Having comics bound into hardcovers

[stanleylieber]

I've never had my own comics bound, but recently I have purchased a couple of hardcovers that other people had made from comics in their collection.

They're great!

http://chan.stanleylieber.com/c/src/1202878209346.jpg

http://chan.stanleylieber.com/c/src/1202878283906.jpg

The ALPHA FLIGHT book hasn't arrived yet, but yesterday I received a two-volume set of Howard Chaykin's AMERICAN FLAGG, containing all twenty-five issues of the original series.

It seems keeping the inner gutters visible can be a little tricky, but all-in-all this seems like a really nice way to preserve/read huge stacks of comics that I'm not overly concerned with as an investment. I can think of several large runs of books that I will want to keep forever. Much more convenient to have them on the bookshelf than in twenty-five thousand long boxes, individually bagged and boarded.

Here are some good resources for comic book binding:

http://www.librarybinding.com
http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku.com/forums/2/t/Uncollected-Editions-The-Homegrown-Hardcovers-Binding-Forum.html

[stanleylieber]

Here is a custom softcover volume from David Banks (http://dpbanks.com):

http://chan.stanleylieber.com/c/src/1203547387992.jpg

http://chan.stanleylieber.com/c/src/1203547412907.jpg

http://chan.stanleylieber.com/c/src/1203547445431.jpg

I bought this but it hasn't arrived yet either.

[Solaris]

When you get this done, do you include the front and back covers? I'm wondering because it'd be a shame to lose great cover art to convenience... unless, of course, you're framing it and hanging it on the wall.

Besides, I like the idea of the covers dividing the issues, in the book---plus, the cover sets the tone for the story.

[stanleylieber]

When you get this done, do you include the front and back covers? I'm wondering because it'd be a shame to lose great cover art to convenience... unless, of course, you're framing it and hanging it on the wall.

Besides, I like the idea of the covers dividing the issues, in the book---plus, the cover sets the tone for the story.

All of the bound editions I've seen include literally the entire comic book; covers, ads, etc., but you can certainly customize them any way you want. A lot of folks have also had custom dyes made so the spine and cover of the hardbacks can be stamped with their logo of choice.

It has been cool looking through the AMERICAN FLAGG volumes I've already received because they do contain the entire issues, front cover to back cover.

[Sarah Beach]

When you get this done, do you include the front and back covers? I'm wondering because it'd be a shame to lose great cover art to convenience... unless, of course, you're framing it and hanging it on the wall.

Besides, I like the idea of the covers dividing the issues, in the book---plus, the cover sets the tone for the story.

I think it's entirely up to you. To the bookbinder, it's just another page to cut.

The law library I used to work out regularly bound its periodicals once a year/volume was complete. Prepping for binding is something you'd have to take up with the binder.

Saddle stitching for a buckram hardcover was always a bother to me, as a possibility, given that you do lose the inner gutters - which can really be a mess on some of those two page spreads that have dialogue close to the inner gutters. I have a few volumes done this way (courtesy of Chuck Dixon, who gets his back issues bound for himself).

That square-spined softcover now.... there's possibilities there! Must think (also, must save up).