My friend said my collection talk was just a list of facts

We were at a local con in Springfield and I was going on about my Amazing Spider-Man run. He cut in and said, 'Cora, you're just reading me the price guide. Tell me why you love them.' That hit me. I realized I was just reciting issue numbers and values. Now when I show my books, I talk about the story that made me laugh or the art panel that blew my mind. Like how ASM #328's cover with Spidey and Wolverine just feels electric to me. It's way more fun. Has anyone else had to shift from being a catalog to a real fan?

3 comments

3 Comments

tessap979d agoMost Upvoted

Totally get what you mean about the story being the good part. I used to do the same thing with my old band t-shirts. I'd just say "Limited print, 2005 tour" and move on. Now I tell people about how I got the Weezer shirt, that I waited in line for three hours in the rain and Rivers Cuomo made a joke about my umbrella. It makes the thing feel alive, not just something in a box. Facts are easy to forget, but a good story sticks with you.

david_palmer9d ago

My buddy had that happen with his old video game stuff. He used to just rattle off release years and rarity scores when people asked. Then his niece pointed at his copy of EarthBound and asked why the cartridge was so ugly and beige. He ended up telling her about renting it as a kid, how weird and funny it was, and how the scratch on the label was from his dog. Totally changed how he talks about his collection now. The story behind the thing is always the good part.

patel.morgan9d ago

Yeah, that's a solid point. @david_palmer's story about EarthBound is a perfect example. The facts are just the frame, you gotta put the picture in it.