Epic Christmas present fail! (Lighthearted)

[SugarCookieMonster]

I’m sharing my absolute disaster because if I don’t laugh I’ll cry! How can it have gone so wrong this early in the present buying marathon?!

My DH has just got into comics and requested a specific Superman one. They sold it on Amazon so job done. However, I decided it would be nice to research some and get him something else as a surprise. I was hoping it would be a thoughtful little extra, not the frustrating saga that has taken over my life.

A series kept coming up in recommendations so I trotted off to Ebay and found it was came in 4 parts. 3 of them I could get from UK sellers but the first part I could only see from Germany. This is where it started to go horribly wrong.

The 3 parts from the UK arrived but part 3 was a lot thicker than #2 & #4. Off to the internet I went and after hours of comparing covers I noticed that there was a slight difference. I joined a comic message board to beg for help in figuring out if I had bought the right thing. Reader, I had not.

Turns out there are different editions. It originally came out in 4 separate comics. Then they merged 2 comics and made a 2 book series with part 1&2 in vol 1 and parts 3&4 in vol 2. I now own part 3&4 as separate issues and the vol 2 edition which is also part 3&4. So I only have the last part of the series, but twice.

Then part 1 arrived. For those of you who caught on quicker than me. Yes, it is in German. It’s also vol 1&2 which are the ones I’m missing so it is doubly infuriating.

Now I can either spend £37 importing the 2 parts I’m missing from America (and praying that I’m buying the right bloody ones. Or, I can go through mystery door number 2, as I found what appears to be a hardcover collection of all 4 parts for £13 from a UK seller.

I don’t think I can go back to the message board as it took me hours to figure out where and how to post (I think I hijacked a thread!). Also I fear Toby899’s patience is wearing thin with me.

Good luck to all the wives/girlfriends/mums/nans and poor souls out there trying to navigate a whole new world of niche hobbies!

PS, if anyone would be interested in a German language Superman comic, let me know!

Oh, that sounds so frustrating! It's definitely hard when it's a niche thing you don't understand!
I'd be nervous of the UK hardback if Im honest. It's likely that the original 4 part is the better one as it's the original so I'd try to get that and sell the rest on eBay.
Hope it goes well!

That sounds hilarious 😂
I think I'd have to involve the planned recipient to get their opinion.

As a comic book reader, I'd prefer the hardback if it's definitely all four parts together, as I like the collected versions better than single issues.
I'm also very curious to know which story it is?

I’ve almost told him so many times but it’s going to be his only surprise. I am determined to not be bested by a comic 😂

I’ve sent the seller a message asking if it’s the complete 4 parts as at this point my track record isn’t great 😂
He had a Walking Dead Graphic novel that was thick as a brick so I think he’d prefer it in one book too.

It’s Superman Secret Identity.

Maybe the surprise could be the German course you sign him up for to understand it

Frustrating as this sounds, I think it's lovely that you've gone to so much effort for him. I also think you can't stop now, you have to get what you set out to in the first place. Then this can be a funny traumatic story to tell at Christmas!
Just ebay what you don't want, or try to sell it via the forum you've been on. Who knows, maybe the German version is desirable to collectors!

Brilliant 🤣

I’ve ordered the hardback collection of (hopefully!) all 4 parts. I’ve also messaged the German seller asking if they’d accept a return as I noticed the language wasn’t specified at all. The rest I’ll try to sell.

However I’m debating wrapping them all together and gifting as a visual representation of my effort (and descent into madness! 🤣🤣)

I’m too far down the rabbit hole to pull back now! 🤣

Spoiler warning to the German speakers!

@SugarCookieMonster

obviously comics are your kryptonite😉

This should help guide you through the maze

Be warned, if you gift him everything he could become the kind of comics collector who has multiple versions of the same story. (I may be talking from experience, as someone who really need to cull the duplicates.)

@Arregaithel Too soon 😂

I’ve found 3 different ways of reading this series now (if you include the ebook!).

I had a reply from the seller in Dutch (but selling from Germany?!). Google translate informs me that he was fine with a return. So that’s going back.

I have managed to initiate returns for 3 of them through Ebay. The other one can go on Vinted (it’s in English so at least that’s something!).

Now all my metaphorical eggs are in one hardcover edition basket. Fingers crossed! 😂

I’ve realised I’ve spent a fortune on this bloody comic (that he hasn’t even asked for!) so in an effort to claw back my money (but not my dignity I realise), I am returning what I can.

We already have an out of control Lego collection, I’m not eager to expand into another genre.