Learn More About Comic Art

I know the most fanatical comic book collector. I would say that he is my friend if I could, but truth be told, I find him kind of annoying. He is actually surrounded at all times by comics stacked floor to ceiling in his apartment, and that is no lie. Since he was very young, it seems that his sole passion was to collect comics and comic art. That was it. I love the arts, and I love literature, and in fact I love nearly anything with a good story or a striking picture to it, but to base your life around comic book art collecting is just sad if you are to ask me. I can not stand fan culture – a group of people whose self esteem revolves around how much they know about whatever particular genre they are really into. Give me a break. It is about entertainment. Reading is great fun, but showing off just makes you a jerk.

Of course, I do have to admit that some of the comic art out there is just completely gorgeous. There are so many talented comic artists and comic book writers out there that it almost looks like you have stumbled on to an art renaissance the very first time that you are exposed to it. But, even if it is something as fun and well done as really good comic art, I have always found the collector mentality to be dull and awful. It is a way of taking something that you love and taking all of the fun and magic out of it. Instead of a fun and exciting hobby, it becomes and exercise in cataloging dead things. What an awful thing for anyone to do to comic art that they love.

One of the greatest things about comic art and comic books is that they are just so accessible to anyone who wants to look at them. From a very young age, kids can appreciate comic art, but very little of that will go away with age. On the contrary, many people continue to really love comic art well into their adult lives, with no sign of it ever stopping. It is just a shame that so many people ruin a fun hobby with dorky fanaticism. What an awful thing for anyone to do, whether it is comic art, literature, music, or anything else. It is a shame.