My Mistakes…

Near Mint Dad // Collector Log 001

My Mistakes With My Comic Collection

I thought comic collecting was simple. Buy the books I liked, keep them nice, and slowly build a collection. I learned pretty quickly there was a lot more to it.

By Near Mint Dad Comics Collector Notes

When I first started collecting comics, I really didn't know what I was looking at. I knew which covers caught my attention and which characters I liked, but that was about it.

What I didn't understand yet was how much information can be packed into one comic book: printings, variants, condition, key issues, cover codes, retailer exclusives, and all the little details that can completely change what you're actually buying.

I've already made mistakes. Some cost me money. Some just made me realize how much there is to learn. That's part of why I wanted to write this down.

Mistake 01

I Didn't Know What I Was Looking At

I bought books without really understanding printings, variants, key issues, condition, or what all those tiny numbers actually meant.

A cool cover was a cool cover. I didn't realize the same issue could have a first print, later printings, multiple covers, retailer exclusives, and completely different values.

Collector Note

The tiny details matter a lot more than I expected.

Mistake 02

I Bought Before I Learned

This one cost me actual money.

I found books I wanted and bought them before taking the time to understand exactly which version I was buying.

That was one of the moments where I realized collecting comics is not just about seeing a title and issue number you want. You have to slow down, look at the details, and know what you're actually holding.

Buying a comic and knowing what you're buying are two different things.

Mistake 03

I Thought I Needed to Know Everything

I don't.

This hobby has decades of history behind it. There are publishers, eras, creators, grading, printing differences, keys, variants, market trends, and probably another hundred things I haven't even figured out yet.

At first, that felt overwhelming. Now I think that's actually part of what makes collecting fun.

I'm still learning. I'm still going to make mistakes. Near Mint Dad isn't about pretending I already know everything about comics.

It's about documenting what I'm learning—the good pickups, the bad buys, the things I wish I'd known, and everything I figure out along the way.

Near Mint Dad // End of Collector Log 001

That's Kind of the Point

Maybe another new collector reads this and avoids one of the mistakes I made. Or maybe you're learning right alongside me.

Collect what you love. Learn as you go.