SINGLES or COLLECTED EDITIONS: What do you prefer, and why?

It may be a golden age for collected editions (or Silver Age to hear Omar tell it), but what about those of us who still like going to the comic shop for comic books? Where do you stand?
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Near Mint Condition is Rob Fox, Dan Hancock, Madelyn Miles, Andrew Ortwein, Tina Plunkett, and Omar Valdivieso.

[@paultimler474]

I prefer the look and feel of TPBs lined up on the shelf for frequent reading. I save omnibus purchases for classic runs that are near and dear to my heart. I’ve tried to give up on singles many times but keep coming back for the consistency of that monthly ongoing story as well as keeping my collection consistent. If I end up double dipping sometimes I will donate the singles to friends or give out to trick or treaters on Halloween. Everyone wins!

[@cheps5783]

What a great idea! I never thought of donating my old singles to Trick O’ Treaters! Have decided to convert to trades for the convenience factor. What an amazing idea to get the next generation into comics!

[@Tommytwoforty]

Collected editions you save money in the long run I like hardcovers I’m bad at staying on top of all the new ones coming out I like being able to buy one book and read one story although I love collecting single issues for covers

[@NearMintCondition]

Same here! I collect certain single issues for the variant covers and then I hang them up in the comic room. - M

[@martianpilgrim]

Singles are great to stay current. There is no replicating the joy and excitement of coming to your LCS every week to get your pulls. Collected editions are great for re-reading well-loved stories. I collect both.

[@TheSecondAdam]

I'm excited waiting for tpb releases.

[@Kewlbob]

Omar’s beard sure grew back fast. 😆 I’m into collected editions. Especially oversized. It is cheaper in the long run, and you don’t have to wait for the next issue to come out.

[@NearMintCondition]

Agreed! - M

[@TheSecondAdam]

Wasn't he clean shaven last week? I suspect it's some kind of a Mutant ability.

[@Kewlbob]

Yes he was. You may be on to something about a mutant ability.

[@Parasyte316]

I like trades or hardcovers. I actually dislike omnibus because they are super heavy and I like reading in my bed.

[@colin6612]

Singles are fun but I prefer to just have all the issues or a large chunk to read at once. I read the physical collected editions because I enjoy the art not on a screen, the physicality of breaking away from a computer, versatility of reading around the different stories, and author commentary. I like going to my local comic book stores but I've noticed my local comic stores have been behind in availability compared to the online stores. Or maybe I'm just picky about what material I want to read and lurk the e-retailer's? Nice vid.

[@Syntherus]

I started reading manga and then got one of those hardcover graphic novels that comes with the dvd and bluray at walmart for $20. From there I kinda stepped away from manga for a while and have been buying trades and omnibu (that was for you, Omar) and have amassed 3 shelves worth in a little less than 4 years. They're far cheaper than singles and make my budget as a college student a million times easier. It's actually kind of interesting looking back. I was obsessed with the 90's and early 2000's cartoons as a kid (mostly Batman). As I discovered video games and anime I kind of stepped away from comic book characters for a few years. Then as I reached maturity, I rediscovered the wonder of comic book characters and saw in them what I did as a kid. After that first book I started doing research on the Ages of comics as well as the different formats and timelines. I started collecting soon after and I'm still at it today. My focus bounces around: games, movies, tv shows, manga (not as much but I'll come back to it eventually), comics. It's become a permanent cornerstone of my identity now.

[@vincentflannigan2727]

Where did you buy most your omnibu from before you had a lcs?

[@justmason7672]

I prefer collected editions. For me comics should be read first and collected second. There were so many stories that I could never read growing up as I couldn't afford the comic. or couldn't read a complete story run as I was missing a single issue. So collected editions fill that need. Like Omar said it's nice being able to look at your collection and just pick a book off a shelf rather than pull out a bunch of singles from a box. However I still do buy floppies each week. I do it to support my local comic store, get the latest story, & support the publishers. I'm now getting into the habit of selling the singles once they are collected into a hardcover volume.

