I’m surprised I haven’t ranted before on how hardcover collections of comic books are a swift kick to the balls. Well, no time like the present, right?

I’m a big proponent of trade paperback collections and other such reprints. Aside from collecting story arcs in an easy-to-read format, they’re usually cheaper than the issues within by a few bucks. When they’re collecting old comics, the value’s even better! I’ve filled large holes in my Green Lantern and Iron Man collections this way, as I do not have thousands of dollars to spend on back issues from the 1960s.

For the past few years, however, publishers usually collect popular comics in hardcover format first, and then release a trade paperback much later; many months to even years. Sometimes, a trade paperback version doesn’t get released at all!

I strongly believe that the current hardcover craze is nothing but a screwjob by the publishers. In most cases, hardcover collections of current comic books cost more than the comics within! What are you paying this extra money for? Cardboard. One might argue that the demand for hardcovers is out there, but it’s a demand created by the publishers themselves. The comics industry is notorious for preying upon the weak willpower of its fanbase; c’mon, we’ve all fallen for their tactics more than once, and will likely continue to do so.

I’ve heard some say that hardcovers are better than trade paperbacks simply because they look better on a bookshelf and add a touch of class. This argument fails for two reasons: a book’s spine label looks the same on a bookshelf, no matter what format it’s in — be it hardcover, trade paperback, or mass market paperback. The label serves a singular purpose: identification of the book in a small amount of vertical space. That’s it.

As for “class,” that’s nonsense, unfortunately. Hardcover or not, it’s still a collection of comic books, and a vast majority of the population doesn’t find that classy. At all. No matter what we enthusiasts may think, comic books are nerdy and geeky, and they will always take a back seat to actual books as far as society is concerned. If you want your bookshelf to look classy, then put some classic literature up there.

About the only time I can see hardcovers being valid is when publishers do massive omnibus editions. When you’re printing hundreds of color glossy pages in one book, you generally need a stronger spine. In this case, it’s a physical issue, not a financial one. (That doesn’t stop the publishers from overcharging for said omnibuses, of course.)

In some cases, hardcovers are the only option if you want the book. In this case, the best way to skirt the high price is to buy them from Amazon. More often than not, the discounts from that retailer will bring the price of a hardcover well below the cost of the comics within, making it a viable deal. Otherwise, you’re getting ripped off, plain and simple.

Of course, if at all possible, you should avoid buying hardcovers altogether. Send a message to Marvel and DC (they’re the biggest offenders) that we don’t need this overpriced garbage. Trade paperbacks are perfectly acceptable, and have been for decades.