I Ain’t No Paperback-Boy. Ok, Yes I Am…

Alright, I’m sorry but I have to do this.  I’m a trades guy and I can’t help it.  Now I’m not entirely sure the reaction this is going to get however, I do believe there are some like me.  DC’s relaunch coming up here in a couple of weeks will be one of the few chances to start from #1.  Now I know titles reset all the time, but for once, it’s company-wide.  As a comic fan, it’s great to get the chance to start fresh and stay with storylines from the ground up and I couldn’t be more thrilled to jump on board.  I understand that they’re targeting new readers with the whole starting over thing, but screw that, IT’S GREAT FOR ME!

I’ve been catching up on Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Birds of Prey, yada, yada, yada for I can’t tell you how long now.  If there are any of you reading this and thinking, “This schmuck ain’t a fan,” well sir/madam, I very semi-insincerely kind of say to you, “Nay.”  Here’s my angle on the issue (HAH, ISSUE, GET IT!!!).  I’m the same way with TV shows, video games, and tacos…I mean just the first two.  But seriously, I hate being titillated.  Come on now, who watched an episode of Game of Thrones and with no warning at all…credits.  Damn you HBO and you’re need to space out programming.  Yes, I did play Arkham Asylum, but there is no way in hell I was going to wait two years for Arkham City.  Nevertheless, I hate, hate, hate when I’m left twiddling my thumbs in anticipation waiting for the continuation of a story I’m getting into.

So I’m behind.  I haven’t read Fear Itself, or Flashpoint, but that doesn’t mean I’m not as hardcore of a fan as the rest.  Or does it?  I’d like to think my fandom doesn’t get called into question just because I like the whole set at once.  Side note – I’m still waiting to watch Deadwood, Sons of Anarchy, and Breaking Bad.  Don’t judge me, those seasons are expensive and I don’t secrete currency (at least I don’t check).  Bottom line is that just because I collect trades doesn’t make me any less of a fan than those who go to their local comic shop for their pull-list on Wednesday.

Let’s pretend everyone thought the way I did.  Ok, scratch that, that’s a bad idea.  Let’s pretend that comic fans thought about trades the way I do, yeah that’s it.  If trades were the “thing” and running floppies off the shelves, is that bad for the industry?  It’s the same story just in different formats, right?  I’d hate to think I’m doing any kind of harm to the stories I love, but I can’t help my affinity for thick-picture books (yes, I made that up).  Now you can judge me, but be gentle, I have no problem crying into my Rising Stars Compendium.

The Pop-Culture Fan’s Terms of Endearment

“Geek”, “Nerd”, “Dork”, “Loser”.   I’m pretty sure many if not all of us (pop-culture) have been labeled with any or all of one of these ever-loving titles at some point.  And to most some are not synonymous with others.  Before I go any further I just want to elaborate on why it’s the “Pop-Culture” terms as opposed to strictly comics.  Initially I wanted to dub this for comic-fans, but realized that it isn’t just comic fans.  These titles are often given to fans of Manga, Trading Card Games (Magic, WoW, etc.), Table Top Games (Warhammer 40K, D&D, etc.), and more.  The point being that we are all in the same labeled group of geeks, nerds, dorks, and losers.

So why is this?  Why are we ridiculed with these names because of things we love or are passionate about?  Why is playing Magic the Gathering any different from playing Spades or Poker?  If you want to get technical all Magic does is take a standard deck of cards and bring a new version of gameplay to the table.  Comics and Graphic Novels are no different than the latest copy of a John Grisham best-seller.  They both have compelling characters, fantastic authors, and worlds all their own.  But don’t try to tell me that the woman reading Birds of Prey doesn’t get certain looks that she wouldn’t have if she picked up an Anne Rice murder –mystery.

Again, for some reason society has some prejudice about what interests a “normal” person should have.  Apparently our hobbies are not in that list.  I understand that some of us have very understanding people in our lives that are perfectly ok with our hobbies and don’t think any differently about who we are as people.  So why the hell are we judged?  Who decided that because of our interests we can be labeled as “dorks”?  Who?  Was it someone interested in politics?  Or was it someone into sports or the stock markets?  I just want to know when it became acceptable to put a nametag on those who follow something a little out of the ordinary, as if there was a clear-cut definition for ordinary.

I’ve just recently become very active with Twitter (Don’t ask why, but it has connected me with some awesome people with similar interests) and have noticed the plethora of fans all over the globe.  Not to mention the women who take their passions so seriously that they relentlessly argue with DC about them not having enough female-writers or artists (I’m not saying you’re wrong, just noting your passion).  But I’ve also noticed some of us have fully embraced the “geek” title and wear it as a badge of honor.  That, too, is fine, but it just seems to me that the more we embrace the title the easier it is to throw around.  Someone tell me why must we be chastised???  I know the words are a little theatrical, but as a whole, don’t we share the taste for the theatrical (Anybody recognize the line from Batman Begins?  Gold Star for you).

What if we started nit-picking all of the so-called “normal” hobbies?  What if we turned the tables on those who don’t assume they’re “dorks”?  It is the most mature of ideas, but we shouldn’t just allow our interests to be looked at as immature or irrelevant.  Let’s pretend those titles weren’t pressed on us…do you think that would change anybody’s beliefs as to how our hobbies were perceived?  If comics were no longer for “losers” would readership go up?  If cosplaying was more in-style would more people do it?  Or are we doomed to live on as geeks, nerds, dorks, and losers?

Dare I say we start a revolution?  Nay, a revolution never seems to pan out.  I say we simply respond to those who don’t appreciate our favorite pastimes with questions as to why.  Why are we the outcasts?  Our diversions are like any other are they not?  Manga takes us out of our lives for a while doesn’t it?  World of Warcraft connects families and friends while having a little fun (I know, some of you hate the grind, but there is some 14 million subscribers who would disagree).  All I’m saying, is maybe we try to break free from the tyranny that is…whoa, just went a little Stewie for a second.  Anyway, let’s just try to change the way we are seen and do it without burning down a local Wal-Mart.

That whole “history geek” debacle that came out of Miss USA’s mouth started a whole gaggle of people’s opinions on what a “geek” is.  And I’m sorry, but whatever you assume a geek to be might not be entirely correct to someone else.  I’m proud to be a member of this group, the group that wears our hobbies proudly on our sleeves, but why can’t we just be fans?  I’m not saying we should be embarrassed or ashamed, just don’t understand why we must assume the role of “geek” for the things we love.

Bottom line, if you’ve found this blog, you’re probably a fan of the same things I am.  We’re fans just like with anything else.  I’m a fan of baseball and football as well but let’s face it, not many people refer to themselves as sports geeks.  A fan also has a passion for something, much like some say a geek does.  So why can’t we be happy with being fans?