Why I Am Abandoning Floppy Comics

Over these last few years I have begun to reevalute what I look for in comic formats. These are the reasons why I am leaving floppy comics in pursuit of trade collections.
#comicbooks #tradepaperbacks #comiccollection
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[@TevyaSmolka]

I understand man and honestly I don’t blame you for dropping floppies because it does get expensive of buying floppies comics.

[@JoesGeekShow]

For sure it does. Sure trades are more in the moment but overall cheaper in the long run when comparing 4 modern singles to one trade.

[@TevyaSmolka]

@@JoesGeekShow indeed and honestly this is why i mostly buy trades way over then single issues to tell you the truth.

[@JoesGeekShow]

@TevyaSmolka for sure. My trade collection quadrupled since we've been here and I'm enjoying the simplicity.

[@TevyaSmolka]

@@JoesGeekShow nice :)

[@mikewright8304]

Great video man. I just recently stopped not just for the price but mainly because the quality is overall in the gutter. Another issue I have is the comic shop I frequent for some reason doesn't pull all of the comics I have on my list. I had 5 comics on the list from the Energon Universe and I was missing at least 3 or 4 issues that definitely were released but they didn't receive or order so for one book I had the first 3 issues and then I called to check my box and they had number 5. What happened to 4? No explanation given. All of this has caused me to just wait for the trade and get the complete story all at once. Count me as subscribed man, great video!

[@suartgilmour4540]

I try and buy both floppies and TPBs. I think its good to support your local independent comic book store (if you have one) with a subscription. That said I think no comic is justified as being over 3.99 unless its a double issue or something. I believe Marvel recently announced its going to try and make most comics 3.99. When I was a teenager in the UK in the 90s comics were 65p. Now they are easily £3 more. I think all Marvel and DC have been doing is pricing themselves out of the market. The price needs to go down and the quality to go up. All said I still enjoy buying comics and being part of that community. For now, anyways! Stuart

[@JoesGeekShow]

I tried to keep up with both but costs eventually forced me to choose. And since TPBs are in the long run the cheapest option that's where I settled.

[@suartgilmour4540]

@@JoesGeekShow yeah cool each to their own. Meant to mention though my comic shop gives you a free comic for every ten issues you buy, so that helps with the cost. Plus it's cool to be up to date with what is going on and be part of a community. It's also less of a risk if you decide to take a chance on a new title, it's more costly to take a risk on a tpb that you end up not enjoying.

[@JoesGeekShow]

@suartgilmour4540 yeah I tend to do a lot more research on titles before buying. Thats a really cool idea though the buy 10 get one free.

[@betaraybob]

My local Library has quite a large selection of Trades and Omnibuses that I can checkout and read like any other book in the library. Any that I like enough, I can usually track down a personal copy of, otherwise I return them and try out some more.

[@JoesGeekShow]

I still do this myself. It's good to check out the library every now and again. Especially if you find something good enough to buy as you said.

[@mikewright8304]

Great video. The price is a major issue but my number one issue is the quality. They expect us to pay more for stories that are atrocious. I have been reading Energon Universe but I'm leaning toward waiting until the trade comes out and get the complete story all at once

[@JoesGeekShow]

Yes! Quality is defintely a huge issue. Especially when concerning the big two. The content inside almost never justifies the price. When it comes to trade all it really comes down to is patience. The thought of "Can I really wait x amount of months to see what happens next?" It was a little hard at first because you get this feeling that you're missing out but after a little bit it gets easier to do. I understand why for some floppies is still the way to go but for me I got over that hump and I like how much more I save by waiting.

[@mikewright8304]

@@JoesGeekShow precisely. I have no problem waiting it out. Plus easier on the wallet

[@JoesGeekShow]

@@mikewright8304 💯

[@YTLawnGnome]

I am a bit of both. I got back into collecting comics back in 2019 after not picking up a book since 1996. So, yes....I bought a lot of physical copies. I am fine with both flopies and trades. For me bagging and boarding books is a stress reliever. It just makes me calm and I have no idea why.

[@JoesGeekShow]

That's good. Like I said in the video there are still plenty of people that are into floppies which is okay. That's one things I like about the hobby there's something for everyone. I'll be honest it was tough to make the switch at first but after enough time and a build up of my trade collection I started to not miss singles.

[@later_daze_4080]

Floppy's are cool but I can never remember what happened the month prior so I've got to re-read the prior issue again.

[@JoesGeekShow]

Especially when there are large gaps between releases. I remember experiencing this with Doomsday Clock.

[@notmyname5591]

Btw I also remember that drawing the line at 2.99 slogan. Lasted a few months I think lol

[@JoesGeekShow]

It was definitely up and gone pretty quick.

[@starscream1988boss]

Great video. I myself started to collect when they were at tail end of .60 cents. To when they started at .75 cents. I have quit 3 times in my life for at most 2 years at one point. But like you I stopped floppies a little over 2 years ago. I may pick up a number 1 independent book. Once in a while but yeah TPB, HC or Omnibuses. All day. I just hope more young people or collectors keep buying the Floppies/Wednesday drops so the Hobby does not die out.

