Die-hard Batman fans: Collection so expansive and expensive

Die-hard Batman fans: Collection so expansive and expensive

Blame Adam West.

As a child in the 70s, Mr Eric Chong would watch the actor in the iconic Batman TV series.

This sparked his obsession and he soon started collecting everything he could associate with Batman.

Now 47, Mr Chong's collection is expensive and expansive. So much so that it is spread throughout his own home, his father's HDB flat and a rented room-sized warehouse space.

In his father's flat, there is an entire wall of drawers and shelves housing a part of his collection. Posters of Batman share wall space with family portraits.

The storeroom is also full to bursting with merchandise.

His father - an avid collector of Coca-Cola merchandise - helps Mr Chong with the yearly maintenance of his comic collection.

Mr Chong's son also shares his interest in comic books.

Mr Chong collects everything from vintage toys and figurines to movie posters, original artwork and sketches and of course, comic books.

He estimates he has over 5,000 comics spanning from 1947 - dubbed the Golden Age of comic books - to today.

He has sent many of his comics to be graded by the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), an independent company that rates the condition of comic books on a scale of 0.5 to 10.0. 10.0 is the "ideal" state. Mr Chong owns several 9.8 "near mint" condition comics.

The CGC seals the comic in a transparent archival capsule for preservation.

He has several Signature Series sealed comics, certified that the comic has been signed by the artist or writer.

Mr Chong has no qualms about spending a small fortune on his hobby.

"My biggest regret is hesitating on a copy of Batman #1 that I spotted at the San Diego Comic-Con last year," he rues. The issue cost a dizzying US$12,000 (S$15,000).

"Now it's on my wish list. If I could get it again, I will."

The other items he owns are nothing to sniff at either. One of his three vintage Batmobile toys is worth over US$1,000 in good condition. The box alone can fetch US$200.

More uniquely, he has two art folios and two sketchbooks containing signed artwork done by famous comic artists.

Some are sketches specially created for him.

Others are the original comic book pages - the raw artwork that would be sent for colouring and printing .

Depending on the artist, original sketches can command huge price tags at auctions. Last year, a pen-and-ink sketch by legendary Batman artist Frank Miller was sold at US$478,000.

But while his collection could be viewed as investments, the foreign exchange trader insists that it is not about the money.

"I enjoy the thrill of picking the right comic to 'invest' in," he explains.

Usually, "key issues" at the beginning of certain story arcs or issues featuring a character's first appearance tend to appreciate in value most over the years.

Mr Chong has not even opened the covers of his most prized comics for fear of damaging them. He prefers to simply admire the cover art.

"I try not to read the comics that I'm collecting," he says. "If I want to read, I'll buy more copies; one to keep and one to read."

This article was published on April 27 in The New Paper.

Get The New Paper for more stories.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.