2000 AD Online Forum

I'd be interested to hear other boarders' experiences of storing comics.

I've been forced to devote a large part of my spare room to stacks of storage boxes (the ones A4 paper come in are perfect for US format comics) and piles of 2K stacked haphazardly on shelves.

Has everyone else resorted to lofts, garages and mysterious sub-bed spaces, where odd shoes breed and no-one ever goes?

Trout

I've got three huge boxes full of 2Ks under the table next to my bed & a couple of drawers full of Megazines & more recent 2Ks...  Once I move house (again) I'll probably stick the huge boxes in the lounge & throw a table cloth over 'em to turn 'em into thrillpowered coffeetables.

i have managed to hide all mine in similar boxes in the loft which i boarded out for storage....that's what i'm doing with it now in fact.  the bonus is that my girlfriend doesn't like ladders so she never goes up there and consequently doesn't know the extent of my spending when it comes to collecting back issues......:o)

eventually i plane to buy proper storage boxes as the bottom always falls out of the ones i have.  i may even bag the pre prog 520 issues but that may be a bit fanboy extreme..

All my 2ks so far have managed to fit into one A4 size box, and my Megazines barely fill another A3 size. But what I need now is a shelving unit for my billions of back issues an graphic novels that are loose:)

SHAKARA!

Well, virtually my entire collection is in storage right now, but I always kept them on bookshelves. Takes up a bit of room & weighs quite a bit, but it meant I could read them whenever the fancy took me (no climbing in attics for me ;-)) & it kept them neat 'n tidy.

...Of course, it did mean that virtually every wall in the room was covered with bookcases...

I'm afraid I've got all mine bagged in proper boxes (CollectorLine). 10 boxes in all for all progs, megazines, specials etc with space for the next couple of years I reckon. I know a lot of them aren't worth bagging etc as such, but having the whole lot in bags and boxes is very pleasing indeed. And no, it's no hassle to read them, they're now easier to find, I've not used sticky tape on the bags, just folded over. I don't have to bring out a huge pile and scatter them everywhere to find the ones I want. Having a series index is also very handy though.

I used to have them all stacked in my wardrobe. The upshot of all this is I can now store clothes in my wardrobe!

I have my whole collection stored in boxes bought from "Partners" the stationers. They take about 220 bagged 2000AD's or 180 if boarded as well. They're a little bigger than A4 size so allow for you not to have to fold the edge of the bags over when storing them. The boxes can cope with the weight of all the progs as well. I've got my entire collection of Action, Battle, 2000AD and associated comics in boxes in the loft and it's surprising how little space they actually take up.

Gotta be another marketing opportunity here for Rebellion.
Say they were to flog 'Collectorline' type 100 prog boxes, with the requisite backing boards & bags. They could customise the boxes by making them 'Prog specific' ie. Progs 1200-1300. They could then have say 4 25 issue dividers in each box listing the major story arc's in those 25 progs etc. Add a few bits of 2k/JD art to the outside of the boxes and its a fanboys wet dream !
Ludicrously expensive of course.

It's something we're looking at, as we're coming to the end of the binders we inherited from Fleetway. At the moment, we're considering the idea of box-file type storage. Any thoughts on what sort of storage collectors prefer would be received with interest.

heh. How about a Rogue Trooper box with a bio-chip slot for the keyring?

What about 5year boxes, approx 260 progs per box, and have the 2000AD logo from that period stamped on the outside.
Too much or too flashy cover art would be wasted as these things are most likely to be placed out of sight and would force the price up too high, although glossy Jock Dredd masterpieces would be great.

I use 40 prog boxes, though 1-year boxes could work. The reason is that I can therefore pick them up one handed at arms length (they are on a top shelf). I used to use A4 paper boxes, but they got too heavy.

I don't bag the comics individually. For one thing, it greatly increases the amount of storage required.

Wake

I don't know where to get those collectorline boxes from, but I'd order a few 2K boxes. I wouldn't mind some artwork on then, as I'd probably have at least one box out of storage for reading. I've just moved house and I discovered just how heavy a stack of comics can be.

I'm off to Ikea tonight, though, so I may look and see what sort of storage stuff they have there.

