[Zictor]

Hey, dunno if anyone on here remembers me, used to be quite a regular poster in 2011/2012 when I was collecting most of my Marvel Universe stuff...

Since then I've got tons and tons of stuff and don't seem to be able to stop. I stopped getting so many action figures in favour of actually collecting the comics... but I just seem to be drowning in stuff that I'm too attached to to get rid of but know I probably should...

Anyone got any tips for how to detach yourself from it? I've only ever sold duplicates of stuff I've got because... I already have one, but the space thing is really becoming an issue!

[kylactus]

sell it in large bundles, or lots, it makes it easier when it's just groups of things not individuals that you have a connection to. I've kind of been in your boat lately, with the writing in the comics not impressing me as of late and the 3.75" figures drying up, I've started collecting the 1984 secret wars figures and old comics (I'm amazed how cheep a lot of old comics have gotten, I've gotten more silver age comics in the last month than I could afford all through the 90's. I haven't gotten rid of my MU collection and I'm still getting the MI as they come, but really the hunt and a lot of the fun are out of that line for me. It's just become a bi-monthly charge to HTS or BBTS to get a case, hang them up and look at them. no more "holes to fill in" even the way the new cards display is sad compared to the MU line with original individual card art and vibrant colors. the new ones look like they were designed by some black turtle neck wearing yuppy with thick framed glasses in an all white NYC gallery sipping wine and discussing how powerful and thought provoking a blank canvas with a smeared thumb print in the center is.

[Zictor]

Ha! Love your cynicism! But yeah I used to like hunting them down... then you're like... oh... well I've got all my favourites now... and then you just hope they make some characters you want and they haven't done yet... and yeah, just sort of lost the excitement. Where as collecting comics is great to me, I love discovering some of the really obscure stuff that existed, finding really silly covers from the past, and storylines that are long forgotten, thats fun to me.

The new stuff, you are right, bad writing... not all of it, but a lot of it. DC are slightly better than Marvel at the moment although both seem to be suffering from constant reboots and re imaginings. Marvel more so with their gender swaps and stuff...

And yeah I know I should just bite the bullet, I guess most of my MU collection will stay but I've got the Compound Hulk which I know is worth a fair bit, still boxed... and I dunno if its still sought after but Cable with Baby hope also still boxed, everything else is loose and on display, bar a few figures that had to be put into a box as I had no space to display them...

Pop Vinyls have started creeping their way in too so I'm getting rather overwhealmed. But the thing is, I LOVE figures, even 3D printed some of my own creations, and I'm considering making a customised action figure...

This is the issue. I think being a nerd comes with all this love for something and you just tend to drown yourself in it. I want to keep doing it but without the space it's just not possible to keep it all. As they say, share the love! :P

[Skoob]

Welcome back Zictor,

You pre-date me here on the Ark, but in the last few months there have been similar conversations about the emotional and financial pitfalls of collecting. I had a crisis several years ago where I just couldn't go on, and then purged/jettisoned almost everything in a mass garage sale. I wish in retrospect that I kept a few more old favorites, but in fairness, I really haven't missed the vast majority of my old stuff. I enjoyed it while I had it; it's gone; life goes on.

Nowadays, I still love collecting, but try to adhere to the Cat Food Approach to Collecting:

1) Be Fussy;
2) Be Finicky;
3) Be Choosy;
4) Be Cheap.

More storage space, fewer mistakes, and more money (or less of a hole) in my wallet feels good.

[warmachine6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skoob

Welcome back Zictor,

You pre-date me here on the Ark, but in the last few months there have been similar conversations about the emotional and financial pitfalls of collecting. I had a crisis several years ago where I just couldn't go on, and then purged/jettisoned almost everything in a mass garage sale. I wish in retrospect that I kept a few more old favorites, but in fairness, I really haven't missed the vast majority of my old stuff. I enjoyed it while I had it; it's gone; life goes on.

Nowadays, I still love collecting, but try to adhere to the Cat Food Approach to Collecting:

1) Be Fussy;
2) Be Finicky;
3) Be Choosy;
4) Be Cheap.

More storage space, fewer mistakes, and more money (or less of a hole) in my wallet feels good.

lol, i feel like im scarifying my wallet , *sees figure* i should get that ,*wallets is scared* but ends up passing on it *wallet is relieved* oh wait steam sale, *wallet tries to run*

[Zictor]

It all begs the question... What am I displaying it for if I'm the only one looking at it?

[K Dubious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zictor

It all begs the question... What am I displaying it for if I'm the only one looking at it?

I have spoke to tons of people about hobbies and collecting (anything not just toys), and your right you will pretty much be the only one who really gets to enjoy what you have, but that's the point!

When I walk into my collection room and just stare at everything it really is relaxing and enjoyable.

Plus it makes my mind go what can I do next? Should I put up more shelves? Build a new diorama? Make room for the next wave?

So it is a place that I enjoy, it helps me relax, it makes me think, and it takes me back.

All that being said if your no longer get the same joy out of what you have then it is time to move on. Someone else will attach themselves to them and the "Toy Story" continues.

[Zictor]

I used to enjoy the hunt for figures, but they're so difficult to find anywhere now. I love to look at them and re arrange them etc, but the space thing is a huge issue, feel the room is untidy and new stuff keeps coming all the time... It's like pouring water into a glass that was already full. Kills me to get rid of stuff but in the long run I guess I'll not miss it... Plus, hunting it down again in the future could be fun!

[warmachine6]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zictor

I used to enjoy the hunt for figures, but they're so difficult to find anywhere now. I love to look at them and re arrange them etc, but the space thing is a huge issue, feel the room is untidy and new stuff keeps coming all the time... It's like pouring water into a glass that was already full. Kills me to get rid of stuff but in the long run I guess I'll not miss it... Plus, hunting it down again in the future could be fun!

^ yeah re-collecting maybe fun , but might get a bit more expensive vary on when you want the figure and how much it goes for

[bumblebree]

This was also an issue for me. Space was running out. I buy doubles, sometimes multiples which made it more complicated. I had to stop and rethink. I had to stop and just be picky with what I buy now. Also helps if you have a one theme character, in my case it's Bumblebee.

And when my eldest turned 3, I let her play with some of the toys that I can spare and kid friendly. Saves us money of buying her own toys.

[Zictor]

My theme if I had to choose one would be the obscure. Love the superhero genre but a lot of it suffers creatively from the characters popularity, so I delve more into obscurity with what comics I read and collect. Animal man, blue beetle and booster gold are amongst some of them. Popular enough but not full on mainstream and the stories are more experimental and push the bar further. Then there's even weirder stuff like Doom Patrol. I'm yet to find some of marvels more obscure offerings as more and more of their stuff becomes popular... I liked Deadpool but have found a huge decline.

Collecting figures of more obscure characters though gets expensive and can be difficult... I'll probably pursue it more in the future but as for now... Limiting myself!