[@JulianRodriguez-sn6nr]

For me Trades is the easiest way to go. Don't mind single issues but it becomes a pain after a while, obviously I have other responsibilities so I just turned to trade paperbacks and haven't turned back since. Gotta say collecting trades is so much easier and financially more convenient personally.

[@01factor]

I love the collected editions. I really do not purchase single anymore unless it is for something special. I must say that I really liked this discussion and in the format it was presented. The opinions and point of views about comic books was awesome. I liked that everyone was present at the same table and presented their point articulately. Great job to your team.

[@jofox1186]

I really enjoyed this discussion video guys - awesome. Having been stuck at home for a year due to lockdown listening to you was like being back in a comic book shop! This is a super format for comic discussions - I totally love it.

[@OrisueCrew]

This is such a great topic. I was just looking for videos on this topic last week! I didn't find much but I'm glad you guys covered this. I think we all go back and forth on this.

[@gevisu]

I read collected editions as they’re cheaper and easier to order to Norway where I live. Nice video and discussion 👍

[@walterwhite8649]

I also live in Norway, do You buy it on Outland or somewhere else. In my personal opinion I buy it on Outland

[@peterx1957]

Collected editions brought me back into comics. Now I have amassed a library of sorts. Omar's Comic videos have helped me find what I need and discover things I didnt know I needed.. 😊

[@Hellismary]

I buy singles as they release and sell em once I get the collected editions , I absolutely love the epic collections and when DC reprint their back catalog , that silver age of comics is golden

[@NearMintCondition]

That's a great way to do it! Glad you're able to support singles at the same time! - M

[@yonan3232]

Me too, and with Marvel you get to keep the digital versions from the codes where trades/HC don’t give you those ;)

[@mastermix9619]

What are some decent sites to sell singles? I have only tried Amazon which seemed a little complicated. I've also done buy backs, but they go by the quantity of singles

[@frasert8779]

Man I’m so happy this video was done, I was just asking Omar if he still got singles. I started getting singles about a year ago and got way carried away, my reasoning was that I really just wanted omnibuses, didn’t want to wait, and I could sell the issues as a set for ore than reselling a used TPB. Now I’ve cut back significantly on the titles I get in issues monthly (to about 15-20), and I’ve decided I don NEED to get everything in omnibus and that I can still sell used TPB if necessary even if I lose some money, I still got to read it! Thanks guys!

[@NearMintCondition]

Smart move! And I do recommend going to the library too if you're more focused on reading something than owning it! That's helped me a lot lately. - M

[@frasert8779]

Near Mint Condition oh yeah I never thought of that!

[@jabezcreed]

I prefer reading and buying issues for current stories. If I don't like a series, I can cut and run. Also it's the native form for the story, so I get the art and story the way they're meant to be experienced. Double page spreads look beautiful instead of squished in a collected edition's binding gutter. And when I'm done with an issue, I can keep it, try to sell it, or donate it to someone else. I can absolutely see omnibus and Epic collections serving the back issue reader/completionist collector though. You are getting in many cases rare, expensive old issues bound in the most beautiful, cheap package for today's buyer. But I could never stop reading Batman and just wait 12 months for a dinky trade paperback or years hoping for an omnibus of something that is relatively "current."

[@tgif1345]

I like both single issues and collected editions. I grew up in the '90s when collected editions were just starting to be a thing outside of the special ones like Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns. So I like picking up single issues from the '80s and '90s that I might've missed for series I like, or if I want to try a new current series or run, but I prefer collected editions for big event arcs, or to have the issues that might be out of my price range if I tried to get a copy of the singular issue.

[@NearMintCondition]

Yeah, I have a bunch of singles from the 90s that I've been collecting because they never got collected in trade. Hoping to bind them eventually so I can still get that collected feel! - M

[@tgif1345]

@@NearMintCondition My single issues collection is mostly issues that were bought for me to read while I was in the hospital.

