Realms of Wonder Issue Detail Window

Entering Issues

Here's where you'll spend the bulk of your time. The Issue Detail Window allows you to add and edit entries for all of the comics you own, as well as those you are looking for, traded, sold, etc.

The amount of information you can capture for each issue is pretty substantial, but it's entirely up to you on how much you wish to enter.

Click on any field (or tab) on the image above to display more detailed information about the selected field (or tab). Or, simply scroll up and down to see definitions and examples for all the fields on the Issue Detail window.

Issue Title: OK, this is obvious, but here's where you'll select the title from the list of all those you've entered in the Title Maintenance Window. The title must be entered on the Title Maintenance window first, before you can enter any issue information (makes sense).; IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand how to change the currently active title - click here for details
Issue Number: This is a text field that allows you to enter the issue number, including half issues ("1/2"), and unusual issue numbers (like the"Infinity" issues from Malibu).
Sort Sequence Number: This field is the used to insure that your issues sort properly. In most cases, this is the same as the Issue Number. In the cases of "1/2" issues and other non numeric entries, this field is used to sort the issue properly so it shows up in the right spot in all your reports and lists.
Print Run: Here's where you can enter if this issue is a 1st print, 2nd print, etc.
Number of Pages: Some people may consider this fairly superfluous information, but, should you desire, you can capture the number of pages in this issue.
Reading Order Number: If you read DC Comics, especially the Superman titles, you've probably noticed the reading order number on the cover. It lets you know in what order this issue should be read in relation to other titles with overlapping plots. Usually it's a format like "1999-12" (the 12th issue of 1999).
Add to Wishlist? - Wish List Indicator: Checking this box will add this issue to your wish list, and it will then be included on the Wish List Report.
Issue Date: Another obvious one, usually found on the front cover or inside front cover of the issue.
Quantity: How many copies of this issue do you own?
Cover Name: This can be a little confusing. This field is intended to capture the name of this particular episode as it appears on the cover. This often does not exist. If it does, it's often different then the issue name below.

Issue Name: This field is intended to capture the name of this particular episode, usually found on the inside title page. Again, not all issues have Issue names either, so, many times this field will be blank.
Issue Type: This field specifies the type of issue - regular edition, deluxe edition, variant cover, premium edition, trade paperback, etc. It's up to you as to how you wish to categorize them.

Genre: This field specifies the style / theme of this issue - Superhero, Horror, Comedy, etc. It can be set at the title level as well, and over-ridden here.

Ownership Status: This field defaults to "Owned" which is how Realms of Wonder knows which issues you own versus which issues you'd like to own ("Wanted - Highest priority", for example) or issues you've "Traded" or "Sold", etc.

Crossover Name: This field captures the name of crossovers that span multiple titles, like "The Fall of the Mutants", "Knightfall", "Fire From Heaven", etc.
Crossover Part Number: Here's where you enter what part of the above crossover this issue is.
Total Crossover Parts: Enter the total number of parts in this crossover (if you know it)

Major Arc Name: This field captures the name of the major arc to which this issue belongs; for example "Batman: No Man's Land". You can then enter the part number that this issue is, as well as the total number of parts in the Major Arc (if known - often you will not know this until the arc is completed). These fields where added to handle situations where you have a Crossover within a Major Arc. Enter the Crossover information above, and the Major Arc info here.
TPB Name: If you are using the Detailed TPB Entry method, enter or select the name of the TPB in which this issue is contained. You can then enter the part number, as well as the total number of parts in the TPB.

For example, if you have already entered "Uncanny X-Men: Mutant Massacre" as a TPB, and you are entering Uncanny X-Men #141 as one of it's contents, you would select "Uncanny X-Men: Mutant Massacre" from the list, and enter "1 of 2" as the part number and total parts. To insure that summary information about your collection remains accurate when adding TPB contents, I strongly suggest that you read the Suggested Field Changes for TPB contents.
Source: This field captures where you purchased this issue (or received it as a gift, or found it in the gutter, or whatever). On the Contacts/Sources window, you can set up default discount and tax amounts for each source to accurately calculate your true cost - your net paid.
Location: Use this field to indicate where this issue is stored. Most people use a format something like "Box 002", but any format is acceptable
Position in Box: For those of us who are really anal retentive, and want to keep track of exactly where in the box any issue is, that can be entered here. There is a utility (on the utility menu, surprisingly enough) that will calculate this for you, assuming you sort them alphabetically, so you don't have to change all the positions when you insert an issue into a box.

