Source: robot6.comicbookresources.com

1. Myth: “You’re Not a Real Comic Fan Unless You’ve Read/Done/Like…”

The Truth:

Look, I’ve been a comic fan for a long time. I’ve been reading monthly since 2004 and have done my best to read as much from before then as possible. I have shelves full of trades and showcases and omnibuses and a brain full of weird obscure characters and too many boxes of single issues to live comfortably. So I want to make it clear exactly what criteria you have to meet to be a “real” comic fan:

You have to like comics.

If you do, congratulations, test passed.

It’s okay if you don’t know every Robin’s name and first appearance or if you sometimes mix up Marvel and DC characters; you’ll learn eventually. Every angry superfan was once a newbie. We should be welcoming, not gatekeeping.

And to be honest, why the hell are we trying to turn people away when, like I’ve said, the industry NEEDS new blood. It needs men and women and children. And it needs us to welcome them with open arms, recommend good stories, introduce them to their new favorite character. There’s never been such a thing as a fake geek girl and while comics aren’t JUST for kids anymore, there should still be a place for them in the readership. Comic books are fun, so let’s have fun with as many people as want to join in.

You want to be a comic book fan? Welcome aboard, friend, there’s no entrance exam and for every person trying to turn you away, there’ll be a bunch like me hoping you stick around.

So there we go! A bunch of misconceptions corrected. Now you may send this article to everyone who is wrong on the Internet. And please do, I don’t get paid by the page view but I do want to stop hearing the same darn arguments, especially when they’re provably wrong.