If You Work At A Comic Shop I Have An Anthropology Project You Can Help With!

[Nerdzner]

So, It's been a good amount of months since I've been an active participant around here, but that's what going away to college has been doing to me: keeping me away from my beloved interwebs. Anyway, I'm currently doing a project for one of my Anthropology classes where I'm essentially studying the people that work at or own a comic shop. I ran shy of my interview quota at stores I can physically go to, so I knew I'd be able to rely on the (comic) world renowned Bendis Board members to help me out of this pickle.

Basically there are seven questions (see below) that I would ask you answer for me. You can then either post them here, or send me a PM. Not to push my luck, but generally speaking, the longer the answer the better. That said, you can make your responses as short or long as you care to.

Again, I'd really appreciate the favor if anyone would help me out here. Hopefully I'll figure out how to join the community without a secondary reason. :D

Questions

Interviewee:

1. Are you passionate about comics, or is it just a job (Obvious answer since your on the board, but humor me. A simple yes/no is fine)?



2. What about comics is appealing? Are you a superhero fan, or crime/pulp, etc…, or do you just enjoy the art form itself?



3. What about them (comics) keeps you coming back?



4. How did you get into comics, if you can isolate the reason or moment?



5. What makes this job better, than other jobs you've had? What makes it special?



6. How did you get the job, here at this comic shop?



7. Do you feel your job gives you a different perspective on the comic book industry, culture, and the people who participate in it?

[justjeffery]

1. Are you passionate about comics, or is it just a job (Obvious answer since your on the board, but humor me. A simple yes/no is fine)?

I am passionate about them. The ones I love, I pass on and suggest, the ones I hate, I try my best to carry as few copies as possible (yeah, im talking about you Spawn!)



2. What about comics is appealing? Are you a superhero fan, or crime/pulp, etc…, or do you just enjoy the art form itself?

I love the art form... and the fact that I can find any sub-genre in that art form is one of the things I love about it... I want horror, its there.. superhero, emo slice of life, historical... what ever my mood warrants, I have at my fingertips.



3. What about them (comics) keeps you coming back?

Its always something. The art, creators i know, a great story, the promise of something new.



4. How did you get into comics, if you can isolate the reason or moment?

I went into a comic/book store to buy some books...kept seeing a Bill Sienkiewicz Moon Knight cover that grabbed my attention, so I finally bought it.. and all the others in the story arc... it snowballed from there.



5. What makes this job better, than other jobs you've had? What makes it special?

Ive managed to make a living dealing with my hobby... there's not much better than that. Its special because its the job that everyone wants (or thinks they want) but few people get to have... and honestly, it can be a ton of fun.


6. How did you get the job, here at this comic shop?

Dumb luck. I had shopped at the store when I was younger but hadnt been by often since then... I lost my job as a manager at a trucking company, so I stopped by on a "work day" and the owners wife asked why I wasnt at work... so I told her. She immediatly got on the phone and called her husband. Seems I was one of the names being thrown around to contact to offer the job to.. but they thought it was pointless because I had such a good job.



7. Do you feel your job gives you a different perspective on the comic book industry, culture, and the people who participate in it?

Oh my god, yes. 50 percent of comic collectors are somewheres on the autism spectrum... and the other 50 percent are not the people you'd expect to be comic fans... makes for a fun, and sometimes trying, group of customers.

[Nerdzner]

Thanks JJ! Appreciate it! Your last answer made me laugh, but seems to be a recurring theme for that question.

[Buk Was Right]

What if I used to work at a comic shop?

Can I still help you with your homework?

[D-3]

1. Are you passionate about comics, or is it just a job (Obvious answer since your on the board, but humor me. A simple yes/no is fine)?

I am enthused by comics. Passionate may be too strong a term, but I suppose we're closer to yes than no on this question.

2. What about comics is appealing? Are you a superhero fan, or crime/pulp, etc…, or do you just enjoy the art form itself?

The medium itself offers unique and imagination stirring possibilities for story telling. Whether that story be superheroes, crime, or anything else, the medium remains.

3. What about them (comics) keeps you coming back?

The regular and constant stream of new materiel... If the last book I trued wasn't so hot, the next one could be.