[@shaanwayne815]

0:39 I want someone to look at me the way Omar looks at Dan

[@sevenunimag]

Great vid guys!! i love this type of videos

[@nikomiller]

Floppies are no option here in Norway. Importing fees + having to pay 25% tax on imported magazines (not books luckily) makes it waaaay too expensive, and it usually gets damaged during the shipping anyway. Collected is the only way to go, as there are also some few local stores which sell them and it's cheaper and easier to get online. If I need to follow a series issue to issue, then I go for Comixology.

[@jordanthomas4379]

Did rob just turn into the genie? 🧞‍♂️

[@NearMintCondition]

He did, reprising a role from our 2019 episode about finding time for your hobbies! -A

[@taylorstrickland5325]

No. That was Will Smith.

[@apacheco7030]

epics and collected editions are a better and cheaper way to go. (costing you between 45$ - 52$) here in canada and the price is going up here again! now costing around 60$ with tax. if you don't want to collect omni's that can cost up to 150$ here in canada and take up alot of shelf space then collected and epic's are the way to go! support the epic and collected lines! and the only way to get any deals here in canada is to order through amazon and then you may only get 20% off at most.

[@_The_Worst_]

I like single issues because I honestly feel like you get more of a choice on art...like, the variant covers are awesome, and each month it gives you something to look forward to with the selection of cover art and whatnot...🤘🏼💯✔️

[@OneRandomVictory]

Omnibus format for me is best when there is a long continuous storyline or series run. TPB are best for individual stories that you prefer.

[@AkhmadWildanHidayatullah]

Agree👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@NemisisRecords]

Needed this lol, great video

[@NearMintCondition]

Thanks so much! -M

[@TheSecondAdam]

Only collected editions. I can wait and buy up the tpbs. I get excitement for tpb solicitations/release dates. I have tons of old content to read anyway and other hobbies, like anime, to pass the time.

[@alpertroncp2198]

I'm 21 and I buy single issues/floppies every week. I buy collected versions of older series and stories I've missed. But I am a rarity at my LCS.

[@JohnDeFoor]

Love the intro my dudes

[@jpeerson24]

Awesome discussion about the topic, I just go straight for the omnibus or most deluxe format possible. If there is an issue in the collected edition that I really like or has an amazing moment in it or a great cover I look into getting the floppy to display in comic cases that I can easily rotate out. In the long run the collected edition are way cheaper, easier to store/display/read, and you have the whole story all at once. however for the less popular run floppy copies are still necessary, I just bought the nine issue run of pirates of dark water and the old gladstone and disney duck tales runs from the 90s.

[@staticprevails]

A few years ago when I got back into comics, I jumped into omnis and collected editions. After a while I grew restless waiting for those collections to come out;i wanted to be a part of conversations for on-going series so eventually I started buying floppies. Like going into a record store or indie bookstore, the experience of going into a comic shop and conversing with the crowd there adds to the enjoyment. I buy both single issues and collected editions. If it's a monthly series I'm really enjoying, I don't mind double dipping for the collected edition especially if it's released in a nicely bound oversized hardcover. Also helps that my job at a bookshop allows me to get those editions for wholesale price.

[@curtisc2581]

Have this conversation again this summer, so many good monthlys and not even from DC or Marvel.

[@Chandasouk]

I'm a TPB bandit!

[@NearMintCondition]

Sounds like a great t-shirt idea.... - M

[@Chandasouk]

@@NearMintCondition ahem, I accept all forms of payment lol

[@serviettedetable]

I’ve decided to switch to collected a few weeks ago. Glad I’ve found that channel to maintained my FOMO :)

[@NearMintCondition]

Smart move! - M

[@Eyrrll]

For decades, I only bought collected editions if it happened to be a favorite story of mine (which I almost always owned in floppy form). Once in a while I would get one if it reprinted books that were out of my price range in back issue form. About 10 years ago, I started picking up a lot of trades at Half-Price Books... which were often actually less than half price. As a result, I am (slowly) moving in the direction of more collected editions. At this point, my monthly comic budget is split about 50/50 between the formats. This is due largely to the number of Epic Collections and Valiant Deluxe Editions that I get (nearly all of them).

