THE HOLY GRAIL

It began one day in a comic shop around 1985. I was 12 (or 13) years old at the time, and was busy spending my allowance and Christmas money at a storewide sale at a store in Portland, Oregon (Future Dreams). At the time I was just getting back into comics from about a 2 year absence (I had left to spend my money on G.I. Joe toys which I liked at the time). G.I. Joe was my favorite title. I received my first issue on my birthday the year before, but all of my other favorites were DC. Anyway, that day at the store, as I scanned through back issue bins for issues of The Flash (if memory serves me), I overheard a conversation that shocked me and would set me to an obession that has lasted until this very day. What did I overhear? Well -- A man was speaking to a store employee and bragged that he owned EVERY DC comic. Now to my 12 year old mind I had no way of knowing the magnitude of his claim. It was several years before I realized how unlikely his claim was. (The guy had to be lying.) But my mind was set on the idea, so I set out to accomplish this same feat.

The first step of course was to make sure that I was buying all the current DC titles. I was already buying most of them. Initially I added the few remaining super-hero titles to my list. Then, beginning with the FEB 1987 cover dated issues, I bought every new DC book off the stands, a practice which has continued without fail for nearly 20 years now. The next step was to work my way through the back issues. With the help of Overstreet's Price Guide (the Bible) I compiled a list of all books published by DC in its history. It was about this time that I grasped the magnitude of what I was attempting. DC had been around 50 years and many of the early issues were worth more money than I could hope to have. Nevertheless I began my chase for the seemingly unattainable goal. Beginning with recent super-hero titles and continuing into the other genres, I tracked down at bought the books I needed to complete the collection. I copiously tracked my inventory and my list of needed books. (SIDE NOTE: From 1989-1994 I tried adding Marvel to my goal as well, but there was no way I could do both)

Why did I continue this insane goal once I had realized the scope of it? Why not? I enjoy my hobby immensely, and it has now become a point of personal honor and pride. Many local collectors and dealers know of my painstaking pursuit and support my efforts. I have even had local newspaper articles as well as an appearance on a local morning show to promote and encourage me. I do it for fun! But why DC? DC is the greatest! They have my favorite characters, stories, and history. Some day, with enough effort and lots of $, I could even achieve my goal of owning every DC book ever published; even my personal Holy Grail -- Action Comics #1. ..... Someday .....