Cover Price: The actual cover price that appears on the comics?
Purchase Date: When did you buy this issue (or receive it as a gift or find it in the gutter or whatever)?
Purchase Price: How much did you pay for this issue?

Net Paid - Adjustments to the Purchase Price: If you set up the Sources from which you purchase comics on the Contacts/Sources window, Realms will automatically calculate your Net Paid amount - that is, the Purchase Price, minus any discounts applied, plus any tax that applies. You can also enter these manually if you wish.

Price Guide Used: Enter the Price Guide you used to value this book. Realms comes pre-filled with Price Guide setups for the big 2 price guides - Wizard and Overstreet Annual. If you'd like a little more info on how the Price Guides work, read The Joy of Pricing Comics.

Condition: Realms of Wonder defaults to the standard categories for rating the condition of your comics - Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, etc. However, it is fully user configurable, so you can add or change any condition categories that you wish, as well as the associated value ranges. Click here for info on Pricing Your Comics.
Effective Value Date: Enter the issue date of the price guide you are using, which indicates when the above value was effective. Behind the scenes Realms of Wonder keeps track of the change in value so you can view how the value has changed (increased or decreased) over time.

Overstreet Numerical Equivalent (ONE) Grade: Enter the Overstreet Numerical Equivalent (ONE) grade, a number from 1 to 100 which represents the condition of this issue.
Overstreet Whiteness Level (OWL) Grade: Enter the Overstreet Whiteness Level (OWL) grade, a number from 1 to 10 which represents the whiteness of the paper.

CGC: This field captures the CGC grade which is the grade from 0 to 10 you can have assigned to your books if you agree to pay an exorbitantly high price. Of course, the up side seems to be that if you have this done, people apparently lose their respective minds, and agree to pay 10 or 20 times the value for the very same issues (Spawn #1 going for over $160!!! - what were they thinking). Anyway, for those of you that go this route, you can capture this grading here.

Book Value: This field captures the book value for this issue. You can use your favorite price guide to keep this value up to date. Based on which guide you use, this may actually represent either the mint or the near mint condition value (Wizard and Overstreet Annual use Mint, if you read them carefully, Overstreet Fan uses Near Mint). Realms also offers a stand-alone, absolutely free, automated value update application - www.realmsofwonder.com/valueupd32.htm
High Value /Percent: Realms will calculate the high value for this issue based on the book value and condition above, but you can manually adjust this field if you wish. The actual percent that was used in the calculation will display to the right.

Current Value: Realms of Wonder will calculate the current value based on the condition and book value above, but you can manually adjust it if you wish.
Low Value: Realms will calculate the low value for this issue based on the book value and condition above, but you can manually adjust this field if you wish. The actual percent that was used in the calculation will display to the right.
Percent of Book Condition: Realms will calculate the per cent of book value for this issue based on the book value and condition above, but you can manually adjust this field if you wish either by typing into the field or clicking on a slider to raise or lower the per cent.
Book Value 2 / 3: For those of us who are way to anal retentive, you can enter a second and / or third book value. For example, you may want to base all your values on Wizard, by entering that info above, and then, for comparison purposes, enter the Overstreet Annual value here. This field is not tied to any calculations, and is for informational purposes only.
Price Guide 2 / 3: You can enter the Price Guide you used as the source of the second / third value. This field is not tied to any calculations, and is for informational purposes only.
Selling Price: If you have any issues you are looking to sell, enter the selling price here, and Realms will include them in your For Sale report.

Max Price You'll Pay: I'm not sure how useful this field is, but someone requested it, so what the hey. Enter the max price you'll pay for an issue.

