A chat with my barber changed how I see comic shop talk

I was getting a haircut yesterday and my barber, Mike, saw my Flash t-shirt. He said he used to collect comics in the 90s but stopped because the other guys at his shop made him feel dumb for liking the 'wrong' books. He told me, 'They'd look at my stack of X-Force and just shake their heads like I was a kid.' That hit me hard because I've seen that gatekeeping attitude too, where some fans act like there's a right and wrong way to be into this stuff. It made me think about the new readers I've met at my local shop in Springfield who seem nervous to join conversations. Mike's story was a good reminder that being a fan should be about sharing joy, not passing tests. Have you ever seen someone get pushed out of the hobby by that kind of attitude?

2 comments

2 Comments

elizabeth_bailey2623d ago

Yeah, I straight up ask new people what they're excited about, no judgment. If a kid's into a manga I don't know, I just say "cool, tell me about it." Making it a quiz about continuity or what's "important" just kills the vibe for everyone.

thomas.cameron23d ago

Man, that story about Mike is way too common. I make a point to chat with the quiet person at my local shop, just ask what they're picking up this week. A simple "Hey, I loved that last issue" can make someone's whole day. It really is about making the space feel welcoming instead of like a clubhouse with a secret handshake. That gatekeeping junk just shrinks the hobby we all love.