Turk
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Posts: 97
|
Post by Turk on Jan 8, 2014 12:37:54 GMT -5
I try to stay with books when I like the character even if the particular book isnt so good but that too gets tiresome. I don't really enter it with too much thought. I try to hang on but then I go to my local store and if my pile is too big that book gets dropped and i probably wont come back to it.
|
|
|
Post by saucyimp on Jan 8, 2014 12:51:26 GMT -5
I'm really enjoying hearing everybody's opinion so far. With me I'm trying to be more conscious of what books I NEED to read and what books I pick up just to read. Like right now I have 30 books on my pull. With the upcoming All-New Marvel NOW there are definitely some titles I want to pick up, but to do so I'm going to need to drop some books. Not because I have to, but because I really need to focus on only picking up books I'm excited to pick up every month. That will mean dropping some titles I've stuck with since the beginning. But it's never easy. You don't want to drop a book mid-story so I tend to read until the end of the arc. I just need to devise a way to know "Alright, I'm not sold on this. I don't care if I'm 2 issues in, I'm dropping this." Easier said than done though. I know that edthehyena and I plan to drop a few Marvel titles once we get Marvel Unlimited. I also like to try to finish arcs unless the story line gets so stupid, I can't take it. A good way for me to know if I care or not about a book is whether or not I can recall the plot lines. If I'm really struggling to remember what's going on then maybe it's time to pull back. Also, if I feel like I'm obligated to read a book more than I want to read it, I consider dropping it.
|
|
|
Post by edthehyena on Jan 8, 2014 13:24:00 GMT -5
I pretend that I only drop titles between arcs, but it's not true. If I make it to the end of a bad arc, I'll probably check out the start of the next one to see if it's better. I live in fear of dropping a title one issue before it gets really good. I actually dropped Uncanny X-men THE DAY my favorite issue of it came out.
I try to look at what titles I'm only reading because they used to be good, and I try not to pick up a new series without dropping something else. It helps me admit that I'm not enjoying a book when I'm really excited for new things.
My last rule is that I tolerate more from underselling titles before I drop them. I want a book like X-men Legacy to exist, so I'll buy it even if the arc is only pretty good. If Batman does a less-than-stellar arc, I'm out because I know I can come back.
|
|
|
Post by JediHunter66 on Jan 10, 2014 14:30:10 GMT -5
about 4 or 5 months ago i was spending 60-70 bucks a week and that shocked me. So i figured it was time to start trimming. What i did was notice what books i was reading just to read. Some books i was buying just to keep up with the story and when i thought about it, i really could do without them. Not that they were bad, but they didnt have me waiting for the next issue. If i continued to hear good things i would pick up the trade. i cut about 6 books off my pull list without really trying and honestly i havent missed them. I found myself doing the same thing, weekly price was around 45-65 a week. Once the holidays hit I trimmed it down quite a bit. I think now I'll be spending around 70 a month. Crazy to think I was dropping nearly that a week. When it comes down to it I picked around 15-20 titles I absolutely can not trade wait for, the ones I found myself reading last or sometimes a week or more later got cut.
|
|
|
Post by drocat on Jan 10, 2014 15:46:54 GMT -5
about 4 or 5 months ago i was spending 60-70 bucks a week and that shocked me. So i figured it was time to start trimming. What i did was notice what books i was reading just to read. Some books i was buying just to keep up with the story and when i thought about it, i really could do without them. Not that they were bad, but they didnt have me waiting for the next issue. If i continued to hear good things i would pick up the trade. i cut about 6 books off my pull list without really trying and honestly i havent missed them. I found myself doing the same thing, weekly price was around 45-65 a week. Once the holidays hit I trimmed it down quite a bit. I think now I'll be spending around 70 a month. Crazy to think I was dropping nearly that a week. When it comes down to it I picked around 15-20 titles I absolutely can not trade wait for, the ones I found myself reading last or sometimes a week or more later got cut I made a decision yesterday that is a lot like how you do it. If I can wait for the trade then I'm just going to wait for that while I keep myself interested in the few monthlies that I get. I have too many books I wanna catch up on... If I want to get all the trades of Fables I'm gonna have to cut back on my monthlies. Sad to say, but I think it'll be cheaper in the long run.
|
|
knownothingnerd
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The last thing most people see.
Posts: 58
|
Post by knownothingnerd on Jan 14, 2014 8:42:45 GMT -5
It's hard to cut books, but sometimes when things are dragging out I'll just cut a book. I have three jobs, and am now in grad school. Before I started grad school I was involved in some stage productions, so I was pretty busy all the time, but I was still able to read about 10-15 books a week. Sometimes I'd pass a book over because I'm not in the mood. Sometimes those books keep getting pushed back. I might drop a book if I don't get around to it by the time the next issue comes out. I'm keeping up with other books, but for some reason I'm not in the "mood" for THAT book, so maybe I'm not really into and should drop it. If it turns out I do miss it I can grab it later. So far, this has been a good measure for me to drop books.
|
|
|
Post by Nick on Jan 14, 2014 12:20:13 GMT -5
I'm actually thinking about cutting a book or two now, to make room for a few of the new Marvel Now titles coming out soon. It's tough. How do you go about trimming your pull list?
I go about trimming my pull list in two ways. I either just wake up one morning and have no interest in a book anymore, or my budget forces me to make the tough decision and cut a book (or choose not to pick up a new book -- that's the hardest thing for me). When do you know it's the right time to do so?
It's the right time to drop a book when my interest drops, due to a change in the creative team, not staying on schedule, or too many specials/events/crossovers/or double-sized (and priced) issues. How do you know which books to drop?
