If you don't believe the comic book industry has had an effect on American culture, a trip to a video rental store or local theater provides some clarity. The likes of "Batman," "Spiderman," "X-Men," "DareDevil," "Elektra," "The Punisher," "Hulk," "Fantastic Four," "Hellboy," "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," "Hellboy," sequels of several comic book franchises and the soon-to-be-released "Superman Returns," have brought billions of dollars to the movie industry, making one thing abundantly clear: The world loves its superheroes.

The comic book collecting industry itself, however, has seen its highs and lows. Comic book popularity reached a fever pitch in the 1940s, when superheroes like Batman and Superman "flew" on to the scene.

Comic book sales hit its peak in the mid 1980s and 1990s, thanks in large part to online Web sites like E-Bay and Amazon.com.

In 1997, however, major comic book players like Marvel and DC became financially strapped; Marvel was forced to declare bankruptcy but was able to continue publishing. And while the comic book market lost much of its steam in the late 90s, many people attribute Marvel's financial woes to their decision to go to self-distribution, not entirely on lax sales.

Today, comic book sales remain low, but auction sites like eBay has become the fertile ground comic book enthusiasts consistently go to for buying and selling comics.

And with the help of the electronic e-guide, you too can make the most of your collection whether you're buying or selling. In it, you'll learn why now is the perfect time to be in the comic book collecting business, how one comic book fetched a quarter-million dollars in 2004, how to buy loads of quality comics at cheap prices, the best comic book stores, how to keep your comic books in mint condition (and why "mint" condition is so important), how to sell on sites like eBay and Amazon.com, the comic books you should seek (and the ones you should shun), and much more!