An oft' told tale... perhaps?

whovianone · Post by **whovianone** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:01:42 am

Well, my story isn't tragic or strange, unfortunate or unbelieveable... It's not even that original I'm sure, but it's mine.

You have my apologies ahead of time for the length of my tale...

I began my love of comics in the early 80's. My youngest uncle (Only 7 years ahead of me) was big into X-Men and other various titles. I used to fly from Houston, TX to Muncie, IN to visit family each summer. We moved to Texas during the oil boom where my dad got a nice job so we could get a nice little ranch-style house in a lazy suburb we'd call home for the next eight years. The first year back to Indiana (I was 8) I absorbed my uncle's love for comics as I did most things he did (Don't we all have an aunt or uncle we idolize?). I then came back to Texas and purchased my first book, Alpha Flight #1. I loved the art of John Byrne and to this day he still has a special place in my heart. I quickly began to use my small $1 allowance to get a new book every time I could. I hadn't had any other hobbies before so I had no way to trade with friends, but would pick up one or two comics at a time friends would charitably offer to me. In the first year I had nearly 100 comics.

It was during this time that it was discovered that I had a reading problem. So, I was placed in the remedial reading classes at school. I was always great in math and sciences, but couldn't read or write properly. It wasn't discovered until later that my problem stemmed from OCD, and I probably had a touch of ADD as well, but there was not the attention placed on these disorders that is now. So, I would try to get every comic I could, but rarely ready any. I did not have the patience to sit down and enjoy the comics as they were intended. But, I loved to look at the art and learn all I could about characters from friends. I did have the patience to sit for hours on end and memorize the price guides. There we had numbers. Math... wow, I could get into anything with numbers. So, I read for hours at a time, and before long I could go into a trade with a friend, and tell them the value of every book they had.

Flash forward to the years after high school. Like many brash, bored, and immature young men I left college over a girl. >sigh< You ladies have no idea the power you have over us... But, shortly after that time I fell in love with two things, The Flash, and a new comany called Valiant. Valiant was making news in every corner of the industry and hit me where I live, in my sense of value. I'd always look for that gem worth $20 in someone's quarter box, so think of my joy when a comanies entire first run was a potential "holy grail" for me to discover. So, I sought out every book I could, finding some, but a magical thing happened. I started to read those Flash issues, and those Valiant books. Shortly after leaving college, and entering into a shortly-lived marriage with said girl, I began to find solice in comics books. I had no direction in life, had made many mistakes, but I had comics. And, Flash and Valiant were my new loves. For the first time in my life I knew stability. My family life was disfunctional (Of course, aren't we all in some way?", full of emotional abuse, and I had suffered from depression and an OCD disorder I still struggle with today on some level, but I had comics to be my anchor.

It's now 15 years later, and during my failed marriage I lost all my Valiant books I loved. I was only able to keep my Flash collection. I have done alot of collecting of other titles, but have always loved Valiant. I hung onto a Chaos Effect Omega Gold, some Platinum and Gold Unity issues, etc. But, one day I was surfing on eBay (Where I spend far more than I should... can I get a whitness anyone?), and found a link to ValiantFans.com. Wow, you have no idea how much I love this site! I poured over it's pages like it was water and I'd just come from 40 days in the desert. I've been drinking it in for weeks, and have begun to seek out one of my greatest loves.

Today I read many comics a week. I slip in a novel every now and again, and tackle my OCD by working in a computer store where things are not the same from day to day except for customer services.

I have found the love of my life in recent years, we had our first child last year. (Hands raised for any 30-something that finds that an odd thing to say.) I'm happy, contented, light of wallet, and happy.

I have all I've ever wanted. A family, a job I like, and lots to be thankful for. But, this year, 2007, I have one more thing. I have a tiny cherry on my sundae (My little girl), and a little more to be centered and stable over (Valiant comics, and this site).

