about money.

 

[venom62]

I think i'd read most anything in trade if it wasn't an issue of timing. I'd rather have 6 issues entertain me with one story flow. For me it's like buying a book a couple of chapters at a time if you buy in issue form.

Now most comics are made in arcs.

That being said, I also hate knowing the story i want to read is out there complete and I have to wait a couple of months to buy it. So I do buy single issues in some cases.

 

[Dread]

My head says trades; cheaper, compact, no ads. But the heart is impatient, so I keep getting the single issues.

Of course, the entire industry relies on impatient fans, and part of me wonders if a day will come when the majority begins to "wait for the trade". I think that already is happening on many books below the Top 40 or so, which can explain how sales for many of the B and C level books dive so quickly.