It is true that many people hoard comics and then forget about them, and such hoards are not discovered until the owners’ deaths.
However, comics are a fairly delicate commodity. They’re printed on cheap pulp paper that yellows and eventually becomes brittle even under the best of circumstances; internet critic Harry Knowles has spoken about how his own collection – stored by uncaring relatives in a barn – was partially ruined by heat, exposure, and being crapped on by various barn vermin. Much of my own childhood collection suffered from being stashed in my grandmother’s attic… and being used by mice for nesting material.
It’s not often you run across a GOOD hoard, maintained in GOOD condition.
I figured you would get it.
Reading about this makes me sad.
Back when I was 9 or 10, I found in my mothers closet, and was summarily given, a big box of comic books.
Old comic books.
The Metal Men, JEB Stuart and the Ghost Tank, Dot, ARchie, Dr. Who comics, original non-gay Kid Colt, a comic that was based off of some John Wayne movie where they suped up a wagon to get a load of gold past an army of bad guys. A whole bunch of scary comics, EC horror stuff.
I read each and every one of them until they fell apart. My bedroom floor was was littered with what was essentially shredded comics. I would read one, fall asleep, wake up and toss it on the floor next to the bed.
nickel and dime comics, Casper the friendly ghost comics… oh man.
One of the few regrets of my life that I continue to hold.