So I went a whole week without comics...

For X-Men, I only read the writers that I like (Whedon, some Milligan, soon to be Carey) and the rest is pretty easily ignored. For Batman, I've only been reading self-contained miniseres (like Matt Wagner and Sam Kieth).

I would get annoyed if I missed issues within running storylines, like Runaways or whatever, but I'd rather read about the big events on ILC than in the comics. I guess it comes down to following writers/artists rather than characters?

Before I went cold turkey (thank you, Age of Apocalypse) I was hooked into the X-Men characters, and a more-or-less constant disappointment in the writing (lack of change or importance for $12+ miniseries, resolution to multiple dangling starts, stunt casting) and the rising cover prices ($40+ every two weeks, in '94).

Now it's the writers (Kirkman, Brubaker, Bendis, etc.) I'm following with library trades. It's much more enjoyable reading their individual styles and takes on characters. It's nice not having the investment in say, Iceman, and why he's still not up to his full potential.

It'll be interesting to see what level of interest you maintain, Huk.

I follow writers - used to be artists too but I gave that up - and read occasional issues of the comics featuring the characters I still have some sentimental attachment to and/or interest in. I read them in a comic store.

Generally they only convince me that I 'm right not to buy these comics regularly. Spidey, Bats, Hulk, the X-Men...they all punished me for my loyalty and completism over the years with awful stories I wasted money on. Something snapped around the Image Era and the Spider-Clone saga finally stamped on some precious innocent part of my soul and kept stamping until it was no longer even a stain. So now I'm ruthless.

Lets face it, 80% of Marvel and DC stuff is crap. But enjoyable crap if you have the right kind of cultural heritage, I guess. Whereas ILC's lampooning of said crap is generally much funnier and more entertaining than the crap itself. So I'd much rather read Huk's version of IC than the actual comic. Which reminds me of an old friend of mine who loved to read the Books sections of newspapers but never actually read any books.

And, as Jordan said, my craving for the characters I love is satisfied by minis and the odd reprint in a TPB. Batman & the Monster Men and Batman Year 100 are my Batman fix for this year...

I'm astonished. I spend more or less the same money on comics, but I live many km down south, where the price is cover price x 1.5 x 3. And I'm sick of comics too!!! Haven't touched one in like, a month! Could it be something like, the less interested you are in comics, the more money you spend? This would cast a whole different light over those craptastic events, they are a masterplan!

IC = fanfic illustrated by Perez and Jimenez.

Gosh...that came out harsher than I meant it.