That guy who lectured me for 10 minutes about a variant cover at my local shop

I was at Cosmic Comics in Austin just trying to grab the new X-Men issue last Saturday and this dude sees me picking up a Storm variant. He literally followed me to the register telling me how the artist's early work was 'objectively better' before they sold out. I just nodded and paid but he kept going on about how real fans don't chase variants. Has anyone else had a fellow customer try to gatekeep what you buy at the counter?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_nina6d ago

You know what, I used to be that guy a little bit. Back when I first got into comics I thought variants were just a cash grab and real collectors stuck to first prints. But then I saw this one cover that just spoke to me, a simple Stealth Iron Man variant that had this cool matte finish, and I realized some people just like the art for what it is. That experience kind of humbled me real quick. Now I just grab whatever looks good and let other folks do the same without the whole lecture.

simonbell6d ago

Objectively better" - man, I know that type. There's this guy at my shop who corners anyone near the Batman section and explains why every artist after Jim Aparo is basically trash. I once got stuck listening to him for fifteen minutes about how the 90s were a "dark age" for comics while I just wanted to grab a Hush trade. It's funny because I actually collect variants too, not even to be a completionist or anything, just some covers look cooler than others. The whole thing reminds me of that time a dude tried to explain to me why my Punisher Max collection was "problematic" while I was literally just holding it for a friend. Point is, people should buy what they like and not act like the comic shop counter is some sort of audition for a podcast.