Comics

I just bought my ticket to Comicon. I have always wanted to go to a comic book convention. Now I finally took the first step in going. Usually, I invite my child to everything, but not this time. I want to have fun, and she can be a big ass kill joy. 

ANYHOOSEN, I have been fascinated with comics since I was little. I remember my uncle let me read one of his Spider-Man comics and I was hooked. My dad was not having that though. He insisted that he would be a doctor if it was not for comic books. That sounded so ridiculous to my little head and even then I knew my dad was full of baloney. Especially since he had a stash of Heavy Metal and Eerie comics in the bathroom that he left laying around. There is no way a youngster should have such easy access to those titles. So anyhoo, my dad kept with his 'no comics for you, but I can read these slightly perverted titles' rule. My uncle, my cousin's boyfriend and the Sunday newspaper kept my comic buzz going.

When I was around 14, my grandfather gave me money to go buy some candy. I walked to the mom and pop shop in the hood and the comic rack I had passed by so many times before caught my eye. I stood there turning the rack, picking up a title, putting it back, turning the rack again and picking another title. There were a couple of Spider-Man titles and I picked the Amazing Spider-Man.  I took it to my grandpa's and read it before it was time for me to go back home. From there, I was Miss Comic Book USA. I used my little mad money from Grandpa to buy my comics.

When I got my first job, I spent a lot of money at Zanadu and later at the Comic Stand.  With more money, I was able to branch out and start reading more titles. I started reading Groo, Batman, X-Men and threw in a few other titles every now and again. My friends would talk about our favorite titles, I had a few friends who would accompany me to the various comic stands.  I wasn't a full blown live the life geek, but I could talk about my favorite titles all the live long day. Even though there weren't too many characters who looked like me and the efforts they did make were so stereotypical and clumsy that I wished they didn't even try, I loved them anyway.

As a side note, it really bothered me that Storm was a black woman who was a thief in Africa (black folks as thieves, how original), but part of her beauty was because she was white haired with blue eyes (come on now) and she later comes to believe that she is a goddess and she has no sense of humor (black characters- and people of color in general, are often complete fools or very stern, never the balance of characteristics afforded white characeters). This  bothered me to no end, even though in the late 80's and early 90's the X-Men titles made great efforts to fix this with characters of color who were not total stereotypes. Archangel fell in love with an African American woman, never mind that he was now blue, had wings made out of blades and major mental complications. And what is it with the blue man, black woman thing going on in the comics? Storm with Beast, Archangel with the cop, and Nightcrawler with the witch.

Forge is my favorite X-Man. He has the ability to think of an invention, and then make it. I wish I could do that. He is Native American and he was my secret comic book crush. I can admit that now as I creep into my middle ages and nobody knows my real name on this blog. And yes, I picked the picture of the stereotypical Native American, but he looks so dayum hot!

Where was I? X-Men and the Batman titles became my favorites.  The storytelling was very complex and intelligent and was way better than when I was younger. But as I grew up and and my wallet grew smaller and smaller, I had to abandon my comic collecting. I was very excited when the X-Men and Spider-Man titles were turned into movies. The first Batman efforts were not to my liking. Michael who-ever as Batman, was not cool at all. I did not want to see that movie, nor any of the others. They became dumber and dumber and I thought it was a damn shame. The new efforts with Christian Bale are waaaaayyyy better.

I keep digressing. I buy graphic novels now. Usually, they are compilations of titles like the Essential Hulk or Crisis on Infinite Earths. My collection of comics sit on the top shelf of my closet, waiting for me to cash them in since they are darn near mint.   I bought a graphic novel while I was at Zanadu to buy my tickets and it was nice to read it while on the long bus ride to our dinner. 

Now there is a comic about knitting called Handknit Heroes. It combines knitting and comics, my favorite things. I seriously would love to subscribe to this, I just have so much I want to do and not enough money to do it with.  Maybe for Christmas.