I felt it was important to document the events that have taken place in my life since the release of IDW's
"TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES" #1 starting with the day of release on Wednesday
August 24th, 2011.
8am-9am: CCL Approvers and myself attempt to research and add proper images of all 12 variants for the CCL library and collector's database. Upon researching, I discover a
HASTINGS bookstore exclusive variant.
10:30am: My good friend Jeremy (who quit collecting comics almost 15 years ago) asks me to pick him up a copy of
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1. Cover not important.
11am-12:30pm: Trips to 2 different comic shops to buy copies and price variants of the number one issue for myself and my bud.
12:45pm: Call my closest
HASTINGS and ask them to hold 2 copies of the exclusive #1 variant for me.
6pm-9pm: Drive 45 minutes down the road with my fiance to
HASTINGS in Murfreesboro Tennessee to buy 2 copies of the exclusive variant. Pleasantly surprised both copies were in excellent shape, despite the unnecessary roughness displayed by the
HASTINGS checkout girl who obviously didn't collect comics and thought my books were made of steel and could withstand Hurricane Irene.
And that was simply the day of release.
Forget for one second that I literally
EAT, SLEEP AND BREATHE comic books. In the last week, my friend Jeremy has taken it upon himself to run down the other issues. Yesterday he asked me to return the same comic shops I went to so he could buy more, (
which he couldn't because they were sold out) and he bought 2 variants on his own online without my help from 2 different retailers.
In watching these events unfold, I'm proud to say that
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #1 embodies what makes collecting comics unique and fun in today's tough industry climate. It's not just the payoff of finding that elusive
1:20 Gatefold Variant to display on your desk. In Jeremy's own words:
"Man, this book makes me feel like a kid all over again." Throw in a reimagining story that doesn't hurt when it's reimagined and some nice artwork, and you've got yourself a modern day masterpiece and a stroke of marketing genius.
It's true, collectors: 12 different variant covers to run down as of this writing, but damn if running these down hasn't been fun so far. I've enjoyed the ride so far after a single issue, so this book will be added to my monthly pull. I've heard through the grapevine that this book is sold out at the
DISTRIBUTOR LEVEL, so if you want this book, now's the time to snag it if you want a first print.
So an extra special shout out to IDW for the smile I get on my face when my friend comes up and asks me if I have an extra bag and board for his
MICHELANGELO variant.
Well played, independent publisher.
Well played.