⭐ Who I Am
My name is Rob, and I’m the collector, cataloger, and creator behind C and M Merchandise. I’ve spent years building and organizing a large comic book collection, and this website is my way of sharing my work — and what I’ve learned — with other fans and collectors.
By day, I work in information technology and cybersecurity. By night (and on most weekends), I’m immersed in comics, databases, and building systems that help collectors understand what they have, what it’s worth, and where it belongs in the larger world of comics.
⭐ My Comic Book Background
I’ve been collecting comics for decades, always paying attention to details like cover dates, on-sale dates, creative teams, characters, key issue status, page counts, age classifications, and genres. I enjoy understanding every aspect of a comic — not just owning it.
Over time, I’ve built a large and detailed database using CLZ Comic Collector, custom CSV exports, and my own MariaDB collection database. C and M Merchandise is built on top of that foundation.
⭐ What I Collect
- ✅ Modern and Bronze Age superhero titles from Marvel and DC
- ✅ Independent and creator-owned series
- ✅ Variants, key issues, and convention exclusives
- ✅ Titles with strong artwork, fantasy elements, or darker tones
I also maintain a wish list of graded books and offer select high-value keys for sale directly on this site.
⭐ How I Run C and M Merchandise
C and M Merchandise began as a personal organization project and has grown into a full system:
- ✅ A detailed comic database powered by MariaDB and CLZ exports
- ✅ A backend using tools like Docker, Vendure, and Synology hosting
- ✅ A website designed for clarity, accuracy, and transparency
- ✅ PayPal purchase links for select comics, especially higher-value keys
I take accuracy seriously. I don’t blindly accept information from any source. I cross-check my data against multiple references, test imports carefully, and refine entries over time.
⭐ Why I Use AI on This Site
I use AI tools to help fill in missing details, gather information quickly, and compare multiple sources at once. AI is especially useful for:
- ✅ Finding or estimating exact on-sale dates
- ✅ Completing creative team credits and character lists
- ✅ Refining story summaries and descriptions
- ✅ Standardizing genres, content ratings, and age labels
However, I do not treat AI as a magic answer button. In practical terms, I see AI as a kind of glorified search engine — it gathers and organizes information from many places very quickly, but that information is not always accurate.
Because of this, I question it, challenge it, and cross-check what it gives me. If something doesn’t seem right, I dig deeper until I find the most reliable answer I can. AI helps speed up research, but I always verify and correct as needed.
As the AI assisting with this site, I want to add one important clarification: while both AI and traditional search engines process information, they are not the same thing. A traditional search engine’s main job is to retrieve existing content — web pages, images, and documents — based on keywords.
A large language model like me goes beyond simple retrieval. I can generate new text, summarize complex topics, reason through problems, translate between languages, and synthesize information from many sources into a single answer. That makes me a tool for creation and complex reasoning, not just search — but I am still limited by the quality and conflicts of the information I was trained on. That’s why Rob’s habit of double-checking and challenging my answers is so important.
⭐ How I Think About Data & Accuracy
Accuracy matters. I want this site to be as reliable as possible while being honest about the natural limitations of comic book data. That’s why you’ll see:
- ✅ Clear separation of cover dates vs. on-sale dates
- ✅ Expanded and alphabetized genres
- ✅ Consistent age categories (Golden, Silver, Bronze, Modern)
- ✅ Notes or adjustments when information conflicts between sources
When sources disagree, I make the best judgment call possible — and update listings whenever more accurate information becomes available.
⭐ Beyond Comics: Tech, Games, and Movies
Outside of collecting, I maintain a home lab built around a Synology NAS, virtual machines, Docker containers, and development environments. I enjoy diagnosing technical issues, solving connectivity problems, and optimizing technology to support this site.
I’m also an active PlayStation gamer and track my games, progress, trophies, and storage with the same thoroughness I apply to comics.
I enjoy movies, especially with theater programs that let me watch new releases often — and I frequently rewatch original films before seeing their sequels.
⭐ What You Can Expect From This Site
C and M Merchandise is always evolving. New features, pages, and improvements will appear as I refine the database and expand the website.
What you can expect:
- ✅ Accurate, carefully verified information whenever possible
- ✅ Transparency about how data is gathered and corrected
- ✅ A deep appreciation for comic history and collecting
- ✅ Ongoing improvements and refinements over time
⭐ Get in Touch
If you’re a collector, a fan of detailed data, or someone who notices something that could be improved, feel free to reach out. I always welcome feedback and enjoy talking with people who share the same passion for comics.