I don't think boxes specific to a range i.e. 300-400 are a good idea, at least not the same. I don't think I got the same amount in any 2 boxes, apart from maybe the first 3. After that the thickness of all the rest varies loads. I certainly prefer the size of boxes I've got. They tend to hold (bagged, with every tenth one boarded) about 150 - 200. I've got 1-519 in three boxes. For a whole collection, that size is fine. Might be an idea to have smaller ones for the 'average' new collector though.

does anyone use those freezer type bags with the push seal on the top? (like a plastic zip). i don't currently use bags but i would imagine they would be easier to open and close than tape sealed poly bags and more protection than leaving the bags open.  the only prohibitive factor could be the extra cost...any comments?

I'm drooling already! :o)

I was thinking of doing that sort of thing on my boxes. Still got to check what the first/last one in each box is though. Then it's time to rake through the prog covers here to print them out.

Boarding each one is pretty excessive I think. Apart from space, it'd be ridiculously expensive like you say.

OK I've refined my idea.
Apart from safe storage, the main thing a box must do is allow easy retrieval of the correct prog at a moments notice.
So Rebellion could make :-
(a) Dividers (with appropriate art) covering say every 25 progs - they could have prog info on them to facilitate finding that story you are looking for. Would fit into most peoples collections.
(b) Prog Info stickers (as with the dividers) for again say 25 Progs. These can be slapped on the side of whatever Thril Containment Vessel you are currently using and would again aid quick retrieval, as well as looking good if the ywere done well.
Just a thought.

I agree about the dividers and headers, I hate having to go through prog after prog if I'm looking for something specific.

I use cardboard magazine boxes from Ikea - you get five for a pound and each holds 30-50 progs (30 of the old size, 50 of the new ones).

The same boxes hold all sizes of prog and Megazines and specials, and the complete run pretty much fills 2 Ikea bookcases in the bedroom.

The bookcases were forty quid each, and the complete run of progs fills one bookcase (32 magazine boxes).

On the other bookcase, The Megazines fill one shelf; the specials, Starlord, Crisis, Revolver, Scream, etc, fill another shelf; reprints (Best Of Monthlies, Complete Judge Dredd, Classic 2000AD) fill a third and the annuals (unboxed) pretty much fill the fourth shelf.

The magazine boxes have the comic name and issues scrawled on them with a marker pen, so I can find them.

Oh, and they look pretty good, too.

Roy

PS/ I'm now only two years behind the rest of you in my reading - hard to believe I've read 23 years of 2000AD, Starlord, Megazines, specials, annuals, etc, since November, but there you go.

Of the stuff that's current at the moment (for me), the second series of Mercy Heights just finished (it was crap), Balls Brothers series two was quite fun, Dredd: Doomsday Scenario is what I'm in the middle of right now, and I'm enjoying that a lot. Though it's a pain having to remember to swap back and forth between the weekly and the monthly every few issues.

Oh - that should be 40 old-size progs and 50 new size per magazine box. The only ones which old have 30 in them are the very early progs, because progs 3-10 and the banned progs (71,72,77,78) are bagged and boarded, which takes up more space.

None of the other comics are bagged (though I might pop 1208 in a bag after I've read it, I doubt I'll bother)

Roy

Better than a box file would be one of those A4 plastic shelf tidys, that way you probably have the easiest access to your progs.  

That's what I've started putting a few of mine into (these are whsmiths ones and quite solid and sturdy).  Easier to get at than box files.  I don't know if you can get them with some sort of hinged lid.  Anyway, I'd buy some of those.

Anything that invlolves a box makes it less likely I'll actually read the progs again.  My poor 520 ones are bagged and boxed (it was a phase I went through) and I've never read them since)

I was originally going to buy some files, but I really don't like the look of the current ones.  Rather a hip and trendy design from the nineties.  Yuk.  I have one of the first files produced, it's okay, but I'm not convinced I can get my progs back out and it doesn't hold many.

Anyway I'll hold off buying anymore shelf tidies until I see what you come up with :) , if it looks cool and is reasonably priced, I'd rather buy something with a logo on it.

Well, thanks everyone for the suggestions.

My 2K-format comics are the ones I need to find boxeds for, in case I need to move house in the near future.

The Ikea solution sounds practical and affordable and I'll probably look into that next chance I get.

However, I would consider something practical and cool if Rebellion were offering it at a reasonable price.

