Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities A few questions about reading comics...

1) Are you guys completely open about collecting comics? (like if you're discussing hobbies)

2) If the topic does come up, do you have any embarassment whatsoever about admitting you read "funnybooks"?

3) Do you read them in public or just the privacy of home?

4) Many Legion World Forumites are involved in a relationship -Does your spouse/partner read also?
If not, how do they feel about you reading?

5) Do you have many friends that read also?


I almost stopped reading because my last b/f kept teasing me about it. Comics weren't the only reason I dumped him but I did get tired of having to defend my hobby. Of course, I wasn't thrilled with his hobby of being a lying cheater, so maybe I shouldn't be too harsh.

I'm completely open about it. My friends even know I run two, soon to be three, websites devoted to a certain comic.

Nope. Never have.

I'll read them at work (or I used to, too busy lately). And when Caroline's mom had her surgery recently and we were spending a lot of time at the hospital I was reading the Essential Ant-Man and she was reading Essential Avengers.

Caroline didn't mind me reading them when we first got married 11+ years ago and she knew I was a collector. She was not into reading them but over the years I've been able to convert her to our way of thinking.

Depends. None read like I do except for a couple of friends who work at the CBS I go to. The majority of my on-line friends do, that's how we mostly met. A couple other friends I work with read fantasy related books, like the DnD ones, and we all enjoy Dork Tower.

Well I can sympathize with the later part about exes. My ex-wife was a cheating bitch too. But she didn't mind me reading comics and it gave me a connection to her girls. I'd sit and read books with them all the time when I wasn't working. In fact the kids are the only thing I ever missed about the relationship.

Caleb-- what you need is a boyfriend who doesn't mind launging around all day Sunday in his underwear while reading comics with you (and ordering pizza!)!

What fun!!!

There have been times when I felt a bit embarassed about mentioning it, but I don't really remember specifics -- I mean, lord knows comic book fans suffer from a bit of bad p.r.

I don't have a problem reading them in public or anything like that though.

I used to have friends who collected when I was a kid, which was cool cuz we'd pool out books and read them together -- it's a great way to just keep up to date on other books without having to spend the dough.

1) Yes. People at work know about it, and they even know I go to conventions.

2) No. It's odd; I don't feel embarassed but I can get defensive. It doesn't come up much, though.

3) In public. I read them on the train going home, or occasionally on breaks at work. I go to my comics shop once a month, and afterwards I'll stop for dinner at a nearby restaurant and pull a few out there.

4) I'm not involved with anybody right now, but my previous g/fs have not had a problem with it.

5) Some. Most of them don't read anymore, but still like 'em and occasionally ask me about what's good out there currently.

1) Yup. Always have been, even when it was a source of highschool ridicule.

2) "Aren't you embarrassed to be seen reading... COMICS???"

"Oh. Well, yes, dreadfully. Thank you for pointing out the error of my ways. But it can't be anywhere NEAR as embarrassing as having your ass growing on your shoulders, is it?"

(true exchange from said highschool days...

3)I usually read my comics at home, where I have the peace and quiet to enjoy them properly. But I do open my monthly shipment at work when it arrives by UPS, and give everything a look-through.

4) n/a

5) Mainly the friends I've found on the internet, who either share my interests or my general love of comics. I'm friends with the people who work at my local CBS, also. All my friends growing up "outgrew" comics. THEIR loss!

1. It depends. I have been very open in the past, but often I'd get responses such as "How much do you think such-and-such is worth?" or "I used to read comics when I was a kid, but gave them up when I went to college, etc."

These days, I share my interest only with people I intuitively feel comfortable with. The rest won't care, anyhow.

2. No.

3. Mostly at home. I have read comics in restaurants on occasion. I don't read them at work because they're too distracting; however, I do have Alex Ross' Legion litho as my wallpaper on my PC. That's garnered a few comments.

