Collecting may be in your blood if you're reading GoCollect blogs. All of us collect for different reasons, and all of us collect different things. I collect comic books, monster toys, popcorn buckets, pressed pennies -- the list goes on and on. In Collecting Fandom, I'll be talking to fans about their collections and why they collect them.
Daphne S-Viera from Canada is a long-time Archie collector, with a strong focus on Bughead -- Betty and Jughead! The duo became a fan-favorite couple thanks to Riverdale's early seasons, but Jughead has alluded to liking Betty in the comics for a few decades now! Daphne regularly posts her art collection on her
Instagram, which includes original art from Bill Golliher, Jeff Shultz, and even Dan Parent. Original art is also one of my favorite things to collect, but it can get pricey!
What do you collect?
I collect mostly art, but also collectibles/merch of Betty and Jughead (aka Bughead) from Archie Comics (and formerly the Riverdale tv show)
What got you interested in that?
I used to read the comics (in French!) as a kid in the mid-90's but eventually stopped. It was the TV show Riverdale that got me back into the fandom and the Jughead the Hunger series that brought me back into the Archie Comics fold specifically.
The Bughead fandom (thanks to the TV show Riverdale) was thriving in 2017 when I started my collection and I was on mat leave so it was kind of this perfect storm for me to get really invested into it.
What was the first item in your collection?
I had already commissioned a few fan artists when the opportunity to commission a piece from Thomas Pitilli presented itself. That was my first 'serious' purchase and from there, it snowballed. I started commissioning both fan artists and 'professional' artists involved with Archie Comics.
When Hot Topic came out with a Riverdale merch collection, that's when I started collecting more than just art. Eventually, when the pandemic hit and all my other hobbies became impossible, I turned to collectors' items, mostly on eBay.
Do you have a personal holy grail item?
I'm still trying to get a commission from Rex W. Lindsay for the Bughead art collection and The Archies radio for the collectibles collection.
What does this collection mean to you?
I often say that my collection is my happy place. I have a 'Bughead room' in my house where I keep all my stuff and when I want a break from being a mom or to spend time doing something just for me, I go in there. The art brings me joy because I'm so starved for content in canon. I have to commission the stuff I want to see with my favorite characters! Each new piece is a much-needed dose of serotonin.
Do you have any advice for new collectors?
Start small, find a focus for your collection and be patient. Don't try to have everything all at once or right away. You'll end up overpaying for things whereas if you're patient, you'll find good deals. Also, befriend other collectors! We often purchase bundles and end up with duplicates or stuff we don't want and it's fun to trade or sell stuff we know will then go to a good home where it'll be appreciated.
As stated earlier, original art is a wonderful thing to collect but it can be pricey. While you can find Archie original art on eBay, prices fluctuate between $50 - $600 depending on the piece. If you're seeking out original art from Bob Montana - Archie's creator - be prepared to spend some serious money. Bob Montana art can fetch over $10K in auction as it is hard to find, and for an Archie fan Montana's original artwork is a grail in of itself.
Do you collect original art? Tell us about your collection in the comments below!