[@JoesGeekShow]

If ever I decided to buy any kind of floppy it would definitely be an indie book. But yeah it has been sad to see the prices just increase over the years to the point of torture. Walking into a comic store in the 90s with $20 bucks was awesome. The prices for the quality just don't seem worth it anymore.

[@notmyname5591]

If McFarlane can publish his monthly Spawn related books and keep them at 2.99 then two massive companies like Warners and Disney can as well. There is simply no justification for the proce gouging.

[@JoesGeekShow]

100%! If it's a question of the big two producing too many books leading to them justifying the price hike then they should reevaluate. I know its not quite that simple but there needs to be some discussion in their boardrooms.

[@ComicBoomTube]

I can’t fault you for making the decision to stop buying floppies. It is a labor of only sometimes love. Plus so many comics are available digitally (for less cost or free). -don’t slap me! Lol

[@TevyaSmolka]

lol 😂

[@JoesGeekShow]

🤣 Maybe if we meet in person jk. But yeah I know what you mean. There are many alternatives to the status quo that are much more cost effective.

[@notmyname5591]

Something I learned only a few months ago, when you adjust for inflation those $1 -$1.25 comics in the late 80s/early 90s should still be significantly under $3 dollars. Even if I was interested in current DC and marvel ( I'm not, post crisis DC is long gone and marvel comics has long since adopted the imbecilic comedic buffoonery of the MCU) I would not be buying this stuff. It got to a point for me that the 3.99 was too much, I can't imagine the 4.99 and 5.99 and higher. I heard Ultimate Invasion issue one was 10 freaking dollars. Not a chance in hell I'm paying that for one issue.

[@JoesGeekShow]

Yeah the price on some of these books is insane. Espeically when the trade will only be a few dollars more for the whole thing. Floppies just don't make sense anymore. The quality doesn't match the price.

[@dramonmaster222]

Trade Paperbacks for the win!

[@JoesGeekShow]

For sure. They may take longer to release but the read is very satisfying.

[@williamturnbull16]

Congratulations I have been doing this for 15 years now. It really helps the wallet out. I’ve been able to buy a lot more European and Indies with the strategy.

[@JoesGeekShow]

Definitely yes on the indies because today the indies is where it's at. Almost all the best stories I've read in the last 5 years or so have come from independent publishers.

[@ericbreen4340]

I can't fault your logic . If someone is not a collector , there's no reason not to go the trade route . And honestly , I can't think of any reason to collect new Comics . Older Comics is another story , but that's another issue altogether . Issue ..see what I did there 😁

[@JoesGeekShow]

Lol I did see. Yes I did. Yeah when it comes to collecting books today it's just gotten to the point where it's too much of an ask these days. Books aren't as good, prices are too high, and it just doesn't make sense. Instead buy trades for stories I want to read and just shelf them. That makes sense.

[@Spider-Ranger2000]

Well, I just bought my first Marvel comic book. An 80s Fantastic Four edition. I want to get into it. 36 cents!

[@JoesGeekShow]

Awesome!!

[@apilgrim8715]

I do digital or floppy, I have some trades but I avoid them. I like how floppies lay flat on the table but I understand if you move often its not worth the logistics of moving them.

[@JoesGeekShow]

I tried digital once like Comixology but after it was acquired by Amazon I ended up losing a portion of what I owned when they made that update. That's when I realized I never truly owned the book. But yeah trades are so much easier to pack up when we move. Though I sometimes miss floppies being able to read a whole story off a shelf is more to my liking these days.

[@apilgrim8715]

@@JoesGeekShow There is actually a strong selection of digital comics at local libraries through Hoopla. I would check it out. Also, read in VR glasses like Meta Quest-its very nice.

[@apilgrim8715]

It took me a couple of years fighting with the storage unit companies but now I realize owning nothing ain't so bad.

[@JoesGeekShow]

Very true. Enjoyment will always be a subjective experience. What works for one won't always work for the next. I'm glad you figured out what you liked and how to consume it. I have never tried Hoopla but I may chek it out. Reading in VR also sounds interesting.

[@LastMinuteGuess]

I actually want to read everything coming out of Marvel and DC. It is not feasible to spend hundreds of dollars a week on floppies when I am going to buy the trades eventually. I come from the manga industry where buying the volumes is far more affordable and convenient.

[@JoesGeekShow]

I've always thought Manga had the best format compared to American comics. I like the whole getting installments in a weekly Shonen Jump and then after so many issues getting a volume released.

[@tiptupjr.9073]

Floppies made sense up until the early 2000s. But now, with increasing costs and the fact that every issue is now written for trade, they're just not worth it in any respect if you just want to read the stories.

[@JoesGeekShow]

That is a really big point too. Comics are often written for trade these days which in some ways hurts the pacing and story sometimes in the floppies. I can recall a few comics I reviewed where in the beginning I didn't favor them too much but when I got to the end and had the full scope I realized it reads better thus changing my entire viewpoint. I also find that because of this I enjoy reviewing trades more since I can give a more well rounded opinion.