Abbeville man has 2,000 plus comic books

Jason Cody Davis of Abbeville is a 32-year-old comic book collector, who has collected more than 2,000 books in the last 20 years.
He fell in love with comic books when he was young.
“When I was 10, my dad came home with a copy of Superman 75 and a trade paperback of the death of Superman. I was hooked.”
He collected throughout his teens and early 20s but then took a break.
Davis began collecting again in 2011.
It took a new TV series called “The Walking Dead” to get him back to collecting. Davis liked the show, and then his stepdaughter informed him the show was based on a comic book series.
Davis, a 2001 Abbeville High graduate, began collecting as many of the Walking Dead books he could find. He ventured out and began buying other comic books. Before he knew it, he had 2,000 comic books, packed in boxes in his family’s bedroom.
“The first comics I bought when I started up again was DCs new 52 Action Comics 1 and the Walking Dead 92. I paid $2.99 a piece,” said Davis. “The Walking Dead 92 is worth a lot more than that now.”
Davis said he has not read many of the books he has collected. What Davis does enjoy about the collection is rescuing each book, along with making a profit on each book.
“I love the artwork,” said Davis. “I enjoy the history that comes with the territory. Preserving books by removing them from bad storage conditions. Properly storing them, and getting them into the hands of someone that truly appreciates them.”
He has spent a few bucks over the years. The most expensive book he purchased is $425 for a copy of the Amazing Spiderman 129 (first punisher). The oldest book he owns is an X-Men 4, March 1964.
While most people think spending $425 for a comic book is crazy, Davis said he does have a limit on what he can spend.
The first Batman or Superman comic books in great condition can cost $300,000. An Action Comic #1 book in near mint condition went for $3.2 million recently. Those high-priced books are sealed inside a case and graded on a scale 1 to 10 (10 the best).
“My dream is to find a comic book like that,” he said. “I try to be fair with people but if there is a rare book tucked away in a group of books I paid for, then I am happy.”
His wife, Jennifer, does not mind her husband collecting comic books.
“There is nothing that makes me happier than to see Cody find a diamond in the rough,” said Jennifer. “He gets so excited! Cody has purchased boxes of what he thought were decent comics, only to find really special books mixed in. I’m really proud of him for learning so much about comic books in such a short time.”
Davis said he has more Captain America comic books than any other series.
His collection grew quickly over a short period of time thanks to the Internet. On Craigslists, he has a post asking people for old comic books, which has been successful.
When he is not collecting, Davis services x-ray equipment for Wayne Lebleu and Associates.