by Matthew Russell - Posted seconds ago
Welcome, my CryptoComics Compatriots, I’ve been collecting since I was five. Comics have been my Saturday mornings, Wednesday afternoons (you know what I’m talking about…), my road trips, and my late-night reads. I’ve hit more conventions than I can count and I’ve even been hired to appraise private collections for insurance companies. I collect because I love it. Simple as that.
Personally, currently I’m a sucker for metal covers. My first was a gift from the amazing Rose, and it sent me down a shiny rabbit hole. Today my indie and mainstream books barely fit into 39 longboxes (I had to sell off a chunk because, well, walls are not expandable and my wife said so). The point is, I live this hobby.
So when I talk Digital Collectables, I’m speaking as a lifer who wants collecting to be easier, fairer, and more fun. Next, how I approach Digital Collecting vs Physical Collecting and the moves that actually help your library grow without the storage wars.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not investment advice, and neither I nor anyone at CryptoComics is an investment advisor. Digital collectables can be volatile and carry risk. Do your own research and consult a qualified financial professional before making decisions. CryptoComics makes no guarantees and is not responsible for any losses, damages, or actions you take based on this content.
Physical collecting gives you texture, signatures, and slabbed grades. It also gives you longboxes, humidity worries, and dinged corners. Digital collecting gives you edition numbers, provenance, instant delivery, and zero wear. I treat digital runs the same way I treat my paper ones: finish arcs, track variants, log what I own. It stopped being a folder of PDFs once platforms offered true editions, holder perks, and a visible resale history. Same collector brain, just better search.
Storage changes the workflow, not the commitment. I keep two 2TB SSDs loaded, plus cloud copies in Google Drive and Dropbox for redundancy. That’s my online version of acid-free bags and boards. Physical risk is water, sunlight, and gravity. Digital risk is drive failure or account lock-in, so I keep off-platform backups where I can and favor platforms that let me export or withdraw. The result feels familiar: a curated library I can read anywhere, without lugging 39 longboxes up the stairs.
These days I get a majority of my digital versions from Kickstarter (mostly PDF versions of the physical copies), and CryptoComics Marketplace. I’m still trying to chew through the entire Lady Death collection; every issue and every appearance from several different publishers including Eternity Comics, Chaos! Comics, CrossGen Comics, Avatar Press, and currently, Pulido's Coffin Comics.
Digital makes it easy to start strong. I always begin with a series I actually like. Wild concept, I know. Read the first issue, then the next. If I’m still thinking about the characters while I’m making dinner, that’s my cue to collect the run. A complete arc feels good in the library and keeps me from chasing ten unrelated things at once.
Also, if I’m buying a physical copy these days, I will look to see if I can find a digital one as well. It tends to save a little money instead of buying 2 physical copies (reader and a saver…true collectors know).
Variants are fun, but not every shiny cover needs to follow you home. I look for creator-significant art (especially if I’ve met the creator), first appearances, or a piece that hits me in the gut. If the edition count is low and the art matters, great.
If it’s just glitter, I leave it for someone who loves glitter. Simple rule that saves a lot of buyer’s remorse.
Then I let the tools work for me. Alerts and wishlists are your unpaid assistants. Come up with a price you’re happy with and let the platform tap you on the shoulder when something drops into range. It beats refreshing a page between classes or meetings. On our side of the house, we try to make those nudges useful, not spammy, so you can actually act on them.
After that, I like to back an indie early. It’s good for the scene and, yes, it often pays off. Early readers get bragging rights, holders-only bonuses, and sometimes the best path to rarer variants. You’re not just stacking collectibles. You’re helping someone make issue two. That matters.
When it comes to getting on the inside track, I missed out on some pretty amazing digital exclusives that were only offered to those who held a certain digital collectible. Martians vs Roughnecks was a major regret of mine since I was broke at the time.
