Comic Collector 4.0
There is a new version of the Comic Collector, the database software for keeping track of a comic book collection. I wrote a review of version 3. I like the software and can’t recommend it enough. I was about to pay for the $20 upgrade when I noticed the this blurb on the Comic Collector website:
If you purchased Comic Collector for Windows before November 14 2006, you are entitled to a free upgrade to version 4 (because of the EULA effective before that date). Please contact us to request your new license key:
I’m glad I read this before I sent them another $20. Not that I’m against the folks that make this software making as much money as they can. They have not only created a fantastic piece of software for managing a comic book collection, they have constantly worked on making it even better. I contacted them and quickly received my free upgrade key.
That’s something the makers of ComicBase seemingly haven’t been willing to do. I’m not a big fan of ComicBase. I believe my review of ComicBase Express reflects this.
I haven’t used the new version yet other then to upgrade it. I haven’t added any new issues to my collection. It looks quite spiffy.
Comic Collector 3.0 Pro
I thought I would follow up my review of the comic book software that is touted at the world’s #1 comic book collecting software with a review of the program that actually deserves the distinction.
It’s Comic Collector produced by Collectorz.com. It is hands down the best piece of comic book collecting software I have ever used. Though it doesn’t (as of yet) support a barcode scanner for adding comics to your collection, it does allow you to make entries automatically. Enter the series name and then select the specific issues you want to add. Comic Collector will then download all of that comic’s data, including the cover images from the extensive Collectorz.com Comic Database.
If you don’t want to go that route, you can still add comics the old fashioned way. Add one comic at a time or add an entire series. The choice is yours.
You can also edit the information you have for your comics. You can either edit the information for one single comic or edit multiple comics all at the same time. For instance, you can highlight all of the comics stored in a single long or short box and then do a group edit changing the location of these comics. That’s something you cannot do with ComicBase.
You can also view your collection any way you want to. The possibilities are limitless. You can view your collection by series, genre, publisher, location, or even by inker or colorist. Once again, you cannot do this with ComicBase.
You can also print very detailed and robust reports with Comic Collector. You can print reports showing comics you want to purchase or ones you already have or anything else you want a report of. It’s up to you.
My favorite feature and the thing that makes this software such a killer app is the ability to export your entire comic collection to your iPod. I made use of this the last time I went to a comic book convention and was able to pick up a lot of comics I did not have. I exported my entire collection to my iPod before I left for the con. All I had to do to access my collection was to click on Extras>Notes>Comic Collector and I would see a list of every comic title I owned. I would then scroll down to the specific title I wanted and select it. I would then see a list of the issues I owned. I was able to fill a lot of holes in my The Walking Dead collection by using this and I didn’t mistakenly purchase comics I already owned.
Not only can you export to an iPod, but to a PDA or Pocket PC. I’ve never tried this feature, but its there for people that want to use it.
You can download a fully functional trial version of this program to try. The only restriction is that you are limited to 100 comics. If you decide to buy the program, you have up to 30 days to change your mind. If it turns out that you don’t like it and wish you hadn’t spend the money on it, you can get a full refund.
When you compare Comic Collector to ComicBase, it’s really hard to figure out why ComicBase is the world’s #1 software for managing comic book collections.


