As of this week I will no longer be buying new comic books
on a regular weekly basis.
What?
Yep, it’s true. Now before
you jump to any conclusions, let me explain. I’ll continue to buy an issue now and then and
write reviews.
As much as I love comic books I made the difficult decision
to stop regularly buying new comic books for several reasons.
Reason one: comic
books are getting too expensive. I’m
getting ready to retire and to be honest I can’t afford to pay anywhere from $3
to $5 a piece for comic books.
Reason two: I started reading comic books to escape everyday
life and reality. Comic books have
become too realistically violent. Couple
that with the foul language,
brow-beating about social issues and slanted political
views and I find myself depressed after reading many titles. Not all comic books are like this, but the majority
is.
Reason three: I prefer reading Pre-Modern Age books,
primarily Silver and Bronze Ages. These
were the comic books I grew up with and call me an 'old fuddy duddy’ but I
still think these Ages offer the best stories, art and reads.
Reason four: Modern comic books offer very little story per
issue. Instead comic book companies plan
huge ‘events’ that crossover to so many titles that trying to keep track of
what is going on is both confusing and expensive.
Reason five: I’m
downsizing and selling off most of my collection. Imagine 23 years of accumulated pop culture
material: toys, books, comic books, etc. cluttering up my house. It’s time to ‘clean house’.
While I still respect the artists, writers and producers of
comic books I can’t help but feel out of touch.
The majority of comic books being produced are not for children or new
readers. They are produced for the
veteran comic book reader and have ‘matured’ to keep that audience.
Enough violence, sexual innuendo, cursing and dark,
depressing stories, give me good old DC, Marvel or other Silver Age or Bronze
Age comic books to read for at least a
few minutes of fun and escapism.
As comic books continue to shrink, prices rise and the slow
transition to digital format dominates the hobby I’ll still have fond memories
of reading comic books when it was fun.