[@NearMintCondition]

I am so thankful for Half-Price Books! Has saved me so much money. - M

[@ryguy2482]

Mostly convenience. I got back into reading comics because of collected editions. Now I’m bout to head to a lcs that opened 1 mile down the road!!

[@NearMintCondition]

Oooh!! I hope it's a great trip! -M

[@TheSecondAdam]

I can't bring myself to leave an lcs without buying something. Only then will I buy a #1 single issue to a run I totally intend on buying the tpb.

[@thisjustincomics]

Both. I ain’t waiting for Absolute Carnage to be collected. Also collected editions for older books

[@NearMintCondition]

Nothing wrong with that! - M

[@lionheart4012]

I thoroughly enjoyed this topic. I buy both singles and OHC'S/ Omnies. When you think about both, the value is in the single issues. For example I wouldn't read my single issue of Incredible Hulk # 181, which I do own. However I would read in OHC or an omnibus, while the single issue will sit and continue to gain value. One of the things that I love about single issues is the thrill of the hunt for the specific single key issue. Dope video from the crew of Near Mint Condition.

[@bassgod47]

I'm a tpb guy at heart. Always have been. I have so many series I'm interested in and so many more that I need to complete that I'm never concerned in the month-to-month releases. When the time is right for me, and I can get a whole arc for a decent price, I'll bite. That said, if I find a well-priced used hardcover or omni on kijiji I'll fall for it. Case in point; I recently found both of Fraction's Hawkeye run in OSHC at value village. Sold the first two trades I already owned and I was up 5$. In the end, so long as I am getting all my favorite stories I'm not to concerned if all the books are in the same format.

[@TheSecondAdam]

I'm also a tpb man. I can wait because I have tons of back reading and other hobbies.

[@bassgod47]

@@TheSecondAdam Absolutely. It seems I'm always behind on something and never have enough extra cash each month.

[@stevoelmo]

I'm all about collected. I adore reading the story in one continuous flow, being able to read comics the same way I read a novel is fantastic! Floppies can't be displayed on a shelf, they end up in boxes for me. Absolute Sandman (the perfect collected edition?), Berserk Deluxe, Akira 35 & the increasing quality of Marvel Omnibuses are a great example of how fantastic these epic tomes look! PS - The paper and print quality, colour and page size is (nearly) always superior in these omnibuses to the floppies and TPB's.

[@jrox1904]

This is a good topic for me the fact that the collected edition have every thing in n chronological order including tie ins & mini series i may not be aware of was a big selling point

[@the_gengar_master]

Fantastic discussions! I just started collecting comics in the tail end of 2020, so for me i mostly collect floppies as I am a physical collector at heart.. But these days I really do see the appeal of hardbacks. I own a couple now and they are very nice quality and almost makes you wanna share it with others as singles is much harder to do. Plus its nice to have the whole story there.. But single issues and having that to look forward to personally every Wednesday keeps me interested and continuing to enjoy this hobby. I feel id probably lose interest if I only bought hardbacks every 3+ months.

[@Mattkeyz1]

Some books I've collected for years and haven't stopped. Like Green Lantern and it's adjacent books. That was one of the first books that really brought me into comics, The Johns run, and no matter the creative team, I've stuck with it. I collect singles of creative owned books from writers or artist I like. But now I'm mostly getting TPB, OHC, DLX Edt, and if I can save up for it, an omni for most books. Like Immortal Hulk is one I'm reading Via Trade.

[@NearMintCondition]

Great choice on Immortal Hulk! - M

[@thedarklord1964]

Collected editions is better to read and you can buy older material that is super expensive and cheaper. But I like collecting older issues.

[@Nocturne22]

Yo, was that opening just a an excuse for Rob to take off his shirt again???

