Coming up smiling in 2012

So what? This is late. Blame the alcohol or the dodgy Chinese takeaway.

2011 was a vintage comic collecting year.

Regardless of the ridiculous amount of Batman I've picked up this year, and the new focus on a specific character title and which started in earnest with me picking up Batman #181 in January, there were other hobbyist collecting highlights.

So what were my other 2011 Hits?

-Finished collecting the 'Miracleman' books. And that hurt the wallet.
-Picked up a number of Bronze Age Marvel key books. You can have the Silver Age, zombies, The Bronze Age is MY Golden Age!!!
-Reduced my overall wishlist by a load of cool titles. Scratching off titles like the 2006 'Blade' run, 'Godland', 'Sandman Mystery Theatre', 'DV8', Ed Brubakers' early Wildstorm work . And got that impossible to find seventh issue of 'Automatic Kafka'.
-I gleefully read the hundred plus run of Peter David 'Incredible Hulk'.
-I fell in love with Marvel Hardbacks. Did you know that the Human Torch died? I only noticed last night! What about when Captain America was kicked out of the USA by President Clinton? Paul Pope's Lockjaw story in 'Strange Tales' actually exists? All good stuff.
-Actually was stunned that Mignola killed Hellboy. I'm sure he'll get better.

As for the Batman Quest, I finished 2011 by completing the first volume of Azrael (and for anyone who plans on doing something similar: remember: #47 is a special double-sized 'flip-book' with Shadow of the Bat #80. That will be the reason you can't find that book...) My Christmas present to myself this year was Detective Comics #400, Man-Bats début.

However, two moments really sprung out.

I got me a bespoke John McCrea drawn 'Hitman' at the Manchester Comic Con, which looks awesome.

And I shook Alan Moores hand, which considering he did Radio 4's 'Thought for the Day' (and may have even referenced Batman Villain Scarface) on New Years Morning, as well as being Alan Moore, was kind of cool!

So what plotting am I hoping for 2012? Of course I should tell you....

Should the world survive the apocalypse that awaits us in 2012, these resolutions are enacted!

1.Try to pick up all the 300s in Batman (1940)
2.Finish the Detective Comics run between 500 and the titles conclusion.
3.Complete the Nightwing run
4.Complete the second volume of Azrael.
5.Complete Catwoman volume 2 books
6.Complete Gotham Knights
7.Compete Batman Confidential
8.Start picking up Batbooks from the Silver Age.
9.Buy at least one piece of original Batman comic art.
10.Try to pull my entire comic collection under one roof, and organise them in a sexy way.

Fun Times

A great thing happened this week. I completed the first major goal in The Batman Quest. A full run that starts at Miller's 'Year One' Reboot and finishes with the titles termination at #713.

Yessir, I have got a humongous three hundred plus, un-interrupted run of Batman (1940). And to say I'm quite pleased with myself is an under-statement. For those who didn't know, this was what the collection was supposed to be when I looked at my 2011 comic collecting resolutions (true, it got out of control once I started thinking about it a bit more). To collect this run before the end of October, is a moment where I must allow myself to be a bit smug.

This is a longbox full of Batman (1940). And it is MY generations interpretation and rebooting of Batman. So it really matters to, well, me.

So in the words of Red Dwarf android Kryten 2X4B-523P:

'Smug-mode'

And with that these are were the issues I considered to be a problem. If for different reasons;

The John Byrne 'Many Deaths of Batman' issues- I thought I had them, marked them off the list and everything. And then after physically checking the collection, it dawned on me. Oh Crap, how did I miss that? Think I might have to check out how many other gaffes there are in my system!

Issue 672. I couldn't find this anywhere. Until I discovered it in the world famous Ian's Comics And Books (it's in Portsmouth, and if you don't know that, then you ain't a player!)

The last two were #710 and #711. Which was found on the 'Bay. Did I overpay? You bet I over payed. And there'll be a seller out there that should be chuffed to think that his second hand comics might actually appreciate in value. Except they haven't. It's just that I'm incredibly obsessed/anal and incredibly driven/sad to complete this run.

And that's the point of this blog. That I'm bragging to anyone who reads this...

Bragging and Smug.

Yeah. Bring on the Quest!!