Hiya
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The Pre-History of my Comic Collecting.
Here's a story that may sound familiar to some of you.
It occurred to me recently that I collected comic strips way before I ever discovered comic books. I must have been under 10 year old; so sometime around the late 70's.
When I was growing up we did not get the local paper (then called the Kitchener-Waterloo Record). Whenever I did come across a newspaper, I would clip the comic strip page. I didn't clip the individual strips, I left the page whole. I don't remember how many I had but I remember a number of them had turned quite yellow.
The best part of this memory is how I stored them. I don't remember when (1978 maybe) but I got the Star Wars Death Star for Christmas. I kept the box. It become a piece of decorative furniture that stood beside my bed. I kept the comic strips in that box.
I have fond memories now of opening that humungous box and reading the pages over and over again.
I can't remember when I got rid of the box and all the strips inside. Knowing myself; I probably was a little trepid about it.
Since that time, my only exposure to comics was borrowing Asterix, Tin Tin and Peanuts (by Charles M. Schulz) books from my local library; which I did repeatedly.
Later on in August 1984, I bought my very first comic book with the intention of collecting. It was G.I. Joe #26 from Marvel comics and written by the great Larry Hama. (I didn't have to look that up. I know it by heart.) It didn't dawn on at the time, but my little twelve year old brain was already primed to read comics years before.
PS: I still have the Death Star and Issue #26.
Have a great day.
.
Hi
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I used to collect comics back in the 80's and 90's. I don't want to sound like a codger but I remember when the cover price of a comic was 0.99 cents. I remember when comics were printed on newsprint. And I also remember the comic "spinner rack".
There was a lot of reasons I left comic books for the aughts (2000's), but I think that one of the main reasons a lot of people did the same was the death of the corner store spinner rack.
In the late 90's and all through the aughts, comic books became something that could only be purchased at specialty shops. That's not where I bought my first comic book. Frankly, that's not where I bought my last comic book either.
Comics books had fabulous market penetration with the corner store spinner rack. I would go there every day in the hopes that a new batch of comics would be there. Any kid at any time was at risk of suddenly discovering the incredible world of comics. Nowadays a kid needs to drive downtown and have generous financial backing to collect comics. Sad to say, but it seems that comic book collecting is now an adult activity.
I don't know if the spinner rack will ever make a return, but I think it would be good for comics if it did. In the meantime, there is a gleam of hope.
1) You can still find Archie comics at your corner store. They are usually sorely neglected on the hidden on the bottom shelf.
2) Chapters book store still seems to have spinner racks. Yahoo.
My sense of nostalgia really affects my opinion on all this.
If there was a petition to sign, I would.
Have a great day.
Hello
Please enjoy the next chapter of Metropolis
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Hi
Summertime has put me off my schedule. I apologize for those who have been patiently waiting for Chapter 33.
I hope you all had an enjoyable summer. I did. I hope the swing into September has you all energized and engaged... Yeah, me too.
Max has started at a new preschool. The "goodbyes" were a little rough that first week, but he settled in pretty quick when he saw that there cars to play with.
There is a gang of kids in his Monday preschool that break out into shrieking wails as soon as their Mommies leave them. Max just keeps on playing. He's a pretty relaxed kid. I don't know where he gets that from.
My Smackjeeves.com releases are now up to date with the releases here. So whether you read Metropolis here or at Smackjeeves or at my Metropolis site, you'll always be reading the latest.
To recap: I hope to get 2 chapters out per month. But because of the summer and Max's preschool, I may not get 2 out this September.
Here's 33. Enjoy.
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Have a great day
Hi.
I took August off, so I'm a little behind with this update. I had intended to work on the strip while I was away, but I decided to play with my son and his cousins instead. It was worth it.
We also got a new "big boy" bed for Max. He loves it. And to top it all off, we're potty training him. Fun!
However, I do still apologize for being late. So here it is....
Enjoy
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Download the F.Y.O.C. version here.
It occurred to me recently that I collected comic strips way before I ever discovered comic books. I must have been under 10 year old; so sometime around the late 70's. 
I have fond memories now of opening that humungous box and reading the pages over and over again.