[@NearMintCondition]

Guilty -A

[@p0ns878]

I'm from Spain, I buy the comic when it comes out in English and I read it and when it arrives in Spain 1 year later in TPB format I buy it because I love to have a nice shelf. This way it doesn't feel like a double expense to buy it in two formats, since it's been more than a year I like to reread it in my own language.

[@smerdp]

Go do those surveys the results would be an interesting conversation, wicked video team help thought-out & enjoyable

[@allstarcomics.]

I love OHC Deluxe Editions. If I already have the single issues and the history is amazing, sometimes I upgrade, if I never read the history but is good rated, and if is a masterpiece that I don't have, it's a perfect format to get.

[@oliverleeburris9861]

I love floppies. The ads are just a great time capsule of whatever year the book stems from. I hate waiting for the collected editions but a good story deserves a spot on the shelf in the library so I end up picking up the stuff I like in collected editions. So double buying is pretty much inevitable.

[@fredandmikethedogs7992]

both and just because

[@nathanpiper1346]

40 and just gone down the rabbit hole of comics, getting floppies at the moment but looking into 3 collections as cant get the floppies

[@trigganosis81]

19:02 Lawyer Dan and Floppy Dan are the best!!!!!

[@VarangianVigilante]

easy and expensive solution. I get both xD ...

[@NearMintCondition]

Your poor wallet XD - M

[@Novaargh]

Dude was holding house of X and Powers of X issues, brother gives him Atlantis Attacks omni.. when Omar probably owns the OHC of House/Powers xD I only read what i like, and that's through single issues and the hardcovers.. i just double dip, some timestripple dip.. (Singles/ hardcover/Omnies) Edit: I refuse to read digital and trades... Only exception is Supergirl, i read singles and as collected i NEED to get the trade because DC refuses to give my girl the OHC treatment, while i feel this latest run deserved atleast a nice hardcover to go next to that superman and Action comics run.

[@tasan215]

Collected all the way!! Preferably Omnibus format, because its like getting a whole season (think of Netflix Daredevil) vs Singles (think of CW Arrowverse).

[@NearMintCondition]

Definitely makes them more "binge-able!" -M

[@ericriggsbee]

Great intro!

[@NearMintCondition]

Thanks! -M

[@glennbramd7213]

Love the Chrono Trigger music in the background!

[@victorandrade5331]

I love comics! I'm new to them. They were right in front of my face the whole time. I am where I'm supposed to be, just happy I've gotten in

[@NearMintCondition]

Happy to have you here.

[@suavecollects49]

Luckily I have the salary that lets me collect both singles and hardcovers. I get to support the comic titles I enjoy while also enjoying them in oversized format later down the line. Luckily I never collected the old xmen comics back in the day. So I buy those omnibuses and buy the current Dawn of X storyline in singles.

[@ulicesvilla6995]

Bro what do you do? Lol

[@filippopelicani3366]

@@ulicesvilla6995 like, I want your job man!

[@Popesize]

I buy them both! When it comes to the swedish comics i buy the floppies, since the access is easier to them (and collected editions is not really a thing here) When it comes to american comics i mostly buy paperbacks and collected editions, for a number of reasons. *I don't have a comic book store in my town, so to buy comics is usually a project i need to plan. I can't sneak in after work. *Since i can't visit a store regularly, i am depending a bit on reviewers to see what's out, and when they review it, it is not unusual for the comic to already be some issues in (and sometimes even more), in to the story. And at that point, it's easier to just wait for the paperback. And not to mention the amazing backlog you have, without searching like an idiot. *Paperbacks are also easier to show off and brag about online, than a stack of longboxes. (and usually it is a bit cheaper too, i cannot deny that) Keep up the good work with the channel!

[@markorollo.]