4. I'm not currently in a relationship. The last girlfriend I had was slightly familiar with comics. She had read Spawn. But she seemed to think comics were a form of insanity that people did to keep from going insane for real. Comics were my "ism," she called it (as in, "fanaticism.")

5. No. Just the ones I meet online.

I saw that in your profile and became immediately desperately envious.

My favorite Chinese food restaurant is very close to my comic store, so I usually get my books and eat lunch in there while I read one or two. The waiters even know my usual order.

Lash... lounging naked around the house on a Sunday sounds purrrr-fect.

I have never dated someone that reads comics, even my current bf thinks they are silly.


SIGH.

So lounging around on a Sunday, naked; eating pizza and reading comics would be awesome.

I am not embarrassed to admit anything about my comic hobby and I am very open about it. I read them at coffee shops sometimes, but mostly I don't like reading anything in public (I'm too easily distracted). My guy is very cool with my comic hobby but doesn't read them (he tried Lucifer, but said comics weren't for him). However, he also collects Simpsons memorobilia and toys from the 70's and 80's, so there's kind of a spiritual understanding there. My last boyfriend was a harridan of epic proportions and liked to be dramatic (he was an actor): he once *ripped* a comic in half in the heat of the moment (with ME! who nevers fights with ANYBODY!) and it was over pretty soon after that (there were MANY other reasons). Other boyfriends have kept pretty quiet about it one way or the other. I have NO other friends who read comics 'cept here.

Same here Rokk. I used to go to the park and sit and read for hours.

But I've never really had close friends to sread with, except when I was younger.

Rokky what have I told you about dating harridans!!!

It's okay as long as they're buying???

1) Are you guys completely open about collecting comics? (like if you're discussing hobbies)

I'm moderately open about it. I don't go around shouting about it but if anyone asks I do tell them.

2) If the topic does come up, do you have any embarassment whatsoever about admitting you read "funnybooks"?

Not really. I used to. One of my work colleagues took the piss out of me for a while until his line manager stepped in. It later came out that she got annoyed about his mickey-taking because she collected old Rupert Annuals and felt hurt by jibes.

2) Do you read them in public or just the privacy of home?

Mostly at home but that's to do with the comic shop being just down the street from our house. That said I have read graphic novels on the bus, and enjoy working my way through a large stack of comics on long train journeys. I usually stop by the comic shop when I go camping/surfing to have something to read in the tent. There's nothing better than reading Legion al fresco with the sound of the sea in your ears.

3) Many Legion World Forumites are involved in a relationship -Does your spouse/partner read also?
If not, how do they feel about you reading?

My girlfriend does read comics although she's reading a lot less now than in the past. New X-Men and Birds of Prey are her favourites. I've tried to convince her to read Legion but I think the continuity and large cast of characters has scared her off!

5) Do you have many friends that read also?

Not really. Only a couple of my friends that I see locally and see every day do, although I have a lot of friends in gaming and science fiction fandom throughout the UK who do.

I'm open about all my hobbies... if people want to take the piss that's there perogative. I read the latest Legion on a busy train to Balham the other day and I got a few strange looks.... I'm not one to care what random strangers think of me, it's my nearest and dearests opinions that count - my boyf does find it strange that a "normally sensible guy enjoys comics" (his words, and he's known me for about seven years now so it just shows he's a crap judge of character) but he really doesn't mind at all, he just doesn't really understand my fascination... most of my friends don't care so long as I get the beers in on my round.

I just wish I had the time I had in my early twenties to lounge about for a long afternoon reading a wadge in one go as these days I'm lucky if I can catch an uninterupted hour to spend with them.

I used to go out with someone and a big part of the attraction was he had a much bigger (oi!) comic collection than me so we would lounge around nekkid reading our faves to one another.... if he hadn't have been such an awful bloke in about every other way he would have been my perfect partner.

Caleb, it's fairly obligatory to find guys who's hobbies are being a lying cheater and undermining confidence. Comics are a much more constructive way to spend your time....

