So there I was this past weekend stuck at a BBQ with a bunch of the wife's old friends so I didnt know anybody thinking my God could this suck any worse when suddenly I see one guy had over a stack of Iron Man comics to our co-host. OK my eyes light up! Now I can have a comic conversation with those dudes! So this guy tells me about this new thing he found. There's this company in Texas that will bind your comics (up to 2 inches ) for $15 bucks. You can add things like a book mark or real leather cover and even some actual logos! Very interesting. There are also forums of collectors who are into it. They show off their books, Discuss mapping (a flow of comics like in which order to read final crisis) and how to make covers and a table of contents.

I have not been able to get this out of my mind. I've been going through possible collections in my head. See that is what is so cool is that you can customize to your tastes and or reading style. Some are completists and some like to just have and or mix specific runs.



The only down side is that your collection actaully gets cut and if you are into the value then this might not be for you. Which I also understand. I have the complete Jack Kirby run on Kamandi and I'm not sure if I could have it cut (they trim a small fraction of the comic before they are bound.) Also you can send them off as is with all the ads and letter columns or you can take them out.



So ever since Saturday I've been going through my long boxes thinking of two series that I would like to start with as a test.

Atari Force (1-20, Special complete run - 21 issues)
Byrne Superman (Man of steel 1-6, Superman 1-17, Action Comics 591 - 23 issues)
Captain America and the Falcon (1-14 complete run - 14 issues)
Waid/Kubert Ka-Zar (1-14, 14 issues)

Here are some links
http://www.librarybinding.com/comic-books.php
http://www.dpbanks.com/
http://tiny.cc/oyj3U

Wow, that's really cool. I think that's something I'd enjoy. You can bind your favorite stories and then display them on your bookshelves and they look like classic literature. I'm not sure I would pay to have this done right now, but I could see doing something like that in the future.

OK I finally got my books back.

No it really didn't take that long - it took me awhile to decide what to send so anyways here's what I had bound.

Jack Kirby's New Gods (1984) - a baxter reprint with a new intended ending by the king (6 issues)

Captain America & The Falcon (2004) the short lived series (14 issues)

Star Trek:Star Fleet Academy complete run 19 issues plus DSS, ST Unlimited and the Telepathy War 1 shot

Deathstroke the Terminator 1-21 & Superman 68











Gutter loss is really minimal, also a side effect of the binding process is that it takes a book that is graded "good" and almost makes it look minty. See by trimming off the edges and the spine it eliminates most of the wear. And the pressing process takes out wrinkles.

Really everyone book seems so crispy I want to re-read them all.

can't wait to send out more.

That looks really nice! I love the text on the spines, expecially the Star Trek book. I didn't realize the process would restore the books as well. I don't know if I would ever do this myself(mostly because of cost)but they look beautifull.

cost is a factor but for example all of the books except star trek cost $15. Trek cost $20 b/c I had them put the logo on for an extra nice touch. You pay for them to ship you back ($16) so it can add up. I will stick to 2-3 books per shipment as the price for shipping is about the same for 1-3 books. Also there is no minimum order. Sorry don't mean to sound like a pitch man I just think this is a better way to store/read your books. So this works for me as I collect for joy not profit.

No, you didn't sound like a pitch man. You found something cool and shared with us. Like I said, I could see doing that at some point with some books that were special to me, but I just don't have the funds to do it now. I only collect for fun too now.

Yeah, I've heard a lot about Library Binding from several podcasts, and it really seems like a good thing to have done. Eventually I'll have The Sinestro Corps War bound, and would like to do it with Peter David's Incredible Hulk run, if I ever get around to hunting down the issues I still don't have. Probably would take 2 or 3 volumes. Also thinking about having the Infinity Gauntlet stuff bound, as well, starting with the rebirth of Thanos in Silver Surfer #34, going to The Thanos Quest #1-2, some SS issues from right before Infinity Gauntlet, and the 6 issues of IG of course. Not sure if I'd include Infinity War, and I couldn't read past the first issue of Infinity Crusade.

The Sinestro Corps and Blackest Night would be really cool ideas.
Also Planet Hulk and Brubaker's run on Captain America.

Those would be nice to have bound.

Be careful guys that's how I got started!

LOL!

Seriously sometimes I go nuts going through my boxes psychically and mentally!