Comic collectors are at least as diverse as the comics themselves.
Some collect as an investment. Others hunt down key issues, first appearances, or specific cover variants. Some want every issue of a series on their shelves, while others are mainly interested in complete story arcs. Some store their comics in long boxes, others proudly display them on shelves. Some keep a simple Excel spreadsheet, others want to archive every last detail. And then there are those who simply know by heart what they own.
That’s exactly what makes this hobby so fascinating.
In the end, SCADA has become the software I always wished existed as a collector.
I’m part of the boarded-and-bagged crowd. I love great cover art, I enjoy keeping lists, I appreciate proper archiving—and I like it when a collection doesn’t just exist, but becomes something you can explore, understand, and truly enjoy.
I’m not actively chasing key issues. Although… I certainly wouldn’t say no to an Amazing Spider-Man #300. 😉
For me, comics are not an investment. That doesn’t mean I ignore their value. And yes, there are books I wouldn’t sell below market value. But I never buy comics for the return on investment—I buy them because I genuinely want them in my collection.
These days, I don’t even feel the need to complete every series. What really draws me in are complete story arcs. Stories with a beginning, a middle, and an end. Issues that belong together. Comics that I’ll look at years from now and remember exactly why they’re part of my collection.
And then there’s grading.
For me, it’s not about speculation either. I simply love the way a comic looks in a slab. Seeing a special issue properly preserved and beautifully presented has its own appeal. Not because I want to impress anyone—but because I enjoy it myself.
All of these ideas are reflected in SCADA.
That’s also why SCADA probably won’t be the perfect tool for every comic collector—and that’s okay. The software has a very clear origin: my own way of collecting.
At the same time, I don’t want SCADA to remain trapped inside my own little collector’s bubble. Honest feedback from other collectors is incredibly valuable. It helps shape the software into something better, while still preserving the personality and vision it was built on.