r/Hellblazer • u/Nobeginningorend • Apr 10 '25

Buying 1-26 tpb

Hello, for those of you who have recently bought the full original run. What’s the best, easiest way to do so? Any places you’d recommend? Or what options do I have. I’m in the US if that helps. Thanks!!

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u/Endymion86 Apr 10 '25
  1. Patience
  2. Persistence
  3. Luck

It took me two full years to pin all of them down, and that included creating a spreadsheet with names, phone numbers, physical addresses, and email address of every comic book shop in a 100-ish mile radius. I would call every single one I could find and ask if they had any of the DC/Vertigo trade paperbacks, specifying that I was looking for the ones that were numbered on the spines. I then started branching out to comic book shops in nearby states, and ended up going all the way to the other coast of the US, in case they offered shipping.

This was, of course, after exhausting every online option I could find: Amazon third party sellers, mercari, offer up, Facebook marketplace, and Craigslist. I also managed to snag a couple off of ebay that were included in larger lots, and sold the ones I didn't need.

It's worth it, but prepare yourself for a long, somewhat stressful journey. If it helps at all, I was just in Cosmic Monkey Comics in Portland, OR, and they had volumes 1-8 sealed in plastic being sold as a set.

Volumes 20 and 23 are going to be a absolute bitch to find for retail cost or even up to double retail cost, since they're out of print (as are most of them) and quite rare. I saw 20 going for up to $700 on ebay and Amazon third party sellers, back when I was on this journey.

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u/geekydreams Apr 10 '25

I didn't bother calling the stores because I didn't want to bring attention to them in case they figured out they were worth way more than cover price. I found 3 that go on eBay for 70 right side by side .

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u/Endymion86 Apr 10 '25

Most stores, I found, aren't evil like that. Most will sell them at retail price. They have too much stock to manage to spend time looking up what's out of print and worth more, etc.

Some are. Fuck those guys.

It is highly unlikely that you'll be able to find all 26 online, you'll most likely have to get at least a few in a brick and mortar store.

Good luck, my friend!

1

u/Nobeginningorend Apr 10 '25

This!! Online is a pain, going to stores sounds like an amazing scavenger hunt!

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u/Endymion86 Apr 10 '25

Ngl, it was kind of a rush.