Anthology Indicator: If this issue is an anthology, that is, it contains multiple stories, like BWS' Storyteller, then check this box. Once you do, Realms will display the Anthology Data field and the Edit Story Data button. Click this button to enter/change the anthology information. By default, this field is not checked, so those two fields are normally hidden.
Anthology Information: Data specific to individual stories in anthology issues can be entered on the Anthology Data window, and will display here. In addition, creative teams can be entered for individual stories, or for the entire issue as a whole.
Creative Team: An unlimited number of creative team members, filling any role you can come up with (Artist, Writer, Colors, etc.) can be entered on the Creative Team Entry window, and will display here.
Allow Typing in the Creative Team field: If you want to type the creative team entries directly into the field above, turn this on. You have to stick to the format Realms expects, but it's pretty easy, and may actually be faster for good typists.
Comments: Use this field to enter any other information (no limit on length or format) that you haven't found a place to enter anywhere else.
Autographed By: If an issue is autographed (assuming it's by someone you wanted to autograph it), you can enter the name(s) of that person (or persons). The "Autographed Issues" report uses the presence of anything in this field to indicate that this issue should be included in the report.
Zoom button: Click the Zoom button to bring up a larger window where you can enter the comments or plot/synopsis. If you are entering a lot of data, it's easier on the Zoom window, instead of the smaller, scrolling fields on the Comic Detail window.

Character Appearances: An unlimited number of character appearances can be entered on the Character Appearances Entry window, and will display here.

Plot Synopsis / Review: Here’s the spot for all you undiscovered writers to go wild. Feel free to let your creative and critical juices flow here. Enter a synopsis of the plot and/or your review of this issue. There is no limit to the length of your entry. I've found the plot synopsis to be extremely helpful when I go to read the next issue. I can get a quick overview of the story up to that point. Also, the "Review Report" will print your reviews, and/or write them to a text file for easy uploading to any or all online services, or Web sites. Over time, I'd like to see if we could get an army of Realms users to upload all their reviews/synopsis to this Web Page. Then, we can compile a massive encyclopedia of comics plots and reviews. I don't know about you, but I'd love to have someplace available where I could find out "what has gone before" when I'm reading a new title, or a long running title.
Date you read this issue: You can use this field to document the actual date you read this issue. If you update this field accurately, you can create an Unread Issues Report from the Summary Window to let you know which issues you haven’t read yet.
Ratings - Art, Story (writing), Overall: Along with the text base review and synopsis, you can also enter ratings from 1 to 10 for art, writing and overall. This gives you an easy way to identify issues you thought were worthwhile, as well as those that could not suck enough and everything in between.

User Defined Group By Fields: These two fields allow you to group titles, and the associated issues any way you wish. The most common usage I've seen is by Primary Character. For example, you could enter Batman as the primary character for all the Batman related titles, and then group those together very easily on the Summary window. Right mouse click on the caption to bring up a window which allows you to give the field a meaningful name.

User Defined Flags: These five indicators allow you to set flags to highlight, or associate issues any way you wish.. The most common usage I've seen is to indicate favorite issues and special issues, but it's entirely up to you as to how to define and set these indicators. Right mouse click on the caption of any flag to bring up a window which allows you to give the field a meaningful name.

TPB Summary Data Entry: If you choose to use the Summary version of TPB contents entry, do that here on this tab.

TPB Summary Data Entry Button: Click this button to bring up the TPB Summary Entry window.

Use the TPB contents in the Missing Issue report: If you choose to use the Summary version of TPB contents entry, you must turn this check box on if you wish the contents of the TPB to be used in the Missing Issue Report. For the TPB Detail entry, the include option is selected from the Missing Issues report window. This field is ignored.

TPB Contents: If you choose to use the Summary version of TPB contents entry, the contents that you have entered for this TPB will display here. Click the Enter TPB Issues button to add/edit TPB contents.

Image associated with this issue: You can associate an image (any of the standard formats - gif, bmp. jpg, etc.) with any issue by entering or selecting the location of the image file. Once selected, you can display the image by selecting the Display Issue Image option from the Comic Detail Menu.
Thumbnail of the image you've selected for this issue: A thumbnail image of the one you've selected will display here. You can then click on the thumbnail to see a full size, sizable version of the image.
Icon associated with this issue: You can enter or select any icon that you wish to assign to this window whenever this issue is the currently active record. Once an entry has been made, the icon will display if you minimize the Comic Detail Window while this record is active.
Icon that you've chosen: The icon that you've selected above will display here.
Browse Button: Click the Browse button to select the image and/or icon that you want to associate with this issue.
Edit Image List Button: Click the Edit Image List button if you wish to assign multiple images to this issue. This will bring up the Image List Entry Window.

Show All Images: Click the Show All Images button to display the Image Viewer Window where you can see all the images associated with the issue.