Don’t get me wrong. I read a lot of comics every week. But as hard as it is to believe, sometimes comics just aren’t enough.
When I really, really enjoy a character, a series, an artist or even a writer, I’m glad I can buy the comics, but I need to show my support in more visible ways.
That’s where collectibles come in. And they also support the companies who make the comics we love each month as well! I have given and will continue to give DC a LOT of money that way so they can keep making more excellent Batman product!
There are several different categories of comics-related collectibles, and I particularly enjoy collectibles that spring from comics, especially ones I have adored for years or even just months.
ACTION FIGURES. Yes, some people still call them “toys,” but the point is that they make you imagine they are fighting the bad guys or saving the helpless. A lot of these figures are now available in local comics specialty shops, so you can just add them to your list of comics to pick up when you visit next. I have a Beware the Batman action figure just because I like the look of him.
STATUES. This is where the “hurting” happens. Statues or smaller versions called “maquettes” tend to cost a lot more than action figures. An action figure can go from $5.00 in general stores to $15.00 in comics stores to $50 online. Maquettes are next, costing from about $60 to about $100. Statues put the real hurting on your budget because they can go from about $125 to around $400 or more. Yikes!
My very favorite maquette is the Batman one from the Justice League animated series. It’s smooth, dynamic and is currently sitting on my computer desk watching me carefully. You can see a graphic of it on this very page! My very first statue was based on Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, and can also be seen here!
APPAREL/CLOTHING. Often this means T-shirts or baseball caps, but it can mean more expensive sports jackets or even costumes. I don’t tend to go for this, but once in a while, I see something I have to have.
MODELS. I’m the world’s worst modeler, so I truly admire the skilled model-makers among us. I get adhesive glue all over everything I try to assemble, so I avoid this area as much as I can. Every once in a while, though, something comes out that I must acquire.
GAMES. If I only had the time for more games, I’d play them. Online games, video games, board games. I enjoy them all! I have bought several of the Arkham series of video games, but not the latest one yet. We’ll see if that ends up being under my Christmas poinsettia this year. (Sorry, I inherited that from family, and it has sentimental significance to me, so no tree as long as it holds out!)
DVDs/Blu-Rays. It’s a natural for comics to get animated, so I collect copies of my favorite shows, including Batman: The Animated Series, Space Ghost, and others. One day I’ll have the time to sit down and watch them all!
OTHERS. Recently I picked up the Owl mask from the “Court of Owls” storyline in Batman. Sometimes collectibles even come with comics, like this one! I love it and hope that Mr. Snyder and Mr. Capullo still get a portion of what I spent on it! Great, great thing to own!
Again, these items also help the companies that produce them sell more comics and other items, so that’s a super reason to buy them. And they make me want to go back and read those wonderful comics I first fell in love with.
I hope each of you mentally put your collectibles in place of mine as you read this column. If you want to pick up any of these items, check out your neighborhood comics store! Keep supporting your favorite comics companies by buying those comics and collectibles. I will do the same, but right now, I’m going back to re-read Batman: The Dark Knight Returns!
About Author
