Comic books were a dime each when I was a kid. My parents hated them as well but I had a pretty large collection hidden in my room. Which my mother eventually found and threw out.
That would still require money - something my parents didn't give me until I was 16 lol. I had a pretty strict childhood all things considered.
I've seen all the X-Men films and in the early 90s watched the animated show, which I greatly enjoyed. Plus they are available as eBooks and I have an iPad. So I probably will start at some point. Maybe. I like the idea of you buying the comic books in secret and hiding them in your room. That sounds fantastic!