I started reading/buying comics on a weekly basis since I was 4 or 5 years old. I first got in contact with US comics when I was 12 or so. It was John Byrne's Fantastic Four. Although my heart remains with the Franco-Belgian artists (Franquin, Peyo, Morris, Hergé,....), I got hooked immediately. When I started working and money wasn't so tight anymore, I almost instantly started buying comic art (mainly thanks to Jim Warden who's site I discovered around that time). Over the years, I learned that the American collector scene is a fun and great society. Lots of friendly people, passionate collectors and helpful guys (and lets say things as they are, they're a lot more honest than the European (and especially the Franco-Belgian) collectors society).
Although my collection is small in US standards, 10 years ago I never would have dreamed of ever owning any of the stuff I do now.......