Getting into local comic shops is way harder than it should be

I tried to join my shop's membership for early access to new issues, but the sign-up process was a huge hassle. Some fans say these systems keep things fair for regulars, while others think they just shut out new collectors. What's your take on making fan communities more welcoming?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_julia1mo ago

Tbh gatekeeping is everywhere lately.

abbyr541mo agoTop Commenter

Yeah, @the_julia, that "gatekeeping is everywhere" line hit home. I was just talking to a friend who got told she isn't a "real" fan of a band because she only knows the popular songs (which is silly, right?). It's like people make up rules just to feel special. Makes me want to avoid some online spaces altogether.

jesse_lopez1427d ago

That "real fan" test is total nonsense, @abbyr54. I just tell my friend to listen to what she likes and ignore the noise. Most people making those rules don't even know the band's middle names.

beng511mo ago

Stopped trying with my old local shop after the third "membership committee" meeting they wanted me to attend just to get a pull list. Found a smaller place a town over where the owner just handed me a form and said "fill this out, new stuff comes in on Wednesday." Sometimes the problem is just one bad store with a weird complex. The good ones are out there, they just don't make you work for it.