Circus

The greatest show on Earth comes to San Diego. It’s nothing that B.T. Barnum could have ever imagined in his wildest dreams. If you don’t believe that it’s a circus, you’ve never been to the San Diego Comic-con. Where else could you see elves, Hobbits, Leia in her Slave Girl costume, Catman and Spider-man all smoking a cigarette in front of the San Diego Convention Center?

Comic-con is and always will be about comics and meeting your favorite creators. Every year thousands of comic creators make the trek to comic book Mecca. For many international comic book writers and artists, it is the only time they make it to the United States. It’s a great time to see these creators upclose and talk to them about their books.  It can also bring out the worst in people.  Well meaning people can turn into “fanboys” or “fangirls”.  The symptoms vary from person to person and can even change depending upon who they are talking to.  The main thing is that there is a feeling of social awkwardness that starts with the fanboy or fangirl and is transfered to the subject of their idolatry.  Fanboys tend to sweat a lot,  stammer, stutter, stare, ask inappropriate questions, giggle uncontrolably, knock things over, smile too much, make rude comments and stay longer than they should. 

I can speak with clarity on this subject because I have exhibited all those symptoms and made every fanboy faux pas a person could make.  I started out meeting creators and publishers while researching the comic book industry as I prepared to start my comic shop.  I’ve had many opportunities to practice talking to creators and try to eliminate my fanboy tendencies.  Unfortunately, I still have my fan boy moments.  In honor of San Diego Comic-con, the biggest gathering of fanyboys and fanygirls, I will be posting my biggest fanboy faux pas over the next few days.  I hope you’ll enjoy them.  Feel to post your own fanboy and fangirl moments below in the comments section.

Shawn Demumbrum
SpazDog Comics
www.spazdogcomics.com

Email: shawn@spazdogcomics.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SpazDog
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