Comments on: Comicazi Issue No.11 — Attack of the Fanboy

by: Aaron

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 21:15:38 +0000

Kentucky… wow. Just wow. I don’t really worry about any of that stuff. Seek consolation in the following:
1. Be the best Fanboy you can be. If you want to be a King Fanboy then be a King Fanboy. Or you could try to be the least fanboy-ish fanboy, maybe that would be best. Sometimes being the best means not being the worst. There’s always going to be someone better (or worse).
2. If you do find someone who is a bigger Fanboy than you (say, someone with a full body tattoo of a zombies rotting corpse and a wig made out of Robert Kirkman’s beard trimmings) know that you can always take them down a peg by telling them “Oh, you liked THAT comic book movie? I was into into that WAY before it got big. It was alot better when they only had the first trade out.”

by: Kentucky

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 03:35:49 +0000

So, some thoughts on fanboydom. You guys touched on how Hollywood and TV are making it more “acceptable” to be a fanboy or at least possibly redefining the role. My question is, are there some fanboys out there who “like” nay…NEED to be the fanboysiest?

I know it’s not a testosterone issue with these momma’s boys but if comics are your thing and that’s “all” you have then wouldn’t you want to be able to lay the smackdown on foolz and fanboyz not worthy of your stature? What happens when Hollywood co-opts that power of yours and makes it mainstream? Does that worry you, oh master of Avengers trivia? Would it bother you if your Red Sox loving co-worker suddenly brought into work THE all-inclusive, all-encompassing Galactus comics run in *mint* condition? Do you lay awake at night on your momma’s couch slobbering yourself senseless worried that someone could beat you at Marvel Scene-it the next time you actually find yourself at some social gathering by sheer luck or by someone mistakenly inviting you to a party thinking you were the “other” Dan that sat next to them in US History and looked your number up in the phone directory instead of the “cool” Dan and then you show up and everybody acts all weird and then you spill Kool-Aid on Tracy’s shirt while reaching for more Cheetos cuz you just got to have more Cheetos (you eat when you’re nervous) and then you clog the upstairs toilet cuz the pizza didn’t sit so well with you?

WELL??? Do you??? DO YOU???!!!

by: Dan

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:12:57 +0000

I have finally had a chance to listen to the podcast and it was great as usual.
I am honestly questioning my fanboy-ism. I am somewhat a fanboy, you just have to see my room to have no doubts of that. It looks like the room of a 12 year old boy not a 30 year old…boy. I am more functional in society than a true fanboy, (I can infiltrate the “norms” ninja-like) but I suppose I’m less opinionated than the sterotypical fanboy. I don’t feel the need to tell the creators of my favorite books what I think they are doing wrong. I usually just enjoy things as they come, if something changes too much and it loses some of it’s fun or what originally drew me to the book, I just stop reading it. Well usually, I have been thinking about dropping Wolverine for years, literally, but still read it. But I digress…
Everyone has raised many great questions and I think this is definitely worth further discussion. I look forward to reading/hearing/contributing down the line.

Corn.

by: Erin

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 14:54:45 +0000

Well, I think that Mike’s point that they may not be socially adept enough to show the other side is a good one. So in that sense I guess there are “true” fanboys. But even those people probably have other interests or things that they care about, they’re just not as good at expressing them.

And yes, fangirl probably SHOULD have a negative connotation, and the reason it doesn’t has more to do with outside perception than reality. There are DEFINITELY chicks who get just as worked up about whatever their passion is as dudes. Whether it’s comics, Buffy, sports, or expensive shoes, women are fanatics too.

by: Bahlactus

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 03:29:49 +0000

Hey Erin, I’m glad you dug the latest issue. Point #2 is pretty interesting. I hadn’t considered that fangirl doesn’t carry a negative connotation at all, which, it probably should :) I’d probably disagree with point #3 a lil’ bit — if there is “another side” to the fanboy, it breaks the negative stigma most likely. If he projects this one-dimensional side of his hustle, then, we couldn’t differentiate? You dig? I’d posit, if we don’t see another side of the fanboy, there is no other side….:)

by: Erin

Sat, 13 Jan 2007 16:49:40 +0000

Hey gents:

Some thoughts on your “fanboy” discussion:
1. Clarence is right about the term, in its negative sense, applying only to adults. Calling an adult male a boy is meant to be an insult and the implication is that the fanboy has a slavish and immature devotion to his (and yes, always HIS) obsession.
2. The reasons “fangirl” isn’t as popular/derogatory are a. The “real world” doesn’t think women read comics (more on that later) and b. For some reason, it’s still totally acceptable to refer to adult females as girls.
3. It sounds like fanboy is a term that gets used for people that we don’t know well enough. Whether it’s used by an outsider or another comics reader, the assumption is “XYZ comic is all that dude cares about.” Most of the time that’s probably not true. He loves his family and maple walnut ice cream and his dog or whatever. Other people just don’t see that side of him.

Good topic of conversation, and the focus sharpened in the second half, I think. Nice work, team.

by: Michael

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:56:35 +0000

Apparently….desperation smells like Garth :-)

by: Garth

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 11:41:18 +0000

I’m such a fanboy. Throw some glasses on the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons and that’s me. I own my house and don’t live in my parents’ basement, but other than that I fit the stereotype. I even wear “Desperation” by Calvin Klein.
I miss letters pages too. I was very happy to get one my letters printed in Powers even though I sent it in via e-mail.

by: Michael

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 02:29:16 +0000

Well, guys and gals, obviously there’s a whole lotta meat to this meal…so to speak. I’m glad to see our loose talk spark off so many tangents on the topic….especially ones that we never even got a chance to discuss.
I really liked what Sandra had to say - and not just because she’s dead sexy! - about the whole inner child. Of course any fanboy/girl into their respective passion is in touch with their inner child! hell, I haven’t even grown up yet! And I think I’m doing OK :-)
And, Clarence, you bring up an excellent question in regards to that. That’s a discussion over bacon, my friend!
And I would definitely like to explore more of the internerd’s impact on the whole topic - way to go, Max!
Munson…..what DOES desperation smell like? Heh!
Thanks, guys! You rock!

by: Jeff Munson

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 23:14:29 +0000

Elise, those people you mention, you know the crazy naked painted people in the stands, those are the people that get the “freak” stigma from the football “fanboys”. They are scary…… and strangely enough…. they smell like the stereotype fanboys do…. the combination of stale beer and desperation must smell the same as old newsprint and desperartion! Great podcast as always boys!