That's probably why I jumped on Dreamkeepers Volume 5 when it was on IndieGoGo. This leads me to my next point…
When I say “utility,” I mean anything extra you get for owning the book—not just reading it. I’m not the one that came up with that term, so I’m not sure where it comes from. Anyway, think early previews, bonus pages, creator notes, or access to a private Q&A. Sometimes it’s a discount on the next issue, priority for a variant, or a code to redeem a print. Little perks like that make the comic feel active instead of parked in a library.
Next, utility keeps you coming back. If holding Issue #1 unlocks an alt cover for #2, you’ll be there on drop day. If owners get a behind-the-scenes pack or a reader club invite, you’ll talk about the book, not just file it away. The perk doesn’t have to be huge. It just has to connect you to the work and the maker—and that’s what keeps a digital collection feeling alive.
Owning a book might get you invited to certain groups on Discord or Facebook. I’m in a few groups like that and I love it. Most of the time, we as fans just have a new place to “geek out”. One of my personal favorites is one that I got invited to when I got Mr. Ballen’s Strange Dark & Mysterious Graphic Novel. The second one is coming signed in September.
Let’s be real about money for a second. I set a monthly number and stick to it (90% of the time, DON’T TELL MY WIFE). A slice for new drops. A slice for the secondary market. A tiny slice for the “couldn’t resist” moment we all have. Planning is how you keep FOMO from running your wallet. If I miss a rarity on drop day, I don’t panic buy at an inflated price. I watch a week of sales, learn the rhythm, and either grab it calmly or move on.
Digital Collectable drop days are typically sprints, and not marathons. I set my plan the night before. I pick my target, my ceiling price, and my backup pick. If I miss the rare, I already know whether I’m grabbing the common or waiting for a calmer resale. That one decision kills most impulse buys. Most being the operative word…I’m still human afterall.
Then I do a quick preflight. Is my account verified? Is my payment method ready? Are alerts on? If the platform uses credit cards, POL, or Gems, I load what I need so I am not fumbling at checkout. I also skim edition tiers and recent sales on similar books. Knowing the floor and the usual day-one dip keeps me from chasing a spike.
After the drop, I breathe. I watch the first listing wave, the one a couple hours later, and the 24-hour cool-down. Prices settle in stages. If my target lands in range, I move. If not, I let it go and focus on finishing the run I already love. No scramble. No regret.
Sometimes, I just gotta jump in and grab a comic on day one, first wave. I’ve had to do that on occasion since the early days of ebay.
This advice goes for most shopping on the secondary market. After the initial launch, there is mass hype, then when the new shiny wears off, that's when you can typically go in and get the item at a reasonable price. Look at the release of the Playstation 5. There was such a huge push that stores couldn’t keep the shelves full. Private sellers were listing theres for thousands of dollars above market price. Digital Collectables have the potential to do the same.
Slow down. The secondary market rewards patience. As I said, prices can jump right after a drop, then slide as early flippers list and collectors compare notes. I watch a few cycles first; The first hour. The evening wave. The 24-hour cool down. Sometimes even a full week. That gives you a real average, not hype.
Set your number before you shop. Decide the price you are happy to pay and stick to it. Turn on alerts. Let the listing come to you. If the floor is wobbly, I place a fair offer a bit below my target and wait. If it gets accepted, great. If not, I move on. Chasing a spike is how you overpay and regret it later.
Look at more than the floor. Check recent sales, not just the lowest ask. Scan edition size, print number, and any creator significance. I do not pay a premium for a “cool” serial unless it actually means something to the book. Story-number matches are fun, but they are dessert, not dinner.
Timing matters. Listings on most NFTs or Digital Collectables tend to dip late at night, after weekend drops, and right after big announcements when holders reshuffle. That is when I shop. Bundles can be a steal too.
When it comes to comics in general, if a seller is moving a run, one polite offer can land you three issues for less than buying singles. Granted, I have not personally run into this on CryptoComics yet, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t.
Final check. Include fees in your math and compare to the new-issue price. If your target is still a win, buy. If not, save the budget for the series you love. The goal is a collection that fits your taste and your wallet, not a trophy case built on impulse.
