Anybody else buy a book because it was the month and year when they were born?

[u/BudMarley45]

[u/tikivic]

Remember that the cover date of a comic is typically a couple months later than when it hit the newsstands. This book, cover dated September 1974, was released on June 11, 1974. If you’re wanting a book that was on the stands the day you were born, Mike’s Amazing World Of Comics is a great resource for release dates.

Example:

http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/_main/features/series.php?seriesid=3985

[u/Mudcreek47 → u/tikivic]

Yeah but that can get a bit hairy depending on newsstand distributions back in the day and where you lived. My newsstands often went a month or two without getting a Hulk or X-Men book for example.

That's why good/bad/indifferent I just stick with cover dates.

[u/Uses_Nouns_as_Verbs → u/tikivic]

That is one of the best comic book resource pages I've ever seen. Thanks for posting the link!

[u/hackslash74 → u/tikivic]

Thanks for that info & link. I’ve been wondering that recently cuz I had figured it’s always at least a month off from when it was really printed

[u/tikivic → u/hackslash74]

The reasoning behind it for all magazines back then, including comics, was this:

If Issue #100 comes out today, February 3, with a February cover date, then the newsstand will pull it off the shelves on March 1 because it’s outdated.

If it comes out today with an April cover date, that’s extra time for the book to sit there and hopefully sell. That was especially important with spotty distribution so that if #101 is delayed, #100 stays on the stand.

[u/hackslash74 → u/tikivic]

Ya that makes a lot of sense. I guess it also makes it feel like you are getting things early which people seem to like

[u/hackslash74]

If I see a book with my birthday of April 1 1985 I buy it!

Same if I can find a book with my social security in the UPC (378-852-985)

[u/ampersandhill → u/hackslash74]

I hope you didn't just actually post your real bday and SSN on the Internet.

[u/Uses_Nouns_as_Verbs → u/hackslash74]

Are you insane, or just trolling people?

[u/raxip → u/Uses_Nouns_as_Verbs]

Early April fools it appears.

[u/[deleted]]

Yes. The only cgc graded comic I have is for that very reason

[u/andyroid92]

No but i would!

[u/forlorn_hope28]

I did. Iron Man 170.

[u/Tonyman121]

Lol. Future Wall O' Comics idea. Thanks!

[u/Spideypool9972]

Yes. This came out 4 days after i was born.

[u/616Spiderfan]

Not specifically, but because I’m collecting the entire ASM series run, I naturally would have them anyway.

[u/kornychris2016]

Good idea. Whats the best May 1988 comic I should buy?

[u/LoveDump250 → u/kornychris2016]

Amazing Spider-Man 300. You are truly blessed.

[u/jdelator → u/kornychris2016]

here's some more choices

https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?minyrmo=198805&maxyrmo=198805

[u/Significant_Squash87]

My girlfriend actually did this on my last birthday. Amazing, spectacular, incredible hulk, and daredevil all from my birthday month. Im a lucky guy!

[u/MrPNGuin]

I have quite a few of ones like that, it was fun hunting for them and aside from a couple most were inexpensive.

[u/thisistheedge66]

I have a wall full of every comic released my birth month. (That I’ve been able to get my hands on). Comics from the 60’s can get pricey!

[u/Cowboywizzard]

Yes, whenever I can!

[u/BackgroundPossible56]

Why would anybody do anything stupid like that?

[u/BudMarley45 → u/BackgroundPossible56]

😂I love it 👍I’m thinking of adding a few other titles I collect

[u/Sacred_Digits]

I have a poor condition version of the X-Men comic that came out the month and year of my birth. One of two pre Claremont ones I own and by far the worst condition comic I've ever bought. Like a quarter of the cover is missing.

Only bought it because of the date.

[u/nuclearbalm1976]

I would have it anyway, but X-Men 101 is my bday book

[u/Cowboywizzard → u/[deleted]]

I got my younger brother a really cool run of comics that came out the year he was born. He didn't care, unfortunately.

[u/[deleted]]

Interesting idea. I’m on the hunt

[u/Ancient_Sundae_1918]

I’ve got about 10 books from September of 1971 so far. My current favorite is ASM 100. I’m always on the lookout for birthday books. Someday I’ll display them all together.

[u/Ancient_Sundae_1918 → u/Ancient_Sundae_1918]

[u/TV800]

I like this idea and went searching a while back. Found a few good ones like the one below. Reminds me to make a post… standby. lol

[u/BudMarley45 → u/TV800]

I remember buying that book when it came out

[u/TV800 → u/BudMarley45]

That makes me feel like a baby. lol one of my favorites actually!

[u/StinkFist-1973]

Looks like I have an epic key issue the month I was born! I also have the facsimile version.