I prefer collected, I just can't be bothered week in week out buying single issues that don't take that long to read. I'm the same with TV Series, I have enough patience that I can usually wait until the series is done and then buy the complete boxset. Although I do have a lot of single series too. And collected editions, specially hardbacks, just look better to me. They feel like you're buying more somehow. I'm also looking at getting into digital as I can only dream of the shelf space you have there lol

[@zack4407]

Another great intro

[@NearMintCondition]

Thanks so much! - M

[@worms976]

It depends... collected editions are useful, but only works with DC and Marvel, because if we took Image , the last issue included in collected Edition is number 125, and the on going series goes in number 305. Single issues are a classic

[@darrellmetcalfe3615]

I got out of floppies , and only buy tpb if there is no omnibus.i would never pay for digital anything.

[@frankscomiccastle4928]

Never collected floppys only have 10-15 and over a 1000 HC/TPB/Omni. The floppys i do have are personal books and stuff That is not yet collected.

[@NearMintCondition]

That is a ton of books! I bet you have an awesome bookshelf! - M

[@coyley72]

Collected all the way. I used to collect 2000AD from, like 1979 through to the early 2000s, and the collections is simply too big, cumbersome and a pain to read. Lives in the loft now. Having an entire collected story in one volume is so much better. Stores, and looks better, on bookshelves. Easier to read too.

[@tylerscott6640]

Buying singles is the best way to support the books and the industry. Omnis are the best way to read them. So get both if you can. You can always sell the singles to recoup some of the cost.

[@georgegolston5417]

Prior to the current trades . I grew up with the Fireside Marvel editions and DC's 30's to the 70's hardcovers.

[@ivancruz5735]

I am a comic fiend I go for every format

[@apjferreira1]

We don't have single issues here in Portugal so that isn't really an option! Even the pleasure of going to the store isn't the same because the comics section is extremely small... So for me the choice would be between trades and hardcover editions. I would rather wait for that shiny collectors edition with that fancy paper and lots of extras. Of course that has a price.

[@blacksky379]

For me, single issues are sufficient IF I'm able to follow and keep up with the releases. When it comes to runs or arcs, let's say 5, 6 years old I'd buy the tpb or hc. For pratical matters.

[@Lastsonkal]

Growing up I was always singles, but like Omar said. There wasn't any collected trades or hardcovers to get. Sure the storytelling method was "tune in next month for the next exciting issue." Once that turned into 6 month long story arcs. It lost me. I would have to go back re-read past issues in case I forgot plot elements. Then I started saving singles to read chunks at a time. When collections started coming out. I would buy a single and decide if I wanted to get the trade later. Now I'm all about collected editions. I do buy certain singles, like Klaus and Hellboy winter specials and some trades, but get them digitally most of the time. I think singles and tpbs take up lots of room, or they can when they amass space. I know a collected hardcover of single issues looks great on a book shelf and takes up less room over all. I don't worry about a book being canceled because I didn't buy the singles. The publisher has committed to the 6 initial issues. The fact we have all these different ways to collect now. Surprises me publishers still look at the immediate single issues and store sales to determine the success of a book.

[@Mcleody9]

I collect only Collected Editions because its a complete story/product and is easier stored/displayed on a shelf than singles. I only gor for HC where possible - man waiting for Batman HC is painful, they dont come out til a year after their inital release. Makes me miss New 52 era HC printing.

[@the_flushjackson]

For the weekly release of TV show content, there has been only one show I've bothered to watch each week vs. waiting for the entire season to be released. This is the analog of single issues vs. the trade paperback, etc. Give me big chunks.

[@rs2993]

Before I used to just buy trade paperbacks because it was cheaper and have the complete collection. Nothing feels better than getting new comic books every Wednesday and having a shared experience with fellow X-men fans. I usually just get a digital copy and if the art and story are really dope I eventually get a trade that comes out later on.

[@Penguin_Tree]

ayyy i never see cortex shirts in the wild lol

[@GlennGerard]

Hi Omar, thanks again for all the content! Do you know why in collected editions, the cornerbox art (present on the single issues) is often blacked out? Thanks and keep up the amazing work!!!

