Episode 40: Unpacking my pull list

So I’m constantly talking about my new journey into comic book collecting. I’ve always been a fan of the medium and storytelling but not so much the culture of collecting “expensive paper”. So as I’ve started collecting I’ve taken things one step at a time. There’s levels to this. One such level is the PULL LIST. This level came after finding an LCS (Local Comic Shop) which I liken to finding a church home.

Recently after making a purchase the guy at the register invited me to become a subscriber of the shop and make a pull list. A pull list is a list of books you commit to purchasing on a weekly basis like a subscription account. The minimum was 5 books.

This is where things got interesting. Like I said, I’ve always been a fan but not so much a collector so the idea of COMMITMENT threw me off. I’ve been picking up important keys here and there but admittedly I hadn’t been committing to anything.

As a rule I have been focusing on VALUE. So I’ve picked up issue number ones and first appearances. I’ve steered clear of second and third issues because typically that’s where sales and value drop considerably. Also, I’ve tried not to get caught up in variant cover hype but every now and then I get caught up in the FOMO (fear of missing out) just like everyone else.

So with this pull list I’m breaking my rules and committing to a handful of series based on a few determining factors.

1. I feel like I have to commit to one of the classics like Black Panther. In fact BP has to be one of the longest running Black comics in history. Which says a lot considering most of the books on my list will barely get past 6 to 12 issues.

2. I’m zeroing in on several of my favorite authors and creators like Rodney Barnes and Walter Mosley. I’ve been a fan of Mosley ever since Devil in a Blue Dress. I saw him in person at a book signing decades ago and he mentioned he dreamed of creating a comic featuring the Fantastic Four. Nothing came of it but I’ve been anxiously waiting for him to enter into the comic book world.

Ever since I interviewed Rodney Barnes in February of this year, this guy has been on a tare! His Killadelphia series continues to gain popularity; he’s recently signed on to Substack where he is releasing original content through their subscription service; and I am thoroughly impressed with Nita Hawes Nightmare Blog. I’m calling it my Book of the Year!

3. I’m focusing on creators that are blazing the path towards the future. I feel Second Sight’s Project Wildfire and Juni Ba’s Monkey Meat have earned my loyalty simply because they found their way into the DIRECT MARKET; which is no small feat for an indie. This topic is far too complicated to unpack here but let’s just say it’s heartwarming to see these creators in an LCS and not just on social media.

I’m certain this list will wax and wane and I’ll be sharing all of the changes in this blog as these books start rolling in. Be on the look out for reviews as well. But I’m not sure you guys are ready for my unbiased, un-filtered opinion. Maybe when you’re older.

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