So back in May, I posted this:

AoA (Original Series) Question!

Essentially I was announcing that I intended to hunt down and acquire all of the issues of the story line. Conventional wisdom, said that I should just buy the TPB, and be done with it. But given my discovery, I decided to go ahead an give getting the individual issues a try. Well, a month and a half later, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Now, IIRC there are currently 3 trades available. They do not cover the entire series, and from the looks of it, at least 1 more trade needs to be made. These trades are $29.99 each, meaning that it would cost at least $119.96 (assuming that #4 is the last one).

So, let's back up a little. I have had a heavy interest in this story line, since I first heard about it. Originally, I had intended to get the TPB, but I have a hard time paying $30.00 for a single comic book/trade. $20.00 tends to be my cut off.

So I spend some time, regularly looking through my LCS's $1.00 bin. I find some interesting books , generally in good condition. They range from F-NM on average, and sometimes I buy books in less condition, just to get something to read, or for Heroclix team ideas. Some of my better finds, have included The Emerald Twighliht series, Superman/Doomsday Hunter/Prey, some Classic X-Men issues, and some What If's.

Imagine my surprise, when sifting through the $1.00 bin, I start locating a bunch of AoA related issues. I organized them within the dollar bin, and came home and posted the thread in the link above. After JGonspy posted the read order, I printed the list off, and went back to the LCS to see what I had to work with. I figured it was enoughto get going , and so I began my pursuit. Generally, I've purchased 4 issues at a time, 1-2 times a week.

Now given that I have a pulls list at this LCS (actually at both of my LCSs), I get a 10% discount on all back issues. BONUS! That means that every 4 issues I've purchased run me $3.60.

So I started purchasing the books a series at a time, and am about 2 weeks from almost completing the whole series. Not all issues were in the $1.00 bin though. I had to go sifting through the back issues today, and had to resort to Ebay for some. But here's how things are shaping up to this point, along with prices. I have been at this now for nearly 8 weeks.

Issues Purchased from LCS with total amount spent to date:

• X-Men Chronicles #1 & #2 - $1.80
• Generation Next #1-4 - $3.60
• Astonishing X-Men #1-4 - $3.60
• Gambit & The X-Ternals #1-4 - $3.60
• Weapon X #1-4 - $3.60
• Amazing X-Men #1-4 - $3.60
• Age of Apocalypse: The Chosen - $.90
• X-Universe #1 & #2 - $1.80

Total- $22.50

Issues Purchased from Ebay, along with Shipping & Handling (Just won these last night):

• X-Men Alpha & X-Men Omega (purchased as a lot) - $7.99 + $4.55 s & h

Total- $12.54

Comics still left in the $1.00 Bin (These have been set aside for me, BTW Discount included )

• X-Calibre #1-4 - $3.60
• Factor X #1-4 - $3.60
• X- Man #1 & #4 - $1.80

Projected Total- $9.00

Comics available in Back issues (Discount included, these are also being held for me!)

• Tales from the Age of Apocalypse: By The Light - $5.40
• Tales from The Age of Apocalypse: Sinister Bloodlines - $5.40
• X- Man #2 & #3 - $5.40
• X-Man Annual '96 - $2.25

Projected Total- $18.45

So now I'm left to find and acquire the X-Man minus 1 issue, which I'll look for tomorrow in the back issues of one store, before searching for it in the other. Then I'll have to resrot to E-bay!

So my projected expenditure , without the inclusion of the X-Man minus 1 is

Projected Overall Total- $62.49 (52% savings over Trades!)

I think that's a pretty good deal, and am glad I didn't go the TPB route. It just goes to show you, you'll never know what you can find in those dusty $1.00 bins, if you don't get in there and look. All issues come bagged and boarded too.

That's pretty cool... of course how much time and effort did you spend hunting them down? You know what they say... time is money. I'd actually like to read the whole series too but I don't know about getting all the TPB b/c as you said, they're fairly expensive. So for now it's just on the back-burner as something I'd like to read at some point. Great finds though!

Time may be money, but free time is free. My JLA collection went from needing 75 issues down to 4 thanks in large part to cheap bins. I didn't pay more then $1 for any issue.

And if you can get to a large COnvention you can REALLY make out like a bandit. One Wizard Wolrd Chicago I grabbed 30 issues of Green Lantern in really good condition each for a .25 to .10 an issue.

So it may be quicker to buy the trades, but like in alot of things quicker is not always better.

Bravo sir! I applaude your cheap bin searches, from one lover of comics to another.

Not a lot of time. Usually when I'm in there for tournaments, I sift through the $1.00 bins. The way the shop is set up, I can monitor the tournament and search through the bins. I'd look at half a row, do the walk around, mark my spot when there was a question. No extra time really. It was the perfect activity to do, when there was nothing that needed my immediate attention, since I was already there.

Wow, that's really impressive. I feel like a bit of a chump seeing as how I bought the trades and I actually have loads of the issues already. But I was feeling so lazy about it all that I just wanted a few big books I could read over and over instead of digging through my comics to read some old ones that are not in the best shape. You're a credit to all bargain hunters out there.

One thing I should mention though, you forget to include the Blink mini series in your calculations. It's about four issues long and does take place in AoA. It's in the trades and I think it's worth getting, though mostly for Blink fans who want some background info on her character. Also has some cool Negative Zone stuff in it too.

I've not seen that mentioned in any of the flow charts for the series. Where does it fall, in terms of read order? I might pick it up, but ifit's not central to the overall story, I might pass.

I also realized (after looking up the cover online) that I had skipped over the X-Man minus 1, in the bin. ARRRRGGH! Hope it's stil there.

It happens a little before the begining of X-Men Alpha, but after Chronicles 2, I think anyway. It's mostly a character thing for Blink explaining how she became what she's like after growing up in the pens and being liberated by Sabretooth. Actually explains a little how she became so well adjusted for someone who grew up like that, but it's mostly for Blink fans. It's not integral to the main story, though that can be said for the Tales from the Age of Apocalypse as well.

Cool. I'll be sure to check for it, after I complete everything else. Thanks!

I think Il be searching through the dollar bin this Friday during my tourney. You have truly inspired me.

And here the best thing I found in those exact same bins was a copy of GL #51...I'm so incredibly not looking forward to plunking down the money on those trades...

Update!

I am now missing the final 3 issues of the AoA storyline:

X-Man minus 1 (Flashback)
Tales from the Age of Apocalypse 1 & 2 (can't remember the names).

I received Alpha and Omega today! YEAH!

X-Man should be here next week, and I have the others sitting at the store waiting for me to get paid. Can't wait to start reading them!

you know, another way for you to get teh whole AoA series is to get a ski mask, an all black outfit and some glass cutters, and make like Gambit and get into the Marvel offices and rummage around till you find all the issues needed or find some interesting pictures of Joe Q and Bendis bathing together.

You should've told me that $51.00 and 3 months ago.

Well, you should've thought it all up by yourself in that time frame.