[@NearMintCondition]

Sometimes the scans are those with barcodes. And sometimes its Rom in that corner box. :)

[@ZOMBIELUIS666]

The wait is a killer xP we need the Immortal Hulk HC Vol.2

[@bradparsons6419]

I am 43 and brand new to comic book collecting and reading. I am buying the omnibus books, and I buy the single issue comics the omnibus is great because it already has the whole story in it and I don't have to buy 50 issues of a comic. However, while I'm reading all the omnibus to get caught up on the story lines, I can go to my comic book shop and have all these single issues ready for me when I finish an omnibus.

[@gabrieles4564]

Did I understand right when Omar said 10 bucks was an acceptable price for a tankōbon? Wow.

[@e8efs69se]

Ikr, I import from Japan and not only is it still cheaper shipped... For the most part it has better paper quality with popular titles having variant art dust jackets....

[@scottyg68]

Maddie is Beautiful…’Nuff Said.

[@AmsterdamComicGeek]

I prefer trades and epic collections... But I've been waiting on certain Spider-Man stories to be collected in Epics... So it takes a bit of patience sometimes. What I like about single issues are reading the letterpages and such... But collecting trades is so much easier and I like the reading exeperience better.

[@NearMintCondition]

You could always custom bind those singles so you have the letter pages too! - M

[@AmsterdamComicGeek]

@@NearMintCondition True! But in that case, I think I might buy an epic collection after reading the single issues. Just so you have a copy without advertisements breaking up the story.

[@mickeymikkelson5337]

I buy collected editions all on my Kindle and I the Marvel GIT DVD Rom collections as well but I am thinking of starting to collect Trades and Omnibuses and staying away from the purchasing original books based on cost. Yes, I know they are more valuable but I just don't have thousands of dollars to buy original books

[@ignskeletons]

For the sake of not cluttering my entire house with longboxes of comics I go all digital for reading material, and CGC slabs for rare key issues I want physicals of. I'll occasionally break my own rules and get a tpb or something but it's always a trade off of price, clutter, and collecting. I definitely recommend buying a cheap iPad and at least having the option of digital issues, sometimes you just don't want to hunt down those missing issues, pay $1 to $4 and get digital issues.

[@jmv1969]

If I were to argue for singles I would say 1) There's a sense of anticipation with singles that you don't get with collected editions. When an issue ends on a cliffhanger your imagination can run wild on how the situation would get resolved. With a trade, you simply turn the page to find out. Delay gratification can be a good thing. 2) I like variety and with singles I can read one issue of Spider-Man, then the HULK, FF, etc. When you read a collected edition it can get to be a little tedious reading the same characters especially as Omar points out, if the writer starts adding a lot of fluff to stretch the story to fit a trade. For the price of a collected edition, you can get 2-3 comics even the inflated prices these days. Overall I buy both singles and collected editions and they both have their merits but I grew up with singles so I prefer those first.

[@dunny209]

I go all over the place unfortunately. A time, I bought single issues digitally to keep up with different series and storylines then when the trade backs came out I bought them so I had the issues digitally then I had them physically. However, Batman for example, I’m such a fan that I want the physical single issues to collect and say “hey look at my Batman collection” I just completed my Batman New 52 run with all the issues. There’s something about having issues physically so like I started off saying: I go all over the place! My wallet hates me sometimes lol

[@BigT4489]

This is a constant debate I have with myself. I avoided floppies for years due to their cost and lack of access to a shop, but I finally got caught up enough to buy a lot of the Hox/PoX and Dawn of X floppies over the last summer, but I usually am like Rob where I can wait for a bigger collection to come out so I have more of the story to read. Collected editions are my preference, I just don't like floppies much or small trades....

