Hot take: 90s comic fans gatekeep way harder than the people who got into comics through the MCU

I grew up in the 90s and collected X-Men and Spawn. My dad was a huge fan from the 60s. But lately I've been in a few shops where older fans openly mock people for not knowing who Onslaught is or for starting with the movies. I saw a guy get laughed at for asking about a Deadpool run that wasn't Joe Kelly's. That's not enthusiasm, that's just being a jerk. Isn't the whole point of a community to welcome new readers so the industry doesn't die?

3 comments

3 Comments

skylerg1726d ago

Yeah I actually had a buddy who got into comics through the MCU like right when Endgame came out. He walked into a local shop asking for recommendations on the Infinity Gauntlet story since he saw the movie and wanted the original. The guy behind the counter literally scoffed and told him "you don't start with that one" and handed him some obscure 70s Avengers issue instead. My friend just stood there confused and ended up leaving empty handed. It's like man that guy could have hooked a new reader for life but instead he chose to be weirdly territorial over a comic from 1991.

paul_webb4526d ago

Maybe gatekeeping is less about comics and more about losing the only thing that made them feel special.

oliver52326d ago

Yeah man that's exactly it. I had a similar thing happen at a record store once and it's the same kind of energy. I'm with you @skylerg17, that shop clerk completely blew it.