You Are Now Leaving the DC Universe...

I've been collecting (mostly DC) Comics since the early 1970s, only stopping once,–in high school–because I thought comics were just for kids. I returned to collecting with THE NEW TEEN TITANS #1 by Wolfman and Perez in 1980 and have kept up with most of the DC Universe ever since.

Lately, I've grown apathetic about comics. Super-hero movies don't excite me, Wednesday comic book store visits seem like a chore, reading most titles leaves me empty and, frankly bored. When I can't sleep, I pick up and comic book -and I'm snoozing within 10 minutes.

I actually get excited when books that I collect (like CATWOMAN) are cancelled, because that means I won't feel guilty about not buying it each month. The $2.99 a month can go to something I really need - like food. (Rumors have it that they'll be $3.99 before you know it).

I definitely have a bad case of event fatigue - after great books like IDENTITY CRISIS, INFINITE CRISIS and 52 - we have been plagued by gross failures like COUNTDOWN, FINAL CRISIS  and TRINITY (A 52-week series that I bailed out on at week 26 - I gave it a full 6 months to interest me - and it didn't).

So, it is great sadness that I announce that I am giving up collecting most comics. Already dropped from my list: the fun, but forgettable BOOSTER GOLD, the ever-revamping SUPERGIRL, the new SECRET SIX, the mixed bag of BRAVE & THE BOLD, and GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY. TITANS and TEEN TITANS will most likely be dropped when the current storylines are over. The BATMAN/DETECTIVE and SUPERMAN/ACTION titles haven't been a regular purchase for me for years. I pick up issues of interest now & then. LEGION, GREEN LANTERN and FLASH have never been on my regular reading list.

These titles are cancelled, so I will buy them up till the last issue: the terrific MANHUNTER and the always fun BIRDS OF PREY. These books are limited series, and I look forward to their speedy conclusions: FINAL CRISIS, FC: REVELATIONS, FC: LEGION OF 3 WORLDS, TANGENT: SUPERMAN'S REIGN and VIXEN: RETURN OF THE LION.

This will leave me with 3 monthly titles: WONDER WOMAN, JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA and JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. These are the books I've followed since the 1970s, and still enjoy. I plan on picking up the new JUSTICE LEAGUE and POWER GIRL books to check them out, but other than that - I'm pretty much planning on streamlining my purchases.

From Marvel, I'm only buying AVENGERS/INVADERS and SENTRY. Both are limited series. SUPER POWERS from Dynamite is also being dropped. It's a great concept, but the characters aren't really my cup of tea. I guess my lesson learned is, when something is no longer fun, it's time to stop doing it-especially when it costs money. Besides - there are always trade paperback collections!