Cheers,

Trout

Yeh I've got my small but growing collection of 2k's (only came back into the fold at 1201 I'm ashamed to say) in 'Muji' transparent plastic shelf tidiers as well. They are really nice looking and sturdy but the sods stopped making them the moment thay became my thrill containment vessel of choice. Bastardos. (I've also sellotaped some pics of Dredd on the front from promo cards etc).
But I was thinking longer term I'm not sure I can give up the shelf space to back progs as the collection grows and will have to box 'em.

Right now I've got all my comics an a long shelf but i'm about to run out space. Nows the time to sort things out...

Finnigan Sinister  

I moved recently and shifting 3 boxes with 400 progs in each was serious hard work.  I'm going to be moving again at the end of the summer & having something more manageable would be great.

It needs to be small enough to carry without breaking yourself.  However, if they're too small (1year boxes for example) then I'll end up with too many boxes, which will involve countless trips up & down stairs.

The dividers are good thinking, but these should cover 52 progs (by year).

Yep, I like the sound of the dividers, although an official story index would be good. Should be easy enough to produce with the database on here. Could be sold through the shop and updated every year or something? I've got one that covers 1-1000 and it's invaluable when you're looking for a story, especially a single episode Dredd. Plus you usually come across things you'd forgotten existed, like the odd classic future shock.

Here's a list of some of the storage stuff that ACE omics have on offer, they have stuff for american comics but I'll just list the 2000AD relevant comic supplies.

La Placa Rifa,
W. R. Logan.

Ace Comics
COMIC SUPPLIES

MAGAZINE POLY BAGS (X100)
will fit old UK Marvel comics, Dr Who monthly, Starlog etc.
Price: ?2.95

2000AD POLY BAGS (X100)
will fit oversized magazines, graphic novels.
Price: ?3.25

MAGAZINE BACKERS (X50)
Price: ?7.95

WHITE PLASTIC DIVIDERS 20MM LIP (X10)
Helps to separate your collection & still leaves room for comic box lids.
Price: ?7.25

DELUXE MAGAZINE BOXES (X3)
Postage included.
Price: ?18.00

DELUXE MAGAZINE BOXES (PER EXTRA BOX)
Price: ?4.95

Link: ACE Comics

do the new sized progs still class as oversized comics in comparison to the older pre 520 progs?  does everyone use a standard bag for all their progs or do they have different sized bags for different era's of 2K.  i really like the idea of the boxes and dividers.  i would invest in some of those.

I just checked and the Ikea bookcases we're using are called Billy", apparently, if you need to look 'em up.

The "boxes" I mentioned aren't things with lids, by the way, just cardboard magazine files.

HTH

Roy

I think I've found a solution!
At work we were archiving a load of last years files the other week using them brown stiff paper storage archive boxes...
They're just the right size to hold a years worth of progs & they come in boxes of 25.

Not too pretty, granted - but you can always print out pictures from this site to stick to them...

Link: Where you can get them from...?8.99

Damn link!

Link: Let's try this again.

Okay - once you've got there type 297250 in the 'Product Code' box.

Strangely enough I just bought another 2 clear plastic magazine holders from Muji at lunchtime to hold my burgeoning 2k collection. They are pricey but real sturdy. I like to have as much as possible racked on shelves rather than in boxes for ease of perusing during idle moments..

Link: Muji Magazine Holders

I find that tearing out the strips you want, thermal binding them into inch thick omnibus collections, and binning the left overs save a hell of a lot of space. I've got something like 20 inches of Dredd comics in thermal bound format, all with card backs and acetate covers with indexes.

At present, I've been collecting ROADHOUSE in this format too. Next week onwards, it'll just be Dredd. Same for the Meg too, though it is a bit sad to see the rest of those nice, shiny issues go into the bin.

- TCC

Link: THE JUDGE DREDD STREET SIM

You tear up your Progs & Megs !! Shudder.
I'm not sure I could do that - altho' it would save a lot of space eg de-'Bison-ing' my collection. Might be useful for collecting the stories in old 'BO2K' that I've been picking up - what is 'thermal binding' ???

I got 5 of the boxes from megacitycomics, and enough bags for nearly my whole collection (which is pretty anal going from some of the earlier posts :p) I've got about 200-220 in each box, and one box spare. They seem to be very good for storing, and are designed so that the bottom doesn't fall out when you lift.

