The Collected Editions Shelf Porn: Show me the goods!

[Dark_Leaguer52]

Lucky! You are just lucky.

When it comes to finding OOP hardcovers, yeah I guess. In life, it varies.

[Dark_Leaguer52]

Yeah, that's the main thing.

I have most of the original issues anyway, but I prefer having my comics in book form these days.

I'm right there with you. I prefer collected editions for rereading instead of having to pull out comics from plastic sleeves and repeating for the rest. It is much more convenient to take a book off of a shelf and get right into a story. And that's awesome. The series had some really great covers.

[Cold Water]

I'm right there with you. I prefer collected editions for rereading instead of having to pull out comics from plastic sleeves and repeating for the rest. It is much more convenient to take a book off of a shelf and get right into a story. And that's awesome. The series had some really great covers.

But the smell of the paper in those old(er) floppies! I want to bottle it and wear it.

[Spike-X]

But the smell of the paper in those old(er) floppies! I want to bottle it and wear it.

OMG yes old comic smell is the best.

Mmm, decaying newsprint...

[Cold Water]

OMG yes old comic smell is the best.

Mmm, decaying newsprint...

Something about it smells sooo damn good, though.

[Dark_Leaguer52]

Something about it smells sooo damn good, though.

Glad I'm not alone in liking the smell. My friend would look at me weird when I bought older comic issues and smelled the pages.

[Cold Water]

Glad I'm not alone in liking the smell. My friend would look at me weird when I bought older comic issues and smelled the pages.

I smell the pages of my books ALL THE TIME. I fan myself with the pages just so I can sniff in the paper smell.

At least I'm not sniffing gasoline, coke, or glue, right?

[Dark_Leaguer52]

I smell the pages of my books ALL THE TIME. I fan myself with the pages just so I can sniff in the paper smell.

At least I'm not sniffing gasoline, coke, or glue, right?

I do the same. Comics can be just as addicting. I also smell hardcovers and omnibuses when I remove the plastic. I'm weird.

[Cold Water]

I do the same. Comics can be just as addicting. I also smell hardcovers and omnibuses when I remove the plastic. I'm weird.

If you're weird, than I am as well because I do that as well.
We're some weirdos.

[banky]

Glad I'm not alone in liking the smell. My friend would look at me weird when I bought older comic issues and smelled the pages.

There are 2 very distinct & different smells when it comes to older (25+yo) newsprint comics. There are the acrid, strong vinegar, acetate smelling comics. A very negative smell, imo because it indicates the decaying process has advanced to the point where acids are starting to separate and break down the newsprint on the molecular level. Interestingly, the same smell applies to older kodak film prints (pre-Estar based). Then there's the warm, slightly cooked, pulpy, print smell which I love that indicates a properly neutral pH mixed newsprint batch. It's a smell I got used to whenever I bought old back issues as a kid in the 80s. I knew of an archivist who lamented the loss of this at his local library when everything was converted to digital files (even the microfiche!) and even the old newspapers were treated with a neutral stabilizing agent that basically nixed the smell forever. If you are sniffing your trades & hardcovers, I think you are mostly smelling ink and fixative.

I guess you can say I'm something of a paper smell connoisseur.

[Cold Water]

Look at you, Banky! Here to burst our old-paper-sniffin' bubble.
Damn.

[banky]

Look at you, Banky! Here to burst our old-paper-sniffin' bubble.
Damn.

haha, I hope I didn't break the TMI limit for your habits?! I think the comic collecting hobby has variable benefits to those who are paper-biased in a digital age.

[Dark_Leaguer52]

haha, I hope I didn't break the TMI limit for your habits?! I think the comic collecting hobby has variable benefits to those who are paper-biased in a digital age.

It was quite informative. I have older Hellblazer comics that had the back cover ad imprinted on the backing board which is the decaying process, I'm guessing. Those old Vertigo books tend to decay.

[Dark_Leaguer52]

If you're weird, than I am as well because I do that as well.
We're some weirdos.

It's okay. As long as we enjoy our books. It's all good.

[gearsofcrabs]

I do the same. Comics can be just as addicting. I also smell hardcovers and omnibuses when I remove the plastic. I'm weird.

Love the smell of new book.