So What If I Like Comic Books!

History and popular culture has established comic book collecting as a cornerstone to geekery. Amongst a sea of “nerds,” from video gamers to LARPers (look it up), comic book fans have established their own culture that simply refuses to die. An outsider may be wondering how such a simple thing like comics can garner a profound following running into the millions. The truth is, comic culture isn’t as black and white as it seems. Its evolution has established multiple facets ranging from the simple to the complex. Some collectors favor artwork while others enjoy well written stories. Those who enjoy comics aren’t limited to the Comic-Con enthusiast or the basement dweller. Walk into a comic shop and you’ll find businessmen, soccer moms, high school gym teachers, and just about every type of person in between. Every fan has their own reasons or preferences, but the undeniable truth is that the one thing we do have in common is our love for comics!

Why I’m into comics:

Out of all my friends (jocks, junkies, nerds, and every other flavor) only a small handful enjoy comics. Whenever we converse, comics are never mentioned in the mix. This recently got me thinking quite a bit about the magnetic influence comics have on me. Why do I enjoy comics when the majority of my pals and loved ones brush it off as plain old boring? Well, I thought about it and I got my answer.

It was pretty generic as far as being a kid goes. As a youngster I grew up on shows like the Ninja Turtles, Captain Planet, Transformers, Batman/Superman the Animated Series, etc. I enjoyed the concept of good triumphing over evil. That coupled with the mounds of action figures, violent 80’s and 90’s action movies, and a small stack of comics my ma and pops bought me expanded my enjoyment towards all things superhero. Collecting comics, however, boils down to my appreciation and respect for two things- great story and great art. Whenever I crack open a comic, I’m not immediately sold. Like a good movie, I have to be convinced. Once and a while, I’ll discover a gem that is the epitome of an amazing comic. What does it feel like to finally finish such a unique and exciting read? Simply put, it’s like listening to The Who or watching Star Wars for the first time.

In the end, it’s whatever you make it to be. To me, comics offer the same enjoyment a kid these days would get out of a 40 hour a week Xbox Live session. For some comic fans, it’s watching their profits grow or collecting every single Wolverine comic. Whatever it is, comic related or not, embrace what makes you happy. There seems to be an excess of negativity going around in the world these days. If you’re even remotely interested in joining the comic train, I highly recommend you give it a go. That Batman comic you end up reading just might make your day a little better.