Need help finding more and how far back have I picked up the Amazing Spiderman line?

Question

I recently picked up a few random comic collections. I grabbed the House of M X-Men Collection (#1-8) as well as Decimation and then picked up 3 books in the Amazing Spiderman by J. Michael Straczynski compiling #30-45, but as I look to continue collecting all of the new ones are in the 500s? Am I really just that far behind in the series or am I missing something? Also I really enjoy buying the collections but how long do I have to wait for them to be available, for instance I really want to get into the new Civil War line but I'm not sure if I should go clear out a comic shop or can I find the collection somewhere?

Answer 1

As a reader, don't be too concerned about continuity unless you are a comic book historian or something like that. Buying a collection means you are reading series from a certain story arc. You have to wait at least a month after the next story arc is completed.

Be sure to get all of the comic book titles with a tie-in story if you decide to read 'Civil War'. The collection in a crossover series only covers the collection of the books with the main title. Sometimes part of the main plot mentions something in a tie-in issue of another comic book. Yet it won't be printed in the collection because it's also a self contained plot involving just those specific characters.

Happy reading.

Answer 2

I prefer to buy the individual issues, but if all you want is the story TPB is the way to go. Usually TPB's collect about 5-10 issues, but crossovers & mini-series can be tricky. They might wait untill it is over or break it into segments...
Pick up a PREVIEWS at your LCS and see if the TPB is coming out in 2months, or talk to the workers...
--- http://previews.diamondcomics.com/ ---

If you want the individual issues I can check my stocks and see what I could do for you...

Answer 3

you may want to continually sidle up and say: "My Spidey experience tells me issues and they are by no potential incorrect. How about I spin us a web and we may be able to communicate?" Or: "i'm extremely Batman besides the undeniable fact that the cleanser gave me the incorrect healthful."