WHY do comic books cost so bloody much? "The Killing Joke" is like $20 at Borders. The heck? It's a short short story! Beautifully illustrated, sure, and I for one know exactly how much work that takes, but still! And I know it's about the Jokah, so it's super popular now, but geeeeez. The huge hardbound Gil Elvgren book I also got only cost $14. Anyway, so I didn't buy the Joker thing. I got the first volume of "Fables" on sale instead.

Why are you buying comics at Borders? They're full of greasy fingerprints from people too cheap to buy them. Not to mention bent pages and corners.

Also, they jack up the price a lot.

And while we're at it, you should be supporting actual comic book shops like Sanctuary or that tiny one on Rt 18 by Brunswick Square Mall.

I do not own a lot of books! Because I go to Borders and think "man this is expensive!" and then I read them for free or I get them through my library. I do not own the "Sandman" either 'cause I keep hoping my family will figure out that I want it as a present. I want the expensive fancy version too.

Inspired by finally buying Said's "Orientalism" though, I've decided to try to assemble my personal library a little more actively.

Ok, I'll go buy "Killing Joke" at Sanctuary. Or Ebay.

Hmm, just read that the writer of the Fables series describes himself as "rabidly pro-Israel." :-(

Guess I'll only be buying the next volumes used, then.

Huh. How would you compare those two? Just the idea of relentless free will in the face of life's cruel absurdity, or?

I'm one of those greasy handed people who are too cheap to buy them. :) But I don't bend the corners.