MEET THE BANJA LUKA MAN WITH A COLLECTION OF 30,000 COMICS

"My comic book collection is so large that I could trade it for two good apartments in Banja Luka," says comic book collector Ilija Tepić, who has around 30,000 titles on his shelves.

This Banja Luka native first encountered comics in elementary school, like many others, but the idea of collecting them was far off at that time. He believes that comics significantly shaped and educated those who read them.

"Comics taught us about justice, integrity, and bravery. All those heroes, from Zagor to Tex and from Commander Mark to Blek, were just and fearless. They were our idols. We wanted to be like them when we grew up. These heroes shaped our character," Ilija told eTrafika.

He started collecting comics in 2015. At that time, new publishing houses made a significant step in the world of comics. It became evident, he says, that they would last and not be short-lived. Old heroes were reprinted, and new editions began to appear.

"Old comics are highly valued, especially if they are well-preserved. A few days ago, news broke that the first Superman comic was sold for six million dollars. The first issues of Zagor can sell here for ten or twenty thousand marks. It’s a big and serious business," Tepić emphasized.

Ilija does not want to sell a third of the mentioned 30,000 comics, as some editions and numbers are becoming increasingly hard to find, but he is not entirely sentimentally attached to the collection. He would sell it all for two good apartments in Banja Luka.

"Those who sold comics in the early 21st century didn't have enough foresight. They should have just waited a few years and would have done wonders. Buying and selling comics today is serious business. So serious that I advise anyone with five thousand marks to buy someone's collection or part of it. In two or three months, the investment will triple," Ilija explains.

He adds that any collection can be fairly accurately appraised regardless of the number of comics. He says there is no big difference between appraising a comic book collection and appraising some antiques. Experts can easily assess the value.

Tepić claims he knows the value of every comic "to the mark." A few years ago, he was asking for an apartment for his collection, but in the meantime, it has grown to be worth two apartments. At one point, he was offered a house in Trn for his comics, but he declined the offer.

"Even if I sold all the comics, I would start collecting again. Once, I got five cars from one person for my comics. Everything is for sale, and there are no comics that cannot be sold. The most expensive comic I have is 'Treasure of the Red Mountain' (Zagor). Another valuable comic is a Zagor episode – 'Violence in Darkwood.' When someone comes to me and offers cash on the spot, it's very hard not to sell," Tepić said.

Ilija adds that there are only five kiosks in Banja Luka where comics are sold. Most trading happens online. Despite having extremely expensive comics in his collection, he says he hasn’t paid an exorbitant price for any of them.

"I mostly buy in bulk – from a thousand to five thousand pieces. Sometimes I buy even ten thousand copies. When I enter someone’s place who is selling comics, I can assess the value of their collection at first glance. I see it in the condition and the spines," our interviewee said.

He says that Zagor is still the most sought-after and read comic in our region, followed by Tex Willer. Next are Blek Stena and Commander Mark. About a hundred issues of Zagor in the "Golden Series," from the 80th to the 180th issue, represent real wealth.

"Roto novels have a different fate. Holiday, Wyatt Earp, Ninja – these novels sell for half a mark or a mark. They were read in times without the internet, but their value has since dropped. There are incredibly many of these novels on the market. Maybe some copies can be worth five or ten marks, but those are rare situations," Tepić said.

To keep an eye on all his comics, Ilija says he has taken over the house. Every square centimeter is filled with comics. The worst or best part is that the collection is growing, and there is always a shortage of space.

"Most often, and the best customers are mostly our people from Europe. There is no place in Europe where I haven’t sold my comics. Good customers are also our people who have established themselves financially. They are trying to 'complete' some of their editions," Ilija explains.

He hopes that soon the City of Banja Luka will recognize the significance of comics and comic art. It would be, he says, more than significant to have a stand where he could sell comics cheaply and introduce children to comic heroes.

"My wish is to sew a few costumes and appear before the kids as Zagor, Tarzan, Tex Willer. They would then see that it's an extraordinary adventure and maybe comics would once again mobilize children's hands and imaginations," Tepić concludes.