My books are split between two categories:
1. Comics & comics-related books
2. Everything else
Though a third category is starting to develop - a healthy collection of zines! - I would like to show you my comics.
I’m in the process of cataloging them all on librarything.com and have them tagged into four main categories:
Minicomics - usually photocopied and hand-bound comics smaller than a Letter-sized sheet of paper.
Graphic Novels - you know, those big fat volumes, that people think make comics a legitimate form of literature.
Trade Paper Backs (of TPB) - soft cover comics, usually not as voluminous as a graphic novel, often collecting individual comic book issues into a single story arch.
Comic Book - aka, a “floppy” it’s the traditional comic book you pick up from a spinner rack.
Other major tags include:
Anthology - collection of comics by various artists
Collection - collection of comics by a single artist or team that doesn’t have a main story arch running through each story.
My bedroom, though cold and too big for my liking, has built-in bookshelves which is pretty awesome. I decided this would be the best place for my comics collection. Here are some pictures:
This is a full view of my comics. The shelf also holds paper for my own comic-making (top shelf), gewgaw (middle shelf), and random detritus floating around the shelves. My comics are organized alphabetically by author. It used to be organized by size, due to previous shelf restrictions (my non-comic books live on the wooden bookshelf that used to house my comics). Because so many of my comics are self-published, they’re often very different sizes, ranging anywhere from 1/4″ x 1/4″ to 11 x 17.” Organizing by size makes the row physically more stable, as large books aren’t leaning over small books, but it makes finding items difficult, unless you remember what size the comic was. As you can see the top shelf is in complete disarray, but that’s my A-J shelf which I’m almost done cataloging.
Here’s my K-Q shelf. Along with a mug of water, and some chocolate. Ugh, how embarrassing.
My R-Z shelf also houses my anthologies section. My Anthologies are alphabetized by title, this way, anthologies with multiple volumes (like Papercutter, or Awesome) can stay together regardless of primary author or editor.
Finally, my to-read row, which includes mostly comics, but also zines, as well as prose & poetry books.
Neil Brideau is a CUL volunteer, makes comics, and works at Quimby’s Bookstore. He and his friends are organizing the first ever Chicago Zine Fest, March 12-13, 2010. You can attend the open planning meeting on January 30th, 11:30 a.m., at the Logan Square Library, 3030 W Fullerton Ave., a short walk from either the Blue Line Logan Square station or California station.
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