About
Back in 1976, my dad started taking me with him to my grandmother’s house for help doing yard work on Saturdays. My grandmother was a widower and counted on my dad for house repairs and lawn maintenance.
As a reward for helping, he took me to a nearby Book Exchange store and bought my first comic book. The Book Exchange became a Saturday tradition. Sometimes dad would allow me to get a couple of books. Avengers and Captain America were my favorites during those early years.
My collection grew weekly. My reading started expanding into the X-Men and What If?. Rarely did I ever venture into the DC Universe.
In later years, my collecting habits began to reflect my income as a full-time employed “adult.” Jimmy Buffett once said “You have to grow older, but you don’t have to grow up.” With more available cash, I slowly filled in the gaps to my collection. Older issues that I always wanted, but could not afford. I also started traveling to major conventions.
Heroes Con in Charlotte, NC clearly ranks as my favorite comic convention. Granted, I have not been to San Diego for Comic-Con or New York’s Comic Con. But I have been to Dragon Con and others.
I am still collecting today. My dad instilled in me a love of reading through comic books. He passed away suddenly in May of 2014. Each time I read a book today, I think of him.
As I fill each long box with a new paper treasure, I know he is smiling.