Physical strategy guides were once fixtures at bookstores and on newsstands. Then, the Internet—and in particular, websites like GameFAQs and later, YouTube—changed everything. Though I understand the convenience of the web, I've recently gone down a new rabbit hole of collecting old BradyGames and Prima strategy guides. Those two were the powerhouses of the form, and I find them far more readable and easy to reference than today's main go-tos when recently heading back into the 64-bit world of Turok.

Also, there's a reason speedrunners and other gaming communities are still obsessed with games on systems like N64: They are very, very rich texts to explore, even if contemporary games have gotten far more enormous. And sometimes, you'll find tips and tricks in these physical guides that never made it onto the Internet.

All that to say: This is my new thing, I guess. And as expected, there's a robust community out there of folks who also collect these things, and I'm learning a ton from them.

One more note: There are still a couple of publishers releasing gorgeous, expansive physical guides for new games. (I'd suggest Piggyback, if you're into the Zelda franchise.)

Love seeing an increase of folks posting original comic art on here! Here’s a page that’s understated, but quite personal for me: I bought this for my wife for her birthday when we were in college, as we both fell in love with this book. Pia Guerra was even kind enough to create a little Ampersand at the top to wish her well.

OK. What did everyone pick up today?

I've recently been fascinated by the idea of lineage in action figures and other collectibles. For example, after purchasing McFarlane Toys' 2023 Medieval Spawn last year, I immediately felt compelled to purchase and pair it with the very first Medieval Spawn in 1994. The original was part of a line that really challenged and pushed the form when it debuted, in both its detailing and packaging: The most recent shows just how the form has evolved over the three decades that followed.
It kicked off a series of similar "pairings" for me, getting something new while acquiring its original incarnation for the mantel. Does anyone else collect like this?

Current micro-obsession: mid-1990s Wizard Magazines. By that point, the pub was really trying to be all things to all nerds, with coverage of comics, cards, video games, figures, and much more. That magazine, as flawed as it was, sparked both my generalist approach to collecting and my career in magazines.

Still, my crown jewel is the very first issue of Wizard in 1991, with its Todd McFarlane Spidey cover.