Box Watcher

So Scott has asked me to participate in this “meme” thing about comics.  Sounds like fun, so here are the questions.

1) What was the first comic you remember reading?
2) What was the first comic that made you realize that you might be in this for the long haul?
3) If you had to make a snap decision to take one comic or one comic run to a desert island, what would it be? Don’t think too hard!

1) The first one I remember reading is Fantastic Four #203.  I’m sure I read other comics before but this is the first I remember.  The story was about this little mutant kid who conjures up evil versions of Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben.  I don’t remember too much else.  I want to pick this up since I don’t have a copy any more.  I’m not sure but I think this issue also contains a “Stan’s Soapbox” on the Bullpen Bulletins page that I remember reading.  

2) I remember going up to Norm’s drug store in Coal City and picking up Atari Force #1 and the “silent” issue of G.I. Joe, #19 I think, and thinking comics were cool.  But it was Secret Wars #2 that got me hooked.  I already knew the F.F., Spider-man, Hulk, and Captain America but I wasn’t too familiar with the other Avengers or the X-men.  This issue really opened my eyes to the Marvel Universe. Then trying to piece together what happened in the rest of the series to what was going on in the monthly comics.  I was able to pick up the first issue at another store and got the new issues as they came out.  

3) This might be a bit of cheat but I don’t care since it’s all in one volume.  The Dark Knight Returns was the first comic story I remember reading that felt like something in line with movies I liked.  The action was bit more brutal, the story was bit more complex, and it was still fun.  I got a great deal on the leatherbound hardcover when a local comic shop went under.  I later got it signed by Miller himself.  containing Batman: Year One, Wanted: Santa Claus Dead or Alive, and The Dark Knight Returns it’s my desert island pick.  

This meme brought back some cool memories.  Like buying a plastic file box to keep my collection in, when it was small enough, and take to school to show friends.  The mad dash from said school to the grocery store on new comic day.  Back then it was a cut throat battle to beat the other collectors to the best issues, no direct market in my 80’s small town.  Best of all I remember comics being under a buck!  

Five people to pass this on to that haven’t already done it?  I guess any twitter people that are reading this.