It's got to be a better storage option than having them stacked on a shelf in the shoe cupboard :)

So nobody thinks getting backing boards for each and every one would be a good idea then?

Woah! Major Necropost!
Like it was said on the other thread, progs are resilient little things and backing boards would be a bit pointless, IMO.
They're protected by raw thrillpower anyway.

Not really much point in backing boards for comics unless they're particularly rare, IMO. When you've got a full box of progs they stay nice and flat anyway.

Bloody hell! A blast from the past!

Three years on, my comics are mostly in the - very tidy - boxroom, but I did invest in an Ikea shelving unit and lots of magazine boxes, which have GNs and current comics displayed very neatly.

- Trout

Till I was half way down I thought this was a new thread! Nor heard from Mk13 for a while!

Bolt-01

Neeeeeeeeccccrrrroooo pooooosssttt.....
I find leaving old progs everywhere in no discernible order seems to do the trick.
Drives my girlfriend crazy, gives my son something to rip up, and I occasionally find what I'm looking for.
They also double as coffeetables, placemats, cutting boards, and wipes at a moments notice.
They also stop unwanted guests from sitting down.
 I did originally have them in order, but that's gone out the window....
 The art on the other hand, is glued to walls with PVA.
Good job.
:-) R

Rufus, you're a lunatic!
:-)

Personally, we have our comics in bookcases bought from Officeworld (?31 per bookcase) super-sturdy and they move well. (With my job, I move around a lot so having boxed everything up, it would probably take us another six months to un-box them all) Have all my 2K's Megs and Specials in one bookcase. Annuals in another and the other comics (Battle, Victor, Solarwind, etc) in the third and we will be out to buy our 13th (once the flexible friend has been cleared) bookcase (the rest are double-filled with books)!

Damn, didn't even notice it was all the way from 2002. Ah well, a little nostalgia to brighten your day huh?

Is there such a thing as a rare 2000AD?

Well, some are rarer than others.

For example, there's one at around 1100 - is it 1108? I can never remember - that didn't go to every part of the UK due to a warehouse flood.

But there's nothing so rare as some of the EC Comics from the 50s, some of which don't even exist any more.

- Trout

Yes.  You should watch out for prog 1 (with Space Spinner), and the toher very early progs.  There's also the ultra-rare Prog 1449 with its distinctive "coffee-cup stain" motif - only one or two of these were printed.  I can let you have my copy for $300 if you're interested?

Thanks but I think I've got that one already, although I may have to check it's certificate of authenticity now that I know there is another in existence.

I think the one you meant was 1208, which I got off ebay (but I think I got reamed on that one. It certainly felt uncomfortable).

My comics have now left my house as we are renting it out, and a currently dominating one of my girlfriend's parents' bedrooms.  Luckily, having had all their children now leave home, they have a four bedroom house with just a couple in it.  Unfortunately, me and my girlfriend and moving into something akin to a grannyflatshelteredbungalow.

yo dudes an' dudettes, me i've resorted to surrendering my entire flat over to all things thrillfull,shelving unit's from Argos are what do it for me upto 450 progs per shelving unit,although they are heavy and most megs dont fit properly,perfect for 2000 though! although i'll have to get somemore as i hav'nt seen the floor for around 5 yrs!

although i still don't know how i'm gonna store all the specials,graphics,annuals shelves don't work for those any suggestions for that little problem would be cool!

...could anyone post some pictures of there shelving solutions...

"with space for the next couple of years I reckon"

I stand by my earlier comment, as it's now a couple of years on and I have indeed run out of space in my boxes :o)

you think you got problems....
:-) R

help....

Is that a tellytubby?

I've got a nightmare. I have a 1000+ 2000ad's in a wardrobe just for them. It's brim full of progs, megazines etc.

Problem is, there's no way I could bring them with me if I move in with my girlfriend.

Yes Mr C, it was my little boy's teletubbie, and being a sentimental fool, I'm keeping it to embarass him with when he reaches puberty. The other toys are ...errr... mine.
R

Holy Shit! Is that a Landraider? Cooool! And you've got star wars toys near your easel? It's a bazaar of the Geekar!

Seriously though, am I sad for wanting your stuff for my own?

Yes, Chris, you are.

The rest of you: tidy your rooms!