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My buddy in Chicago told me I gatekeep too much when I talk about comics
He said I was shutting down new readers by saying stuff like 'you have to start with the 1986 run or it doesn't count.' I realized I was being a jerk. Now when someone asks where to start, I just ask what kind of stories they like and point them to a good trade paperback, even if it's a newer one. What's a good, recent starting point you'd recommend to someone new?
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reesemiller13d ago
Gatekeeping is the quickest way to make a hobby feel like a homework assignment. I used to do the same thing with music, insisting people listen to whole albums in order instead of just enjoying a single. It just pushes people away. For comics, a recent start I like is the "Superman: Son of Kal-El" series. It's a clean jump-on point with a new character taking up the mantle, and the art is really clear and modern. It shows how the universe keeps moving forward, which is the whole point.
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black.joel7d ago
You know, @reesemiller's music point reminds me of my old roommate. He'd get so mad if you skipped a track on his vinyl. Made you feel like you failed a test just for wanting to hear one song.
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hernandez.emma13d ago
Totally agree on the gatekeeping thing. But gotta point out, "Son of Kal-El" isn't exactly a new character taking over. That's Jon Kent, he's been around in the comics for a few years now. It's more like a promotion for him. Still a good starting point though, you're right about that. Just don't want someone to get the wrong idea and think he popped up out of nowhere.
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