I have been collecting comic books since I was seven years old. I can thank my father for instilling my passion. Each weekend he would take me to my grandmother’s house in Charleston. I would assist him with various yard work and maintenance. After spending the morning working, we would then visit the comic shop which was located around the corner from her home. The store was a book trading store with a corner for comics. But it was enough for me.

I started enjoying Captain America and Avengers. Then a friend introduced me to the X-Men. I was fascinated by the storyline. I grabbed everything X-Men. Especially Wolverine – even before it was cool to like him. I then found What If? and gobbled up the stories.

DC comics never appealed to me. Superman was all-powerful and Batman was just a normal man, a simple vigilante. Maybe the campy Batman television show and the silly Superman sequels did me in.

Over the years, I dabbled in various other titles but nothing stuck with me except the Punisher. I even had a Spider-Man run, but that goofy clone series turned me off.

I actually became disillusioned with many of titles that I was reading. Clichés and stereotypes were prominent in all of the writing. Joe Quesada then tracked down some fabulous writers and helped created what spark my passion again – Marvel’s Ultimate line.

I have recently enjoyed Ex Machina and Bite Club. I have expanded my reading and have even ventured into DC territory for a few titles.

I spend too much time & money on comics, but without a hobby I would be boring.