ComicBase

    (Human Computing, 1993-Present)
™ and ©1993 Human Computing

Ironically enough, ComicBase was originally pictured as the secret weapon by which designer Peter Deignan was going to trim his own comic collection, in preparation for his upcoming wedding to the lovely and talented Carolyn Bickford. If his new bride was ever going to be able to move in, some of the thousands of comics he’d collected since his days as a paperboy were going to have to move out to make room.

In order to give him an edge in selling his comics, Peter began work on a project he tentatively entitled “ComicBase” (figuring he’d eventually come up with a better name later). This was designed to act as both an inventory system and multimedia showcase of his collection when he went to sell at local conventions.

For a while, the plan seemed to work. Every month, Peter and his very understanding fiancée lugged dozens of long boxes to local comic shows, along with a Macintosh IIci running an early version of ComicBase. Inevitably, the computer grabbed the attention of passers-by, who would then stop, play with the program, and often buy a few comics.

But when customer after customer inquired where they could buy the program that was being used to show off the comics, the couple decided that maybe a change in focus was in order. Peter buckled down to programming a commercial version of ComicBase (he still hadn’t thought of a better name for it), Carolyn wrote the manual, and Scott Benefiel (Hardcase, Wildcats) designed the smiling logo character. In 1993, ComicBase 1.0 was released.

In the years that followed, ComicBase has grown to become the leading software for comic book collectors. In 1999, it was nominated for a Harvey award as Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation, and has received praise from customers and reviewers across the globe.

Peter and Carolyn were married in 1992, and now live with their resident master-of-prestidigitation/son Neil and their intrepid daughter Kelly in a house stuffed with comic books in San Jose, California.
Jump to issue:
  • 4
    #4
    About 5,000 titles/100,000 titles covered
    Dec 1998
    Cover: $129.00
    W: Peter Bickford  ·  A: Kent Bash, Scott Benefiel
    Mac and Windows versions united on same disk
    2 copies from $9.99
  • 5
    #5
    12,500 titles/150,000 issues covered thanks in part to data-swap agreement with Comics Buyer’s Guide
    Jul 2000
    Cover: $129.00
    W: Peter Bickford  ·  A: Kent Bash, Scott Benefiel
    Added online auction support, custom fields; Mac and Windows
    1 copy for $9.99
  • 5/Dlx
    #5 Deluxe Edition
    12,500 titles/150,000 issues covered thanks in part to data-swap agreement with Comics Buyer’s Guide
    Jul 2000
    Cover: $149.00
    W: Peter Bickford  ·  A: Kent Bash, Scott Benefiel
    Added online auction support, custom fields; Mac and Windows
    1 copy for $13.50
  • 6
    #6
    Jun 2001
    Cover: $129.00
    W: Peter Bickford
    168,000+ issues, 13,197 titles; Added Find & Replace, ability to mark, unmark, and quick change from Found Comics; Also added new features to Buy & Sell, including ability to upload pictures
    1 copy for $81.00
  • 7
    #7
    Aug 2002
    Cover: $129.00
    W: Peter Bickford
    200,000+ issues, 15,449 titles; Added complex searching, mathematical Mass Change, contextual menus, and Palm/PocketPC support
    1 copy for $43.00
  • 8
    #8
    Jul 2003
    Cover: $129.00
    W: Peter Bickford
    200,000+ issues, 16,000+ titles; Also included enhanced reporting and exporting, interface improvements.; Pricing updated for 2003–2004
    1 copy for $11.50
  • 9/CS
    #9 Collector’s Set
    Jun 2004
    Cover: $299.00
    W: Peter Bickford
    225,000+ issues, 18,000+ titles; Completely revised interface, ability to run multi-user, switch between different databases; Database expands to include circulation figures, CGC grading data; Includes entire art library (70,000+ images), almost a hundred video interviews and film clips; J: Shiaw-Ling Lai; New print engine and reporting engine; Over 20,000 pictures in high definition (full size at 100 dpi); Pricing updated for 2004–2005; Windows Only
    1 copy for $145.00
  • 10/CS
    #10 Collector’s Set
    Jul 2005
    Cover: $299.00
    W: Peter Bickford
    250,000+ issues, 20,000+ titles; Database expands to include circulation figures, CGC grading data; Includes entire art library (100,000+ images), almost a hundred video interviews and film clips; Over 50,000 pictures in high definition (full size at 100 dpi); Pricing updated for 2005, with new ability to download price and data updates as needed for a year.; Windows Only
    1 copy for $155.00