Sonnie -you really need to stop using all those wonderful slang words. I can barely contain myself.

deep breath... deep breath.

1) I'm open about being a comic book reader if the subject comes up, but I don't scream it from the rooftop at work or anything. Funny thing, I used to work at a comics shop. When I got my current job (through a reference from a regular at the shop) I walked the halls of my new employer, counting the number of friendly faces I'd seen many times at the comics shop. There were at least ten semi-regular customers who worked where I still am now.

And all my friends and family know. No biggie to them by now. My parents still don't understand it. I've given up trying to explain it. They accept it.

2) Not really ever ashamed of it. I'm proud of my collection and my rather obsessive passion for the Legion. Although the quack who gave me my vasectomy was almost laughing while we chatted during the procedure when he asked about my hobbies, etc. and I told him about comics. He asked if my wife made fun of me when she found out. I would've decked the guy, but he had sharp implements in tender places.

3) Based on my time between work and family, I only get to read them at home. I'll take a couple to work now and then, and read during lunch, but I have a private office.

4) My wife doesn't read comics yet, and we've been together almost 14 years now (married for 9+). She doesn't mind my hobby at all. I have a large walk-in closet in our house devoted to my stockpile of funnybooks, and bless her heart, when we got married, do you know what she tried to get me for a wedding present? Adventure #247. It proved unsuccessful, but by damn, I love that woman!

5) Not a lot. Back in high school (Class of '85 rules!) a few guys I knew also read, but we've lost touch over the years. Other than that, there's a few guys still at work I talk comics with, we trade issues/TPBs once in a while to sample other stuff. And then there's you guys, you big pack of weirdos!

I'm not very open about the comics thing, but I'm getting better. None of my friends now read comics. When I lived in Quebec, it was perfectly acceptable for everybody to read French books like Asterix, Lucky Luke and Malfada...but people I knew & worked with weren't into the superhero/DC/Marvel thing; I don't even think they were available in translation.

My husband LOATHES comics, as I've mentioned here before. He dislikes fiction generally, thinks Star Trek is militaristic propoganda and I hear discourses on a fairly regular basis about mindless escapist literature for people who refuse to grow up. Which I ignore. Like football is for Nobel laureates, eh?

Oh yeah, my wife likes football too. We try to watch a game every week (while the children are sedated, ha ha ). We usually catch about 10 minutes or so of the whole thing. With many children comes great responsibilities...

Dang, I do so love my bride!!

1. I'm not completely open about my hobby, but I will confess if asked.

2. I'm getting better over my embarrassment to admitting my hobby. Maybe it's a thirtysomething thing. The older I get, the more novel people think it is, whereas when I was in my teen and even in my twenties I think people still expected me to grow up and who wants to do that?) or at least grow out of comics. (NEVER!)

3. I read them mostly at home, no time to do it anywhere else and I know I can keep them safe at home free from the ignorant comic book handlers of the world. Sometimes they come with me when I know I'll be somewhere where I won't be doing much (like at my in-laws').

4) My wife does not read comics although she has tried reading a couple (when she's really, really, really bored). Sometimes I think she secretly wishes I would give them up (to save the money), but ultimately I think she thinks it's a cute hobby and supports it.

5) I had a couple of friends in university who used to read, both of my roommates and best friends still. One used to work at a comic shop, but was into comics more for their monetary value. My other best friend was an avid collector until his kids came along. Now that his son is ten, he's reading some again through him. Still, we talk comics a lot and I'm the only one he knows who collects Legion.

I knew there was something I liked about you Craig!

What, that he's old, too???

J/k!!! I was class of '89-- you guys were the seniors who made my freshmeat year a living HELL... :rolleyes:

Not if you had gone to my school. My graduating class was all of 23 seniors. We had maybe 300 students if you counted the grade school across the street.

Have I ever mentioned I grew up in a small town in Nevada?