[Janus Wolf]

One sites such as GAC-UK do you focus more on collecting comics from here or reading them?
I am sure its both. However, if you had to pick one, which would it be? Collecting or reading?


cheers,

Janus

[JVJ]

I'll add one more (which happens to be MY) option, Janus,
LOOKING AT THEM.

That's what I use the site for and it's basically why I've collected all that I have. I read perhaps 1% of my GA collection.

Peace, Jim (|:{>

[Janus Wolf]

Looking is great, lets expand it then - what do members here like to do as a primary interest? collect? read? or look?
Its good to know what members primary interests are. While understanding that there are multiple interests, l would like to find out which is the most popular.

cheers

Janus

I'll add one more (which happens to be MY) option, Janus,
LOOKING AT THEM.

That's what I use the site for and it's basically why I've collected all that I have. I read perhaps 1% of my GA collection.

Peace, Jim (|:{>

[narfstar]

I mostly collect them with the intention of reading them but only get around to a small percent. I know that I have them. I also use them for research. You will find my name in every issue of Alter Ego. I send Roy scans all the time. I would actually say research would top collecting.

[Janus Wolf]

Thanks, for all your input so far. I wish we had to do a poll right now on the top reason(s) why members download:

To Look at them!
To Read them!
To be inspired on drawing cartoons!
To Research!
To Collect!

Again, I am sure its possible to have "all of the above" however, this answer is not as helpful. Understanding the most important reason(s) why is!
This all helps with the focus of the site.

cheers

Janus

[bowers]

I began downloading from this site because I love to read the comics. However, I now feel that it is very important to preserve these little pieces of our culture, and to have them saved by as many people and in as many different places as possible. This will ensure there will always be copies available for all to share. Put me down as a collector. Cheers, Bowers

[boox909]

I began downloading from this site because I love to read the comics. However, I now feel that it is very important to preserve these little pieces of our culture, and to have them saved by as many people and in as many different places as possible. This will ensure there will always be copies available for all to share. Put me down as a collector. Cheers, Bowers

Amen Bowers -- that's what drives myself and all of the GA fandom communities. These gems are part of our cultural heritage and we cannot fail in doing our part to keep them alive and available for future generations.

B.

[CharlieRock]

I read them. But I like reading a "set" or a string of issues from one title. And then I don't get rid of the copies I got. Just file them away in case I want to read them again. Like I'll have time (not!) 


... but you never know, I might.

[josemas]

Well I certainly plan to read everything I download, at least once, and read some almost every day. 

I do also find myself going back and looking at various artists and stories over and over again generally to study the artwork.  So for me the "looking at" is also "research".

The collecting is mostly a byproduct of the above.

I do very little drawing these days so I guess there's not much in the way of inspiration coming from my viewing of the downloads.

Joe M

[Astaldo711]

I mostly find myself collecting them. I have every intention of reading them if I could just find the time. I love reading the old books to hear the vernacular used. I noticed someone in my office using "gat" and "swag" and thought it funny as I first heard it reading a golden age comic. They probably think their being innovative.

[josemas]

I mostly find myself collecting them. I have every intention of reading them if I could just find the time. I love reading the old books to hear the vernacular used. I noticed someone in my office using "gat" and "swag" and thought it funny as I first heard it reading a golden age comic. They probably think their being innovative.

I recently used the term "cheesecake" to describe some of the GGA type photography in an issue of Maxim that a younger co-worker of mine was looking at the other day.  He had never heard the word used in that context before but took such a shine to it that he's now determined to start using it himself.

Joe M

[CreepysFan]

  I love both collecting horror comics, and reading them (and re-reading, re-re-reading, ect.).  Most people probably wouldn't understand reading something more than twice, but I still get the enjoyment even from ninth or tenth time.

   

Yeah I know...I'm obsessed. 

[boox909]

  I love both collecting horror comics, and reading them (and re-reading, re-re-reading, ect.).  Most people probably wouldn't understand reading something more than twice, but I still get the enjoyment even from ninth or tenth time.

   

Yeah I know...I'm obsessed. 

Oh, it's okay...I've certainly gone through my period of reading every "ghostie" title I could get my hands on.

B.

[Guardian7]

Initially I started getting into Centaur because they were so obscure... and were just as FIRST as DC and Marvel (Timely etc).
I wanted to know "Who the Heck are these guys?"

Then I started enjoying the stories (Primarily Amazing Man).

I enjoy most manners of art and looking is a default to this hobby.

There is also the newness of them for me.

Like just a few days ago I uploaded the fabled "WHAM #2"... my anticipation as it downloaded was so thick you could have cut it with a knife.

When it finally finished... I just opened it up to the cover and just sat there. looking at it. Knowing that in just a few minutes I would be able to see it for the first time myself.

Were my expectations high? not really. I try not to get TOO excited about that because it is easy to be disappointed in sometimes lack luster stories.

But this issue... It wouldn't have mattered if it had been crap and printed on burlap. I WANTED to...
LOOK at it...
READ it...
and finally OWN it.

So... I sat there just looking at the cover enjoying that euphoric feeling of excitement... and it has a been a LONG TIME since a comic has done that for me.

...and I just absorbed it, when I turned the first page.
No longer was it just a vague cover about even more vague characters... I was actually going to finally read this elusive misfit comic.

If that isn't what this hobby is truly all about... I don't know what is.

G7

[narfstar]

Magnify that at least ten fold and you will know what it is like to open a JVJ box of goodies. It is amazing to have a whole box of some of the coolest stuff on earth. Hope to get at least one or two books scanned this weekend it has been slow going. I am teaching Geometry for the first time this year. It has been at almost 40 years since I have done any Geometry at all. I gotta learn it before teaching it. Nerd that I am I find some of it kinda fun.

[Geo (R.I.P.)]

Magnify that at least ten fold and you will know what it is like to open a JVJ box of goodies. It is amazing to have a whole box of some of the coolest stuff on earth.

Try magnifying that by 100 - with a visit to JVJ's upstairs, the smell alone is magnificent.

The infamous 'Comic Book Wall'
Geo

[narfstar]

Man you got me there Geo

[CharlieRock]

Wow! 

[Geo (R.I.P.)]

I have this strange feeling drawing me back to Jim's upstairs. Must resist.....must resist!!!
Hee, hee. 

Geo

[paw broon]

As a male I'm naturally a collector, but nowadays I don't have the space to collect anything but comics. And even then I'm short of space. I suppose that's why sites like GAC are such a boon to collectors and historians and even to those who just want entertainment.  I'm also attracted to the unusual or obscure (to me, that is) and find myself detesting marts where all I can find are landscapes of DC and Marvel boxes.  I read a majority of comics I buy and all that I download, which you guys in charge will notice is not a huge amount.  Problem is I've now downloaded all the Indrajal Phantoms and I admit to struggling a bit to keep up. Especially as I don't find it as comfortable to read from a screen as to read a real comic. You lose and miss the smell and feel.
Looking is just great.  I sometimes think that the most satisfying aspect of comics is opening a box, taking out a pile and just drinking in those covers.  I mentioned I recently discovered a newspaper strip club over here (British strips) and getting access to strips I remember and many I don't has been marvellous and it's not just the collecting, it's the joy of reading obscure but well told strip stories.  Sorry Janus, I don't think I've helped much.