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Can we talk about how comic fans treat new readers who ask "obvious" questions?
I was at an LCS in Des Moines last month for a Wednesday pull, and a teenager asked the guy behind the counter where to start with X-Men. No less than three dudes in their 40s audibly groaned and one laughed and said to just start at Giant-Size from 1975. The kid paid for two books, set one back on the shelf, and walked out with his head down. I disagree with the popular take that this is just how it goes and new readers need to do the reading first. I followed him out, told him a few storylines that actually hold up for a fresh start, and gave him my number if he had more questions. He came back the next Wednesday. The gatekeeping is doing way more damage to this hobby than any reboot or relaunch ever has. How do you all handle it when someone asks a question the regulars think is beneath them?
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phoenix_martin401mo ago
Why do people act like asking where to start is some kind of crime? I watched the same thing happen at my shop in Portland when a guy in his 20s asked about reading order for Batman and some regular just pointed at the Grant Morrison run with zero explanation, which is like the worst possible answer for someone new. I sat with him for ten minutes and walked him through Year One, Long Halloween, and Snyder's Court of Owls, and he's been coming in every week since. That one save is worth more than a hundred grumpy recs from guys who forgot they were new once too.
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