[@NearMintCondition]

Yeah, if I don't read a bunch in one sitting, I tend to forget some of the story or forget to pick the issue up. -M

[@thfh890]

So I am from yet another demographic mainland Europe. Most comics growing up were European comics A4 size 48 to 64 pages with a whole self contained story which are released usually once a year per series. Also as it is harder for comic book stores here to get singles so they usually focus on selling collected editions over singles. Singles are sold behind the counter if you preorder them. So when I got into comics one and a half year ago I went for the collected editions. I know that the older generations that read eighties and nineties comics are still interested in singles but me as a new reader I am all in favour of the collected editions. With European comics being bigger than the American comics my preference is oversized hardcovers as that really makes me feel like there is room for the art. A normal trade feels so small to me so when I hear you guys say this is a children's edition it is smaller than a trade I get a feeling of this is really small since all my comics growing up were bigger than your standard. If possible I buy oversized, if not trades and never a standard sized hardcover. Similar to how I always buy softcover European comics except when they are only released in hardcover. What Maddie said makes me wonder if Marvel and DC should start considering releasing certain comics in a more European style by skipping the singles and creating a direct to market trade that contains the whole story and reads like a European comic in one go without the stop and go of a regular trade where you go from one cover to the next.

[@NearMintCondition]

I would absolutely love it if my comic stores moved to that route. I really hope that ends up being the future of the US comic industry. - M

[@boombapdoom493]

All of the above

[@brucej2150]

I have been getting floppies and collected editions since I got back into comics 2 years ago. Did the local lcs subscription 10% off but its way to expensive and its hard to keep track of story on monthly basis. I am now Trying Dcbs subscription service and preordering books and having shipped once a month. If you have a lot of titles it’s is a lot cheaper. I also have bought many omni and ohc the last year so probably going to stop getting floppies this month and trade wait and try to make a dent in omni reading..

[@NearMintCondition]

I'm glad to hear DCBS working for you! - M

[@guadalupediaz3796]

I like both formats but the thing I don't like about collected editions is that sometimes they're collected weird. It could be writer centric or it can be missing issues and as a completist that kills me. I gotta have it all there man. Damn I'm complicated lol.

[@bertfechner417]

Depends on the comic, I consider myself more a reader than a collector so I usually go the collected edition route, BUT-if a story is good enough and really gets me hooked, I go to my lcs every month cause I wanna stay as up-to-date as possible. I also like displaying the collected editions, whereas my floppies/singles stay in a longbox out of sight, maybe one day I'll make a frame to display single issues.

[@NearMintCondition]

I'm glad you're supporting your LCS at the same time too! -M

[@2OldGeeksTalking]

I prefer the single issues, traditionally they are more likely to go up in value and there is just something old school about holding a single issue comic versus a trade paperback.....and just the smell of a silver age comic, takes me back to childhood.

[@TheHachisuNoHana]

Trades are my default. If I really like a story(and it's available)then I'll get the hardcover or omnibus. The only singles I still buy are Amazing Spider-Man. But even then, I only buy them if the covers look cool.

[@thatretrogeek.]

I'm a kid and I like this content I prefer collected editions.

[@NearMintCondition]

Yes!! ;)

[@thatretrogeek.]

@@NearMintCondition they save money right

[@LiteratureInPictures]

Dan looks like Maddogg on that thumbnail =)

[@NearMintCondition]

Ha! He does.

[@juhaniseppala]

The rise of collected editions is probably one reason why the numbering on continuing titles gets reset so frequently. So instead of issues 1-12 you have issues 1-6 (collected as TP 1), which continues as issues 1-6 with the same creative team (collected as TP 1).

[@kurogamig]

Let me first that i really love comic books, like, its a passion of mine. I love to read any formats but my favorite is the TPB. Its much better to have single book with many pages then dozens of single issues with 30 pages, with half of those pages being adds 😑. Dont get me wrong, the tiny single do have their advantages, like, every issue has a different cover, its the classic format, very collectible, but even more flaws: they're thin and very fragile, have so few pages, to many adds and much more expensive (in the end) then the big pages formats. Best said, i prefer quantity over anything else when it comes to comic books.

[@zalmanlivshiz]

I recently got rid of all my singles and will only be getting trades going forward it's much much cheaper, I might even only get omnibuses. Price vs content it's a much better deal and bang for your buck. I think singles will die out.

[@roam7579]

I only found out about omnis 4 months ago and started collecting them almost 3 months ago and I think they are way superior to single comics.