Shoutout to the local comic shop that saved my collection from water damage

I used to keep all my books stacked in cardboard boxes in the basement, a system from my college days. Last spring, a pipe burst and nearly ruined my entire run of 'The Amazing Spider-Man' from the 80s. The owner of 'Heroes' Haven' here in town helped me dry and bag every single issue, over 300 books. Now I use plastic bins with silica gel packs and keep them on a high shelf. Has anyone else had a close call that made you completely change how you store your comics?

4 comments

4 Comments

nguyen.blake11d ago

Man, that's a huge win for that shop owner stepping up like that. Your new setup sounds solid, but I'd take it one step further and check those silica packs every few months, they stop working when they turn color. Honestly, after hearing stories like yours, I don't even trust basements anymore, climate controlled or not. It's worth the peace of mind to keep that stuff on the main floor, even if it means giving up some shelf space.

diana_carr6611d agoMost Upvoted

Basements get a bad rap sometimes... a good dehumidifier running 24/7 and those silica packs in sealed tubs has worked for me for years. Giving up main floor space just isn't an option in my small place, the trade-off isn't worth it. Checking the packs is smart, but moving everything upstairs feels like letting the fear win. A solid basement system can be totally reliable if you keep up with it.

thomas_sanchez11d ago

My collection lives in the spare bedroom now because my old basement system had one job. The dehumidifier died, I didn't notice for a week, and I opened a tub to find a comic had decided to become part of a mushroom's life cycle. My confidence took a bigger hit than the books.

cameronp4711d ago

Yeah, I mean, I had a scare with a leaky window a few years back. It was just a little damp spot on one short box, but it totally freaked me out. I moved everything out of that room the same day. Now all my stuff is in my office closet, which feels way safer. I get the basement thing, but for me, seeing that water mark was enough. I just can't relax unless they're in the same room I'm in most of the day.