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:
  NotesWriterArtist
ComicBase #4

December, 1998
Cover Price: $129.00
2 copies available from $9.99 		About 5,000 titles/100,000 titles covered; Mac and Windows versions united on same disk Peter BickfordKent Bash, Scott Benefiel
ComicBase #5

July, 2000
Cover Price: $129.00
1 copy available for $9.99 		12,500 titles/150,000 issues covered thanks in part to data-swap agreement with Comics Buyer’s Guide; Mac and Windows; Added online auction support, custom fields Peter BickfordKent Bash, Scott Benefiel
ComicBase #5 Deluxe Edition

July, 2000
Cover Price: $149.00
1 copy available for $13.50 		12,500 titles/150,000 issues covered thanks in part to data-swap agreement with Comics Buyer’s Guide; Mac and Windows; Added online auction support, custom fields Peter BickfordKent Bash, Scott Benefiel
ComicBase #6

June, 2001
Cover Price: $129.00
2 copies available from $81.00 		Peter Bickford 
ComicBase #7

August, 2002
Cover Price: $129.00
2 copies available from $43.00 		Peter Bickford 
ComicBase #8

July, 2003
Cover Price: $129.00
1 copy available for $11.50 		Peter Bickford 
ComicBase #9 Collector’s Set

25-Jun-2004
Cover Price: $299.00
2 copies available from $125.00 		Peter Bickford 
ComicBase #10 Collector’s Set

13-Jul-2005
Cover Price: $299.00
1 copy available for $155.00 		Peter Bickford 
ComicBase #11 Variation C

23-Jun-2006
Cover Price: $299.00
1 copy available for $125.00 		Peter Bickford 
ComicBase #12 Variation C

30-Jun-2007
Cover Price: $299.00
1 copy available for $125.00 		Peter Bickford 
ComicBase #14 Variation C

August, 2009
Cover Price: $299.00
1 copy available for $125.00 		Peter Bickford 
ComicBase #16 Variation C

July, 2012
Cover Price: $299.95
1 copy available for $125.00 		Peter Bickford 
ComicBase #17 Variation C

15-Oct-2013
Cover Price: $299.95
1 copy available for $125.00 		Peter Bickford 
ComicBase #2015 Variation C

July, 2014
Cover Price: $299.95
1 copy available for $125.00 		Peter Bickford