COMICS CULTURE SHRAPNEL from CBEM 280
Then why is it that every great "plan to save the comics industry" always requires that I spend more money? Most of the suggestions I've heard usually ask me to buy my favorite title in bulk, and distribute it to friends, family, or strangers. Granted, people are more likely to read something that's been handed to them, and donating things to charity is a really nice thing to do (and a tax-write off, except I didn't file any taxes last year, so I'm out of luck there). But otherwise, the whole prospect is akin to gambling, and few people are willing to take that risk. I can't afford it, and I'm sure there are many others in the same boat.
So I got to thinking, what can people do to help without spending a lot of money? And on that thread, what have I done lately?
And I came to the conclusion that merely being a comics reader who is proud and open about their hobby is a big step. All of the recent incidents in which friends of mine picked up a comic weren't because of any intentional action of mine. Just knowing me seems to have done a lot. My boyfriend came with me into my favorite store (Jim Hanley's Universe in NYC) a few weeks back, but he wasn't planning to get anything, despite my offer to pay for whatever he wanted. He followed me through the store as I gathered up my usual list of titles, and his eyes happened to fall upon a beige cover with the words "My New Fighting Technique is Unstoppable" in big, black letters. He flipped through it a bit, and a minute later he was at the register forking over the cash. Needless to say, that comic has made the rounds in our little circle of friends, even to the point where they will randomly quote from it.
This is not an isolated incident with my friends, as I'm happy to report. It's only the most recent in a string of shopping trips where I ask my friends to give me a minute to pick something up and their eyes just happen to glance something that appeals to them. It's also a testament to good cover design.
Not every encounter is a chance encounter. Showing interest in a title does serve as a recommendation in itself. Your friends might wonder what you find so great about something like Preacher or Strangers in Paradise. At this opportunity you then take an active role, lending them a few issues as a taste-test. But keep the samples small, or you might intimidate them. A friend of mine in St. Louis started buying Transmetropolitan because of the work I've done for it on my webpage (http://members.aol.com/Krissy80, I created a chronology of events in the book, mostly because that's just the geeky thing I like to do). You always want the converts to come willingly.
Though I have to admit, sometimes a little prodding helps. Which brings me to my last example, a little incident involving my mother. She's always talking about the romance novels she reads, telling me about the plot and characters, and bringing up parts she liked. All of these conversations end with her telling me I should read the book. So on one of these occasions I responded "I don't like romance novels." I've never actually read one, and she knew it, so she told me that I should give them a chance.
So I said, "Like you give comics a chance?"
I handed her Kabuki: Circle of Blood the next day. She finished it a day later and enjoyed it, so I asked her if she wanted to read the rest. She did, so I gave her the remaining trade paperbacks. She finished those in no time, as evidenced by her rushing into my room at 7:00am the next morning wondering where the rest of the story was.
So while my mother hasn't become a comics buyer, she at least respects my hobby and is open to further reading suggestions.
And I still haven't read a romance novel.