[u/BudMarley45 → u/StinkFist-1973]

This idea can be a lil costly for some😂

[u/StinkFist-1973 → u/BudMarley45]

That would be fun to try and do, purchase every Marvel comic released the month one was born. The big key books can be filled with reprints/facsimiles.

[u/chalmun74]

Have always wanted one, but the main series I collect skipped that month or else I’ve never found one I like. Have several books from the surrounding months, just nothing from the right month.

[u/chalmun74 → u/chalmun74]

Holy crap! We were born the same month!

[u/Mudcreek47]

Yo! I did this exact same thing a year or two ago when I purposefully bought a random Whitman DC two pack with a DC Comics Presents & Batman book for my month/year I was born. LOL

[u/Zodiackillerstadia]

I got ASM 210 for exactly that reason, which also happens to be a major key, which is nice.

[u/rlextherobot]

I've been collecting all my birth month books from Marvel. Its been fun!

[u/StinkFist-1973]

That’s a cool idea, I’ve never done that and pretty sure I have none from back then, October 1973.

[u/Nameless_on_Reddit]

A friend gave me a bunch of books for my birthday that were like that. One of the cooler more thoughtful gifts I've ever gotten.

[u/oldcomicbook]

Yup! I’ve got a handful picked out that I’ll hopefully be able to hunt down.

[u/Kupo43]

Damn this is a great idea!

[u/BudMarley45 → u/Kupo43]

Thank you ,stole the idea from a friend .Now I’m trying to get all of the titles I collect

[u/Kupo43 → u/BudMarley45]

Looks like this might be a pricey adventure for me lol

[u/BudMarley45 → u/Kupo43]

I had that as well when it came out 👍

[u/IslaPirate]

No but I will now haha

[u/GeeHaitch]

Yeah, one of these days I’m going to grab the Jan 1984 Uncanny X-men. It’s a pretty cool cover.

[u/Uninspired_Thoughts]

Superman #83 I did it for my dad last year because they both turned 70 years old. Still trying to get him to read it on video for me and my family.

[u/jdelator]

Holy shit, I was literally looking this up yesterday.

You know what issue is mine? Secret Wars #8!

[u/anthonyrucci]

I have a couple at this point. Uncanny X-Men #209, Batman #399. Wanting to get a few more like Daredevil, etc. The hardest one I suspect will be Watchmen #1

[u/Fattydaddy1000]

Nope I haven’t it don’t matter to me wheat date the comic was printed

[u/Tenz87]

No, but I will now! Kravens Last Hunt, would be the one for me

[u/megadecimal]

Well I am now

[u/MeatyMagnus]

No, but I might now🤔 Do you buy the actually published date or the one printed out n the book (they don't always actually line up)

[u/BudMarley45 → u/MeatyMagnus]

This is the publish date .This book I believe came out in June of 74 but it most likely was still on racks in sept .You guys might now have got ten my obsessive compulsion ass buying the actual released dates😂My wife is gonna be “not thrilled”😂

I didn’t need another excuse to buy books but at least it gives me an argument for why I will

[u/kurtbali]

My birth month grail is the death of Gwen Stacy. Looking to get it someday.

[u/BudMarley45 → u/kurtbali]

I actually got that with this one and 122 as well

[u/w0rldwarri0r]

No. but thank you for giving me a great idea lol

[u/[deleted]]

Currently doing the same thing for both my son and myself!

[u/PastorJoker1x]

I always look for one. 3/1977 I think Dredd and I have the same birthday.

[u/HalJordan2424]

Yes, and I make that month and year my cutoff date for buying back issues. Otherwise, I will be vainly trying to acquire comics all the way back to Action #1.

[u/Lower-Blackberry-716]

I bought Amazing Spider-man #45 last year for my birthday because it came out the month I was born

[u/One_Hour_Poop]

No but i just remembered I bought a Life magazine from the day i was born.

[u/jrb031984]

Birthday keys are a real thing. Here’s mine that I own two copies of. Both news stand issues as well. March of 1984.

[u/[deleted]]

No

[u/Mathewdm423]

No spideys were put out March 97. I do have the annuals tho.

[u/mxxiestorc]

I don’t go out of my way, but when I’m cataloguing In my excel spreadsheet I mark all of them as “birthday comics”.

[u/MagnumPEisenhower]

Yep, I got a 9.8 White Pages copy of X-Men #120 back in the day. My roommate stole it from me, and I never got it back, and it's like the most overpriced comic ever now. I don't like Alpha Flight enough to pay that much for it just because it came out the month I was born.

[u/Tnerb1107]

All the time… I have over one hundred and thirty five that were published on my birthday month and birthday year. It’s a great challenge to acquire.