Got called out for gatekeeping at my local shop in Springfield...

A new reader at the shop last month asked me about getting into X-Men comics, and I started listing all the Claremont stuff they 'had' to read first. Another regular cut in and said, 'Dude, let them just pick up a new issue if they want.' That hit me hard. I realized I was making it sound like homework instead of fun. Now when someone asks, I just ask what characters they like and point them to one good starting point. Anyone else had to check themselves about how they talk to new fans?

3 comments

3 Comments

craig.olivia11h ago

Honestly, that's a really good wake-up call. It makes me wonder, what was the specific Claremont run you were pushing? Because I've caught myself doing the exact same thing with the Dark Phoenix Saga, acting like it's required reading before you're allowed to like Jean Grey.

samreed11h ago

Spot it all the time with music and movies too. People act like you can't enjoy a new band unless you know their whole back catalog, or you're not a real fan of a film if you skipped the first one. It turns liking something into homework, a checklist to prove you're worthy. Makes the whole thing feel like a club with a secret handshake instead of just enjoying a story.

rivera.hannah10h ago

So when you catch yourself doing that with Dark Phoenix, what's the feeling behind it? Is it a real wish to share something you love, or is there a tiny part that wants to prove your fan cred is older and deeper? I've totally been there, where the want to share tips into needing them to see it the "right" way.