A little classical reference...

Heh...my title is a reference to a reference to a rock song.

I may need to explain that: It's a reference to this conversation from The Stand:

Randall Flagg: Pleased to meet you, Lloyd. Hope you guessed my name.
Lloyd Henreid: Huh?
Randall Flagg: Oh. Nothing. Just a little classical reference.

Heh...anyhoo...

Howdy do, all! My name is Chris, and if you stumbled upon this, you're interested in comics. Nothing wrong with that. Comics can be for everyone. That is my philosophy, and the point of this, my very first post!

I fall pretty much squarely into the, ahem, "target demographic;" that is, I'm a guy who likes science fiction and fantasy, reads a lot, watches a lot of movies. I got hooked right at about the age they wanted me to, my pre-pubescent years. I don't remember what my first comic was, but really, who can? That's a level of dedication WAY above me. I do remember, however, a 12 year old's fantasy: Opening my own comic store. I'll get there one of these days.





So I've pretty much been a lifelong comics reader. I've got my favorites, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Spider-Man, Batman...lots more. I'll get to those in other posts.



Here's the thing, though...the phrase "target demographic" is a bunch of malarky. Focusing on one group for your product may lead to a focused customer base, but appealing to a wider audience will always pay off.



For instance, I got my wife reading comics. She's even got one she really likes, Meridian. True, it's been cancelled...okay, not so much cancelled as CrossGen went under...but still, she likes it. In fact, I've bought her all of the collections I could find. I've gotten her to read a lot of the "big" comics, Watchmen, V for Vendetta, etc. She enjoyed them, too.



I've even got one of my daughters, the Princess, able to recognize Spider-Man, Superman, Batman and the Joker. She even seems to prefer the Joker...which worries me a mite, but I won't be too worked up until she starts wearing white makeup, bright red lipstick, dyes her hair green and wears purple.



Comics can be for everyone. There's a comic out there for every one. There's that one character who just reaches past all rational thought and flips on your fun switch.



Oh, and another thing: All of those snobs who say that comic books are for kids...can take a flying leap. There are several books which are adult content, or you have to have read a LOT in order to get. I will probably come back to him again and again in this regard, but Alan Moore's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen books, for instance. You have to have at least heard of Dracula, The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde, as well as several other stories, like Poe's "Murder at the Rue Morgue," in order to get half of the story and characters' motivations.

There's also Grant Morrison's We3, about three pets used by the government to become weapons. Give that to your 7 year old, see what happens. (Likely, they'll get it quicker than the critics would, kids being, in general, smarter.)

Anyway...this blog will be about things like that, me ranting and raving about comics, letting you know what I think about things. I doubt it will be regularly updated, at least not at first, but keep your eyes open. I'll be back.

Chris