4. How did you get into comics, if you can isolate the reason or moment?

I picked up the GI Joe "Silent Issue" on a whim one day since I was such a fan of the cartoon series. It was excellent, and I've been hooked on the medium ever since.

5. What makes this job better, than other jobs you've had? What makes it special?

The staff at the store where I work is kind of like a family. We're all friends outside of work. We all trust and respect each other and get along very well. We're all competent, and we've had zero turn over in about a two year period. It doesn't hurt to have a great boss that genuinely cares for his employees either. Oh... and I get to spread knowledge of something that excites me with others.

6. How did you get the job, here at this comic shop?

I was offered the job out of the blue actually. I put my stack of books on the counter, and they asked, "Hey, you want to work here?"

7. Do you feel your job gives you a different perspective on the comic book industry, culture, and the people who participate in it?

Absolutely. It's tempting and easy to start getting arrogant and pompous about the quality, or lack thereof, of the titles that the average customer picks up. This happens somewhat often. At the same time, it's given me the chance to interact with some wonderful people that have opened my eyes to things I may have never tried otherwise. Basically, the increased exposure has led to both increased appreciation of the culture/industry and increased disdain with the culture/industry.

[Nerdzner]

What if I used to work at a comic shop?

Can I still help you with your homework?

Definitely. That would be great.:mrgreen:

[Nerdzner]

Thank you D-3! The "family" feeling also seems to be something that pops up in many peoples descriptions.

[the last ronin]

Well I used to, so here goes.

Questions

Interviewee:

1. Are you passionate about comics, or is it just a job (Obvious answer since your on the board, but humor me. A simple yes/no is fine)?

Yeah, I love comics, and as a job it was a really fun one.



2. What about comics is appealing? Are you a superhero fan, or crime/pulp, etc…, or do you just enjoy the art form itself?

Well I'm an artist so part of me is thrilled by the different styles and images found in comics. I tend to follow artists but I do follow writers too.
I like everything from Superhero to fantasy, to crime to techie stuff like Warren Ellis's work. It's nice escapism too.



3. What about them (comics) keeps you coming back?

The art and stories. Also new takes on old characters makes them fun.


4. How did you get into comics, if you can isolate the reason or moment?
I liked superheroes as a kid, and I was a real big transformers fan, so I got into them through the Transformers comics.



5. What makes this job better, than other jobs you've had? What makes it special?

It's a fun environment (mostly) you get to see what's selling and what people don't want. Low stress job.


6. How did you get the job, here at this comic shop?
My 2 friends bought a shop from a guy, they needed help so I offered. I started picking up the shipments and it grew from there.



7. Do you feel your job gives you a different perspective on the comic book industry, culture, and the people who participate in it?

Yeah, you get to experience a much wider scope of the industry when it surrounds you, someone walking in to get their file just see's what they normally get, or what catches their eye. I got to read pretty much anything so I knew what to get and what was just hyped up junk.

And yes, you do get to see a different side of the "comic reader" it's true, there are some genuinely weird people out there collecting, but most of the people are just normal guys working normal jobs. granted some are smart and have good paying jobs, they are mostly the same as you and me. They aren't all 40 yr old virgins. I've developed a dislike for the "nerd" stereotype due to knowing many readers.


hope that helps.

[Nerdzner]

Thanks Ronin. Love the avatar by the way.

[mike black]

1. Are you passionate about comics, or is it just a job (Obvious answer since your on the board, but humor me. A simple yes/no is fine)?

I was extremely passionate about comics for a good few years. Determined to be involved in any way possible - I was fortunate enough to work in a shop with a lot of clout. You really feel connected to the industry when you answer the shop phone and realize you're speaking to the marketing head of Marvel Comics, or someone from DC or Diamond. It was huge. Definitely not another job.

2. What about comics is appealing? Are you a superhero fan, or crime/pulp, etc…, or do you just enjoy the art form itself?

This is a pretty loaded question. Storytelling in itself has always interested me, but the art/fiction fusion that is comics (a uniquely original American art form,) is beyond fascinating.

3. What about them (comics) keeps you coming back?

Creator devotion. The same sort of thing that keeps me buying albums from the same bands over and over.