Long live Valiant, and long live you people here for keeping it alive!

Whovianone - Master level Who-fan
(BTW - My other loves are Doctor Who, Indy Colts & Pacers, and foreign flicks)

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:16:07 am

Great story!

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:20:53 am

Thanks for sharing your story. Looks like life has thrown some difficult things your way and you have kept on. Aren't families and loved ones, comics and Doctor Who great.

whovianone · Post by **whovianone** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:34:20 am

Leonmalett, preach and ye shall be listened to!

I love my family today and we get along great and have worked past alot. But, those teen and early 20's were tough. But, if I'd not been so immature I'd have found out they did mean well. Now I'm finding out what they meant when they said, "Children don't come with manuals!" LOL

Squirrel · Post by **Squirrel** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:39:45 am

I too had my only child in my 30's, my son Ian is the reason I live. He's 5 now and I'm 36. Great to have ya here mate!

Cheers!
--SquirreL--

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:05:22 am

whovianone wrote:Leonmalett, preach and ye shall be listened to! I love my family today and we get along great and have worked past alot. But, those teen and early 20's were tough. But, if I'd not been so immature I'd have found out they did mean well. Now I'm finding out what they meant when they said, "Children don't come with manuals!" LOL

I always think that the older I get the less I realise that I know. We often 'know' everything when we are young, don't we?

siren3-4 · Post by **siren3-4** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:50:02 am

Great story !! Welcome to the boards

Keep that sense of humor and you will always be fine

Rufusharley · Post by **Rufusharley** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:12:38 pm

Welcome!

greg · Post by **greg** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:14:49 pm

Welcome to the boards!

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 2:50:34 pm

Always room for another Valiant fan, welcome aboard.

myron · Post by **myron** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:05:56 pm

welcome! pretty sure you'll fit right in...

Zero · Post by **Zero** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:04:59 pm

greg wrote:Welcome to the boards!

childres · Post by **childres** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:31:29 pm

Hi! Glad your here!

96Valiantfan · Post by **96Valiantfan** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:44:02 pm

Welcome

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:23:53 pm

Remember: Once you get in on the jackassery you're a lifer.

whovianone · Post by **whovianone** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:14:56 pm

Jackassery? Ok, I'll bite, I have to ask. What means jackassery?

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:25:24 pm

whovianone wrote:Jackassery? Ok, I'll bite, I have to ask. What means jackassery?

Pretty much everything I post.

Zero · Post by **Zero** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:58:47 pm

X-O HoboJoe wrote:
whovianone wrote:Jackassery? Ok, I'll bite, I have to ask. What means jackassery?
Pretty much everything I post.

viewtopic.php?t=9707&start=0&sid=116ddf ... 0f7647d4ff

Elveen · Post by **Elveen** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:14:15 am

Hola Compadre....

Great story.......

post often.... even when you have nothing to say!

myron · Post by **myron** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:19:49 am

X-O HoboJoe wrote:Remember: Once you get in on the jackassery you're a lifer.

basic Hoboism...the Hoar, the Hoar...

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:46:15 pm

Welcome aboard!

-slym (takes a bow for coming up with "jackassery")

Zero · Post by **Zero** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:25:01 pm

slym2none wrote:Welcome aboard!

-slym (takes a bow for coming up with "jackassery")

I tried to give you a tip 'o the cap up above. You definitely deserve a nod for coining that 'word'.

whovianone · Post by **whovianone** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:19:24 pm

*clap* *clap* Love it!

tarheelmarine · Post by **tarheelmarine** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:21:16 am

Great story bro! I had been meaning to read it when i got to Rota. Once this site gets ahold of you, you never leave. It's a great home.

Lightning Strike · Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:15:37 pm

Nice story! Thanks for sharing and welcome

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An oft' told tale... perhaps?

An oft' told tale... perhaps?

Que?

Re: Que?

Re: Que?

Re: An oft' told tale... perhaps?