On Tuesday, I listed the 10 Reasons Singles Are Better Than Trades. Today, I will be giving the counterpoint to that with the 10 reasons trades are better than their singular counterparts. Regardless of whether you prefer singles or trades, both lists are fun looks at the different arguments associated with each side's viewpoint. I'm more of a trades kind of guy as more and more comic shops in my area closed down when I was younger. I pick up singles more these days, but for the most part, I'll grab the trade whenever I can. With that said, whose side are you on?Stories Flow Better
There is nothing more satisfying than sitting down and reading through an entire story, start to finish, without any interruptions or breaks in the story. No waiting months between issues, constantly stopping and starting your story. Read at your own pace with trades.
They Look Better
Trades and hardcovers just plain look better. There is nothing like that high quality bound edition sitting on your bookshelf or flipping through the beautiful, over-sized artwork of your favourite comic. These were meant to be displayed, not stuck in your longbox in the closet. Trades typically get higher quality paper as well as better print stocks and variant covers by top name artists. For the best comic experience, stick with trades.
They're Cheaper
You can get the entire story for much less than you would if you bought every single issue individually. Save yourself some money and get the much nicer looking trade or hardcover.
Extras
Trade purchasers get all kinds of extra value for their money. Character sketches, interviews, alternate covers, alternate endings, rough drafts and various other exclusive materials that the singles people rarely ever see.
No Delays
Similarly, you never have delays in your hardcover. While the singles people are committed to the story and waiting months on end for the latest big name creative team to finish that, yet again, delayed issue, trades people get the full story every time. While their momentum and interest in the story dies with each subsequent delay, when we buy the trade, we get the full story, every time.
Readability
Comics are meant to be read. Sticking them in mylar bags and shoving them in longboxes stacked in your closet is not reading. Trades, aside from looking fantastic on the shelf, are easily accessible. Just check the spines of each book, find the one you want and pull it off the shelf. Many have colour coded dust jackets with large font making your selection that much easier. If I want to show a friend that incredible moment from the last trade I bought, I just reach up and grab the book and show him. No dragging 20 boxes out of the closet and trying to figure out the archaic organizational scheme to show him the moment in question.
Lots of Choices
I'm not talking so-called options like alternate covers that the singles people get. Real options, like whether you want the TPB or hardcover or Absolute Edition or Premiere Edition or leather bound or an omnibus. You can choose the experience you want and how much you want to spend on each with trades. With singles, it's the floppy version or nothing.
Money Is No Object
While it is still in your interest to look after your trades, there is no need to meticulously comb each issue making sure it is still in mint condition. No need to seal every book in their mylar bag and crease out all the excess air. You can actually read your trades without worrying if they will lose their value. Trades may not have the potential to go up in value as much as singles, but comics are about reading and enjoying them, not sealing them in bags and praying they go up in value.
No Wasted Time Rummaging
Let the lesser singles people rummage through the longboxes in search of that elusive last issue. With our superior trades, we can simply pick our book off the shelf and get the full story to take home in minutes. No need to check each and every box in hopes someone stashed an issue out of order so they could pick it up later. Pick your trade from the easily accessible bookshelf and your done.
No Ads
Probably the single biggest difference between singles and trades, aside from release schedules, is the complete lack of ads in trades. No more will you be assaulted by those incredibly annoying, and disturbing, hot dog wielding arms bursting from kid's stomaches on every second page. That there, my friend, is pretty much all the reason one would need to switch to trades before you even take into account the various other reasons listed here.
Conclusion
There you have it, the final part of the debate on Singles vs Trades. I hope you all enjoyed this short two part series. I didn't write it with the intent of showing which side is better than the other and each article is written from different viewpoints in the hopes of showing how each side views it. Each list has pretty similar reasons that mirror the other side's argument, like both sides saying it's cheaper or easier to read and so on. My goal was to have fun with the articles and show that each side is right in their own way. It doesn't matter which one you buy though, as long as you enjoy the comics and have fun with the hobby. Thanks for reading and make sure to check out the updated reviews in this week's Weekly Crisis Volume 8 and tune in later tonight for a look at next week's pull list with Post-Crisis Previews for 09/26/07!
