Friday, February 17, 2012

Comic Book Woman

Did anybody watch Comic Book Men? It's a new show on AMC made by Kevin Smith. He has been at pretty much every comic book thing I've been to in my life, so he knows his stuff. I thought the show was going to be sitcom-esque, but it turned out to be reality-based. Boo. Because there is a type of person in the comics community who use their tiny bit of comic store power to be buttheads. I don't understand this at all. Many of the comics lovers have been made to feel crappy at some point in their lives for their nerdery, so why does it make them feel bigger to perpetuate the meanie cycle? I will not be watching the show again. The workers Smith follows treat one particular employee like crap, and while they may find it funny, I think it's pretty disgusting and hypocritical. I'm especially flamed by it because the last time I visited my local comic shop, the one I've been going to for years and where they know me and my husband and my daughter and hold comics for me even though I only really read three titles (can you guess which three?), whoever was working was totally one of those power-turdly type of guys. I brought up my Buffy comic to the counter, the cover of which had a line, "Nikki the Vampire Slayer," and the guy at the counter read that aloud in a mocking tone. So I explained that she was the slayer who Spike killed in the 70s... He wanted none of it. He then proceeded to diss Buffy and say he was never into it and blah blah blah and oh I can make fun of him for liking Star Wars and stuff. Um, why would I do that, asshole? I like Star Wars, too. And you know what else I like? Not being judged. No one in the comics community has the right to judge other comics readers. It's like how indie rock assholes have to one-up each other instead of bond over liking the same bands. I don't want to one-up a nerd; I want to delight in the solidarity of all nerds. Next time I head back to pick up my Angel and Faith comic, this dude better not be working. If he is, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind. And if he's not, I'm totally going to tattle on him. That's what a good nerd would do.

4 comments:

Teenage Librarian said...

I hate one-uppers. Even though I've been guilty of it a few times. But it's not even about tattling. It's about creating a safe/warm/welcome environment for people who have a common bond (comics).

Besides, it's not very business oriented. I would stop shopping at a store if the clerks judged every single item that I bought. "Oh...Tide soap? Yea that's terrible, you must not care about the environment" "Ugh, you're buying Advil? Really, you should be buying Tylenol. They're the best, but you know that's just my opinion." Blah.

Anonymous said...

I'm kind of glad I didn't watch the show now. I was going to DVR it after The Walking Dead, but ended up going to bed early and forgot about it. I really like Kevin Smith and comics, so it's disappointing to hear it was kind of crap. I hate when someone's horse always has to be bigger.

Anonymous said...

Also, it just took me like 25 times to prove I wasn't a robot. I'm a little concerned now that maybe I am (or blind).

Julie H said...

I might watch the show again, even though I don't think my husband will. I do love comics. See what you guys think. Maybe I was extra sensitive due to the Buffy incident. Still unresolved, btw.