I love being a comic book collector and seller.
There is something about diving into a box of new stock that genuinely feels like Christmas to me. When a delivery arrives, I cannot wait to open it, see which new issues have come in and begin working through every book.
Looking at the covers, checking the condition and then bagging and boarding the comics one by one is one of my favourite parts of the entire process. It might look like routine work from the outside, but it brings me a great deal of peace.
Why opening a new box feels like Christmas
Every box is different.
There might be a cover I have never seen before, a character I collect, an unexpected variant or an older issue that immediately brings back memories. Even when I know roughly what is arriving, there is still excitement in seeing the comics properly for the first time.
Then comes the process of getting everything ready: checking each issue, organising the books, protecting them with bags and boards, photographing them and preparing the listings.
I enjoy every part of it. It gives me something practical to focus on and a sense that I am building something one comic at a time.
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Photograph by Helgi Halldórsson , available under the CC BY-SA 2.0 licence .
Comics are more than a business to me
For me, comics are not simply stock to be bought and sold. They are part of how I keep myself grounded.
Because of my disabilities, including complex PTSD and epilepsy, traditional employment is not something I can manage reliably. Being autistic also means that structure and predictable routines are extremely important to me.
Comics give me that structure.
Organising them, sorting them, researching them, listing them and talking about them gives my days shape. Having a clear process allows me to focus on one step at a time, and that matters to me more than I can properly explain.
There is comfort in knowing what comes next. A comic arrives. I inspect it. I protect it. I record it. I photograph it. I find the collector who will appreciate it.
That routine gives me a sense of purpose as well as enjoyment.
What happens when that routine suddenly stops
Right now, I cannot sell comics, and that has been incredibly difficult.
My wife and I are going through a breakdown in our relationship. Because I operated ROOB Comics from the house, I currently do not have access to the property where my stock is stored.
At the time of writing, this has been the situation for more than a month. Everything involving the physical comics has therefore had to stop.
The hardest part is not simply the loss of sales. It is being separated from the routine, the collection and the work that mean so much to me.
I will be honest: I am struggling.
However, writing this blog, planning the website and continuing to connect with other collectors have given me ways to keep moving forward while I wait.
ROOB Comics is not over. Not by a long shot.
The comic community has helped me through
One of the biggest reasons I keep going is the comic book community itself.
Collecting can look like a solitary hobby. We might spend hours sorting boxes, reading alone or searching online for one particular cover. But the conversations and friendships surrounding comics are a huge part of what makes the hobby special.
People recommend stories, help identify variants, share collecting advice and celebrate each other’s latest finds. A simple conversation about a favourite character can become a real friendship.
During this difficult period, staying connected with that community has helped remind me that ROOB Comics is about more than the stock currently sitting in boxes.
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Photograph by The Conmunity – Pop Culture Geek , available under the CC BY 2.0 licence .
The channels that ignited my passion
Two of the biggest early influences on my love of comics were Comicstorian and Variant Comics.
Their videos made complicated stories and characters feel accessible. Comicstorian’s narrated comic stories helped me experience major storylines and discover books I might never otherwise have picked up.
Variant Comics introduced me to character histories, origins, major events and parts of comic-book history that made me want to learn more.
I honestly do not think I would be involved with comics in the same way today without channels like these helping to reignite that passion.
Finding a home in the UK comics community
From YouTube, I found my way into Whatnot and then into the wider UK comics community.
That community has been amazing.
Rich at Limited Edition has been a great mentor and somebody I genuinely look up to in the comics world. He encouraged me to start chatting during streams and made me feel welcome within the community as a whole.
That kind of support matters at any time, but it becomes especially important when life is difficult. Having somewhere to join a conversation, discuss the latest covers and share some enthusiasm can make a bad day feel much less isolating.
You can visit Limited Edition – Comics and Collectibles to see the shop and the range of exclusive comics and collectables they offer.
ROOB Comics is still here
Being unable to access my stock has stopped me from selling temporarily, but it has not ended ROOB Comics.
As soon as I regain access to the comics, I will begin working through everything again. I will be back checking stock, bagging and boarding books, creating listings and preparing the website for its full launch.
Until then, I will keep using this blog to share comic reviews, collecting guides, cover-artist features, personal updates and the stories behind the hobby.
Building the blog means I am still creating something for ROOB Comics even when I cannot physically reach the stock.
Join the ROOB Comics mailing list
Please join the mailing list using the signup form at the end of this page.
Subscribers will be the first to hear when the full store returns. I will also send updates about new blog articles, future comic drops and exclusive email discounts once selling resumes.
Scroll to the mailing-list form below to receive launch news, blog updates and exclusive subscriber discounts.
More than buying and selling books
At the end of the day, this is what comics do for me.
They give me structure, comfort, excitement and connection.
Being a collector and seller is about much more than buying books and moving them on. It is about loving the stories and artwork, respecting the people who create them and helping another collector find something that means something to them.
It is also about the community surrounding the hobby: the streamers, collectors, shop owners, readers and friends who make you feel as though you belong.
I am not done.
ROOB Comics is still here. When I can get back to my stock, I will be back doing what I love.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the shop, read the blog or simply taken the time to talk comics with me.