Comics have always been stigmatized, from the homophobia that led to the comics code to the perennial perception that comics are for kids. Fans have long tolerated these stigmas, but have recently enjoyed more mainstream acceptance. Between the regular presence of graphic novels on bestseller lists and superheros on theater marquis, comics readers need no longer feel embarrassed for their fandom. At least, not totally. This week, the Retcon Punchers discuss what aspects of comic books still embarrass them. Welcome to the Chat Cave.

Drew: This subject is very near and dear to my heart. In fact, one could argue that my first attempt to tackle this subject (posted on my blog devoted to subjects of such social stigmas) set me on the path that led to the formation of this very site. Suffice it to say, I’m maybe a little too sensitive to what people might be thinking about my comic fandom, but those sensitivities aren’t necessarily directly comics related. The thing I’m most embarrassed by is people assuming that I’m the kind of hyper-sarcastic, socially awkward pretentious hermit that has become the stereotype of the modern comic fan, but that has more to do with the culture surrounding comics than anything in the comics themselves. 

The thing that most embarrasses me about comics themselves are the gratuitous cheesecake shots that still appear in far too many titles. There are a lot of reasons I read comics, but getting my rocks off is not one of them. I always blush and rush through pages featuring prominent T&A for fear that someone might think that’s why I read them. I guess there might be some pre-teen fans who don’t have a better outlet for their sexual frustrations, but I don’t understand why the industry needs to be driven by the desire of such a specific demographic.

The truly frustrating part is that so many writers and artists aren’t guilty of this that I wonder what’s up with the ones that are. To me, trying to add a little sex appeal just to goose sales cheapens even the dumbest stories. I feel the same way about excessive gore, but the misogynistic implications of men treating female characters as sex objects makes that an issue I can’t excuse. Cut it out, guys.

Peter: This subject is quite a conundrum. I’m not really sure how to answer this. I have always, and my friends have usually been, textbook geeks. During my grade school, and high school days, I participated in all of the usual geek things; Star Wars, video games, Dungeons and Dragons, obscure board games, Magic: The Gathering, and comic books. the people associated myself with also participated in some of these activities, and over the years they changed, becoming more focused, and now they pretty much stay at movies, video games, cribbage, Magic, vinyl records and comics. I have also grown to the point where I really don’t care about what other people think.

However I will say, that in my personal life I do not necessarily broadcast my interest in comics to everyone that I meet. I have always probably cared too much about what other people think on some level, and there for I just choose not tell them; but I by no means hide it from others. I’m also not sure what really embarrasses about comics these days. I do agree with Drew that there is a little too much T and A shots and I have seen the “My face is up here.” joke a few many times over the years. When Power Girl first appeared, for example, the artist had a contest to see if every issue they could make her bust size larger, and see if anyone would notice.

I think that thing that embarrasses me personally is the constant equation with American comics and the manga fad that been sweeping through the younger generations. As soon as anyone hears that I read comics, they are often equating with manga and since I don’t like manga the association that I receive with that is a little troublesome. But overall I really don’t have a problem reading comics and other people knowing about it

Patrick: Oh, man. Hopefully I can say this without alienating the entire comic book community: almost everything about reading superhero comics embarrasses me.

Comics in general get a lot of criticism from the non-comics-reading public: accusations of gratuitous violence, juvenile depictions of sex and sexuality, impenetrable mythology, hacky writing, an over reliance on decades-old characters, etc. While I know deep down in my excited little nerd-soul that this is wrong (I have tons of examples to the contrary), I don’t have to look too far – or even stray from the books I think are good – to find offenders in all these categories.

It’s so telling that Peter can simply mention the name Power Girl and we know exactly what the problem is. The warts of the comic book industry are right on top, and you’ve got to either dig deep or take a guided tour to avoid them. And those two options are what I’m afraid of. If I’m digging deep (as I believe Drew and Shelby and I have started), then the rest of the world sees… well, the most succinct way I can put it is that they look at me and see Big Bang Theory. And fuck that noise, man. And if you want to keep your cool and just take a guided tour of the greatest hits of comics, then you run the risk of encountering Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons. (Fun to consider: the character’s name isn’t “Fat Angry Nerd” or “Fat Geek Asshole” or even “Fat Sarcastic Star Trek Fan” — just “Comic Book Guy.”)

Also, because they’re books and reading is involved, I always feel like I should be reading an actual book instead of reading comics. It’s obviously a faulty comparison, but that nagging voice in the back of my head can’t seem to shake it.

Shelby: This question is tough to answer. On the one hand, I’m a damn adult, and I do what I please; if reading comic books pleases me, than so be it! But, on the other hand, yeah, I definitely start to blush when someone asks me a sincere question about comics and I begin to answer it in great detail. Which is a real shame, because when I start to blush, it’s like a runaway train; there’s just no stopping it.

I don’t think it’s the cheesecake factor, unless I’m reading something like Sin City, which is just chock-full of gratuitous nudity. Really, I think it boils down to the society’s perception of a comic book nerd, or maybe more specifically, my perception of society’s perception of comic book nerds. Really, your options for stereotypical views of comic books are pretty much limited to, well, Comic Book Guy, which is not remotely flattering. I feel like I can maybe get away from that sort of uber-nerd cliche a little bit because I am a lady. Girl comic book nerds are rather like girl gamers, I think: we are considered a rarer species.

I am definitely over the nerd caricature. I’m not trying to deny that I’m a nerd, but honestly, if one more person says to me, “You read comic books? Big Bang Theory, am I right?” I will retcon-punch my way to a new reality. I’ll do it, I swear. Honestly, I don’t see that big of a difference between being a comic book nerd and being really into fantasy football: they play a made-up game with real stats, I read made-up stories about superheroes. We’re both just as obsessed, so why don’t they have the same perceived mainstream stigma? Unless The League is just as stereotypical as Big Bang Theory? I don’t know, I’ve never watched either.