We’re talking digital collectables in general here. Comics, art drops, game items, music passes, memberships. Same idea. Decide why you’re selling before you list. Are you rotating into a new creator? Clearing space? Funding a grail? Write that goal down. It keeps you from chasing every ping on your phone.
Set a floor price and an exit date. If it hits, great. If it doesn’t, you either relist later or park it and move on. Check total costs, not just the tag. Platform fees, creator royalties, payout fees, and taxes all count. Then look at liquidity. Some items move fast. Others take a quiet weekend and a clean listing to find the right buyer.
Timing helps. Spikes are noisy. I prefer calm water after the first drop rush or a few days after big news. Try offers as well as straight listings. Buyers like a number to react to. Bundles can work too. Selling a mini run or a matched set often brings better value than single pieces.
Finally, reinvest with taste. Put the proceeds into the creators you love or the next indie you want to champion. A collection feels best when it reflects your eye, not your impulses. That applies to every digital collectable you own.
Joe said it best: if you truly own something, you can sell it. A simple PDF doesn’t give you that option. Same with most “purchases” on a movie app like Apple TV. You get access, not ownership. You can’t resell it. You can’t lend it to a friend. Digital collectables try to fix that. You get a specific edition with a provenance trail, and on the right platform you can sell, transfer, or even gift it.
Next, think about custody. Custodial platforms keep items inside your account. That’s convenient, but resale and transfers usually stay inside that one marketplace. Self-custody means you can hold the digital collectable in your own wallet and move it between compatible markets. If you care about the right to sell or lend, choose platforms that allow withdrawals and clear transfers. If you just want to tap, read, and be done, custodial is fine. Know which lane you prefer and why.
After that, here’s how we approach it. On CryptoComics, we offer a path to portability for blockchain items, so collectors who value control can take it. The reading experience stays simple either way. And as we expand to additional networks, you’ll have more flexibility in how you buy and how you cash out, without changing how you collect day to day.
Security isn’t glamorous, but it’s part of collecting. Here’s my simple playbook. Use a unique, long passphrase for your account. A password manager makes that painless. Turn on two-factor authentication with an authenticator app whenever the platform offers it. Treat email codes and recovery keys like gold. Don’t click “claim your airdrop” links in DMs. Always type the site address yourself and check the lock icon before you sign in. Keep your phone and laptop updated. Public Wi-Fi is for scrolling, not logging in.
This is your basic Cyber Security lesson. Be smart about things and verify links before you open it. I've actually called my daughter and asked her if she sent me a link before and it turns out that she didn't, therefore I knew the link was fraudulent. Don't be fooled. Also, this might be old advice but a Nigerian Prince will never ask for your help getting their money out of the country. Yep, I actually know someone who fell for that one.
Next, protect your wallets. If you use self-custody, back up your seed phrase offline and never share it. If you prefer a custodial setup, make sure you can export or withdraw when you want to. Either lane can be safe if you’re disciplined. The art deserves a locked door.
One more quick piece of advice, double check your settings. I’ve seen a few people that purchased a digital comic and the next time they logged in, they couldn’t see it in their collection. They fear that it had somehow been sold without them knowing it or taken away somehow even when they’ve paid for it.
This tends to happen when they purchase an “Adult” comic and then have their settings to not show “Adult”. Turn that back on and you're golden.
Finally, follow the humans. Creators telegraph their next move in newsletters, YouTube, Discords, and con panels. When they’re excited, the community can feel it. That’s usually when I double down on a run, pick up the variant I was eyeing, or set a new alert.
When someone puts their heart and soul into a story, you can see it. You can feel it. Their entire being becomes this comic. Their infectious attitude can carry over and truly make a story stand out. Its these that are generally the most fun to collect. Its a piece of the creator, not just a story that someone else got paid to make.n m
That’s the whole game: start with what you love, use smart tools, support good work early, and keep your collection aligned to your taste instead of the noise. Digital collectables make it easier to do all of that. And if you’re collecting on CryptoComics, you’ll see we bake those habits into the experience, from helpful alerts to holder perks to options for portability when you want it. Now, what are you reading this week?