I group the comics on pull list into tiers. I have my top tier books, which I will get each month, regardless. These are books that either have characters that I've loved since childhood, or books that show consistent quality and stay on schedule. Then I have the middle tier books, which I really enjoy, but the characters or creative teams are new to me. I love the books on this tier, but I can't commit to them fully, this early in the relationship. The last tier on my pull list is the danger zone. These books have fallen out of grace for one reason or another and are now in danger of being dropped the minute I see a new, interesting title on the shelves. I generally won't drop a book on the top tier, the middle tier is pretty safe (for now), and the lower tier is always at risk (a lot of new books that I'm iffy about fall into the lower tier). Also, if I have two books of equal quality and I need to cut one or the other, I will cut the more expensive book, so price does have some impact on my cutting decisions. Do you drop a book mid story or finish the arc out?
I will drop a book mid-story. I bought all of the Infinity title except for the last issue. I just didn't feel compelled to buy it. I can't really explain why. I loved the art and enjoyed the story. I almost dropped Green Arrow due to waning interest, but I started watching Arrow (I was convinced to give the show a shot after hearing angelus104 give his opinion on it in one of the podcasts), and now have renewed interest in it. Close call for Green Arrow! I'm contemplating dropping the main Batman title after Zero Year. I like Scott Synder and Greg Capullo's work, but I don't think they're the bat-team for me. I'm not sure yet.
|
|
|
Post by xtjmac510x on Jan 14, 2014 14:06:41 GMT -5
So I did end up cutting about 17 books last week. A lot of them were tough but I came to a conclusion that helped me out with some:
1. Which ones can I wait to read in trade/at the library? 2. What would give me the most consistent pull every week in terms of finances (It's now $25 a week instead of $60)? 3. What new books do I plan on picking up? What are their prices? 4. Are any books I'm reading going into a crossover/event with a book(s) I'm not reading?
Once I asked myself those questions it really helped
|
|
|
Post by bookend57 on Jan 14, 2014 14:14:23 GMT -5
My local store does offer a discount for pull-lists, 15% I believe, which is nice. Its also handy to have them do the leg work for me even though I always end up browsing the new release racks anyway. The main reason I'll drop a title from my pull list is if there is a noticeable drop in quality. It may also be a case of giving something a shot and it just not wowing me. I give almost all Image #1 releases a shot and will give it the first arc to lure me in, if it doesn't its dropped. Marvel and their incessant events is another reason why I would drop a title, I haven't yet because I don't read more than a handful of Marvel books but with all of the new books on the horizon I could see that being a problem in the future. If DC wants me to jump onto any of their books besides the two I am currently reading (Batman and Harley Quinn) they need to step up their game and/or make some changes. I've heard that they have serious problems with their editors clashing with the creatives. Until that gets resolved I don't anticipate reading a lot of DC books.
|
|
knownothingnerd
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The last thing most people see.
Posts: 58
|
Post by knownothingnerd on Jan 15, 2014 18:19:58 GMT -5
I forgot to mention, but I keep my books in a spreadsheet with price and if they double-ship. I limit myself to $100 a month. It is just something I can look at an visually see the amount of books I want vs can afford.
|
|
|
Post by JediHunter66 on Jan 16, 2014 0:48:05 GMT -5
I forgot to mention, but I keep my books in a spreadsheet with price and if they double-ship. I limit myself to $100 a month. It is just something I can look at an visually see the amount of books I want vs can afford. I set my limit to that now. I wasnt able to pick up my books for most of December and beginning of January so when todays total came up I nearly had a heart attack.
|
|
|
Post by CaptainSuperior on Jan 16, 2014 8:31:29 GMT -5
I try to stick with the books that focus primarily on the different groups in the Marvel Universe so I can keep up with the changes that take place. Such as
Uncanny X-men- Keeps track of Scott Summers side of the schism and the kids at Xavier Academy Amazing X-men- Keeps track of Wolverines side of the schism All-New Xmen- Follows the time displaced X-men Wolverine and the X-men- Follows the new mutuants at Jean Grey Academy
Avengers- Main line Avengers New Avengers- A collection of the greatest Avengers / Illuminati Mighty Avengers- Street level Avengers Avengers Undercover / Young Avengers - the up and coming Avengers.
Etc, etc......
I'll really only follow creator owned series if it is a writer I really like and solo series for Marvel characters are a rareity for myself as well.
|
|
|
Post by PaulWrites on Jan 16, 2014 12:28:35 GMT -5
So I did end up cutting about 17 books last week. A lot of them were tough but I came to a conclusion that helped me out with some: 1. Which ones can I wait to read in trade/at the library? 2. What would give me the most consistent pull every week in terms of finances (It's now $25 a week instead of $60)? 3. What new books do I plan on picking up? What are their prices? 4. Are any books I'm reading going into a crossover/event with a book(s) I'm not reading? Once I asked myself those questions it really helped What did you end up dropping Travis? What have all you guys dropped this year?
|
|
|
Post by CaptainSuperior on Jan 16, 2014 14:06:14 GMT -5
Dropped: Venom Fantastic Four FF Uncanny X-force Cable and X-force Iron Man Indestructible Hulk Captain America Detective Comics Jupiter's Legacy X-men God Is Dead The Bunker Wolverine Nova Avengers Assemble
|
|
|
Post by xtjmac510x on Jan 16, 2014 15:42:48 GMT -5
Dropped Recently (last 1-2 months):
-Batgirl -Cable and the X-Force (love the series, gonna wait and buy the final crossover arc) -Supergirl -Mighty Avengers (after this next issue so I can have the full arc) -Amazing X-Men -All New X-Men (until Trial of Jean Grey is over) -A+X -Pretty Deadly (store stopped carrying it) -Secret Avengers -My Little Pony -MLP Micro-Series -Uncanny X-Force -Teen Titans -Suicide Squad -FBP -Batman & Robin -Batman 66 -Batman
|
|