In the beginning there was reading

Yup, most people get into comics collecting from when they pick up that first comic book somewhere and get hooked. They liked it enough to look for the next issue and then the next and before they knew it there was a stack in their bedroom cupboard and the list of titles that they read was expanding. Next up they started to get interested in the creators as well as the characters, to appreciate the writing and the quality of the art and before their mother could say "clean up that room", they were finding ways of keeping their collection in the best possible condition.
After a while the reading list might become more selective and if there is a favourite title or character, then the fan will start looking around for copies of issues that they missed or for books from the same publisher where their favoured character made guest appearances. And finally they start trying to build back fro where they started to find as many of a title's run as they can so as to find out what went before.
Now that's collecting. But not everybody is a completist with title runs, some may follow an artist or creative team from book to book, the possibilities are pretty much endless. One thing is sure, there are collectors out there with impressive and much loved accumulations of whatever takes their interest.
It is hard to imagine that a collector would try to build a complete library of the entire output of Marvel or DC or Charlton, but it would be quite easy to build up the sum total of what was produced by First Comics or Aardvark Vanaheim - how much money have you got?
The most important thing about collecting should be the level of enjoyment, the thrill of tracking down a long sought after issue or completing a difficult run. It isn't for dealers or pundits to tell you what to collect, but they can help and encourage people along the way. Chances are most of them are collectors too, or began that way. Whatever you are collecting, escapecomics hopes that you are having plenty of fun doing it and if we get the chance to help you along the way, we'll be delighted. Happy hunting!