Today, I’ll discuss comics in various formats: floppy comics, trade paperbacks, hardcover collections, and graphic novels. My fascination with comics began in childhood. I can’t recall the first comic I read, but I remember receiving plastic figures (non-articulated, with a silvery hue) of Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Hulk, and Captain America at age five. I cherished them until at least age ten, but their fate is a mystery. It was around that time that I delved into reading comics like Spider-Man, Avengers, Hulk, X-Men, and Iron Man.

The X-Men series, penned by Chris Claremont with pencils by John Byrne and inks by Terry Austin, represented a golden era. It was a mature, no-nonsense title. The Phoenix’s debut coincided with the end of Dave Cockrum’s tenure as penciler. Byrne’s strong start solidified his status as the X-Men’s premier artist. Claremont’s narratives, such as the Savage Land, Alpha Flight, the Hellfire Club, and The Dark Phoenix Saga, were groundbreaking. The conclusion of the Dark Phoenix Saga marked Claremont and Byrne’s pinnacle of creative success, becoming one of the most revered and influential X-Men stories ever. The ending, altered under the guidance of former Marvel Editor-In-Chief Jim Shooter, saw Jean Grey sacrificing herself for the universe, a pivotal moment in comic book history.

I owned the complete collection from these creators, and it was magnificent.

Another title dear to me was Iron Man, helmed by writer David Micheline and artist Bob Layton beginning with issue #116 (November 1978). They crafted the iconic “Demon in a Bottle” storyline and introduced key characters like Stark’s bodyguard girlfriend Bethany Cabe and his personal pilot and confidant James Rhodes, who would later become the super hero War Machine; and rival industrialist Justin Hammer, who was reveled to be the employer of numerous high-tech armed enemies Iron Man fought over the years. The duo introduced concept of Stark’s specialized armors. The two collaborated on the title until #154 and then returned for a second run from #215. Bob Layton introduced new Iron Man designs that were in my eyes, incredible.

Spider-Man was a title I greatly enjoyed. Without delving into too many details, I had most of his series, including the Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, and Marvel Team-Up—all fantastic titles. Thor, illustrated by Walt Simonson, was another exceptional title that introduced Beta Ray Bill to the universe. The Avengers had a brief yet intense battle with Count Nefaria, a villain created by Stan Lee and Don Heck, who lived up to his nefarious name. The comic in question is Avengers #166, once again illustrated by John Byrne. Other notable titles included “Iron Fist,” Marvel Two-in-One, ROM, Micronauts, and Shogun Warriors—all of which were excellent.

Since then, my relationship with comics has been intermittent. I’ve lost boxes of comics during moves, given them away, and sold them—decisions I regret today. These actions were taken only for me to later realize the value of the collections I’d lost. Now, I’ve amassed a collection of comics, trade paperbacks, hardcovers, and graphic novels, which I will never part with; they are treasures to me.

That all folks!!