4. How did you get into comics, if you can isolate the reason or moment?

I had to drive a friend to a local comic shop. I walked in, and noticed an odd comic with a three eyed smiley face. It stirred something in me, and the book really drew me into the entire scene.

5. What makes this job better, than other jobs you've had? What makes it special?

The customers.


6. How did you get the job, here at this comic shop?

Lost my job at a video store, and was down on my luck. The owner hated that I cut my 30-a-month pull list down to 5 issues, so he hired me under the table for $5.50 an hour, with $2.00 an hour in "credit" towards my pull.

7. Do you feel your job gives you a different perspective on the comic book industry, culture, and the people who participate in it?

Oh, it completely changed how I viewed the industry, and the ins-and-outs of small businesses in general. I learned a lot in that job, and I've carried that experience with me ever since.

[jonanthebarbarian]

1. Are you passionate about comics, or is it just a job (Obvious answer since your on the board, but humor me. A simple yes/no is fine)?
very passionate if it wasnt for comics I probably wouldnt enjoy reading so much


2. What about comics is appealing? Are you a superhero fan, or crime/pulp, etc…, or do you just enjoy the art form itself?
the art form itself. I do read a lot of superhero comics but they do kinda dominate the maket but I tend to lik more fantasy based stuff like conan


3. What about them (comics) keeps you coming back?
Its like an awesome mix of media you really cant get anything else like it


4. How did you get into comics, if you can isolate the reason or moment?
most likely my older brother him reading them made me curious


5. What makes this job better, than other jobs you've had? What makes it special?
Its the best job ever sometimes the people are idiots but everyone seems to be one the same page which is nice and when you can get a sense for some people its easy to pick ou things they will like


6. How did you get the job, here at this comic shop?
through a highschool job program back in the day


7. Do you feel your job gives you a different perspective on the comic book industry, culture, and the people who participate in it?
I think so cause your getting politics, different cultures, and all sorts of information coming at you wether you know it or not its amazing how much comics seem to influence the way people think or see things
__________________

[Nerdzner]

Thanks Mike and Jonan!

[Rod Nunley]

1. Are you passionate about comics, or is it just a job (Obvious answer since your on the board, but humor me. A simple yes/no is fine)?

I am enthused by comics. Passionate may be too strong a term, but I suppose we're closer to yes than no on this question.

2. What about comics is appealing? Are you a superhero fan, or crime/pulp, etc…, or do you just enjoy the art form itself?

The medium itself offers unique and imagination stirring possibilities for story telling. Whether that story be superheroes, crime, or anything else, the medium remains.

3. What about them (comics) keeps you coming back?

The regular and constant stream of new materiel... If the last book I trued wasn't so hot, the next one could be.

4. How did you get into comics, if you can isolate the reason or moment?

I picked up the GI Joe "Silent Issue" on a whim one day since I was such a fan of the cartoon series. It was excellent, and I've been hooked on the medium ever since.

5. What makes this job better, than other jobs you've had? What makes it special?

The staff at the store where I work is kind of like a family. We're all friends outside of work. We all trust and respect each other and get along very well. We're all competent, and we've had zero turn over in about a two year period. It doesn't hurt to have a great boss that genuinely cares for his employees either. Oh... and I get to spread knowledge of something that excites me with others.

6. How did you get the job, here at this comic shop?

I was offered the job out of the blue actually. I put my stack of books on the counter, and they asked, "Hey, you want to work here?"

7. Do you feel your job gives you a different perspective on the comic book industry, culture, and the people who participate in it?

Absolutely. It's tempting and easy to start getting arrogant and pompous about the quality, or lack thereof, of the titles that the average customer picks up. This happens somewhat often. At the same time, it's given me the chance to interact with some wonderful people that have opened my eyes to things I may have never tried otherwise. Basically, the increased exposure has led to both increased appreciation of the culture/industry and increased disdain with the culture/industry.

Which store do you work at?

[Nerdzner]

Just wanted to thank everyone again for helping me out. I feel pretty good about what I handed in. Thanks again!

[tonym]

Definitely let us know what your grade is!

[Nerdzner]

Will do!