My Origin Story

Every superhero needs an origin story, so I've decided to write mine. Not that I'm saying I'm superhero! But if I'm going to be talking to you about comics and such, I thought it only appropriate that I write my beginnings.

I've been thinking a lot about why I'm interested in... well... in the things I'm interested in. Although my boyfriend, Rob, introduced me to the world of comic books and video games, I don't think my geekiness started with him necessarily. You see, I grew up with an older brother. A MUCH older brother. He's like seriously old. He's almost 40!! (I'm hoping one day he reads this muahaHAHA!!(evil villain laugh)) He's 15 years older than me, and as a teenager, he read comics and was one of the first to own a Nintendo Entertainment System. I can't recall ever reading any of his comics, most likely because he was afraid I would destroy them, (I would have.) And I was too young for Nintendo. I can remember trying to play Robo Cop, Duck Hunt and Mario Bros. but I always get really frustrated with anything I'm not instantly good at, so I gave up on gaming pretty quick. However, the movies and TV shows I watched as a kid were mostly male oriented. Movies like Batman, Batman Returns, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones 1/2/3, Star Wars 4/5/6, Ghostbusters, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Back to the Future 1/2/3, Superman (I could go on) were some of my favorites growing up. Some TV shows I watched as a kid were WWF, Power Rangers, Batman and Robin, Spiderman (the original 60s cartoon,) Superman, Gargoyles, TMNT. Slimer! And the Real Ghostbusters, Reboot and Star Trek: The Next Generation (I actually hated this show, but my dad watched it, and having only one TV in the house, I watched it too.) I believe these movies and shows really influenced my entertainment preferences, but again, I don't think it was the entire reason for me joining in with my boyfriend's hobbies.


Another part to this geek equation might be the fact that there isn't much I don't enjoy, at least in part. I've dabbled in just about every recreational activity, from the music I've listened to, to the sports I've played, from hobbies to employment. I'm a lot like my dad that way. And I always seem to find something that I love in each activity. For example, with comics, I've always enjoyed reading, but all those boring descriptive parts, like when an author goes overboard on simply describing a room, is gone in the comic world! It's all taken care of with the artwork. And that's another aspect I love; the art. Sometimes you can find some truly talented artists who've created some beautiful artwork in every single frame. Also, it doesn't matter what you like to read, there's a comic that's right for you. They're not just about superheroes and villans anymore. For me, I'm more into graphic novels, but I'll read "superhero" comics, on occasion, for my boyfriend's sake.

I think, with these two aspects, it was easy for me to fall into the worlds of comics and gaming. I just needed the love of my life to give me a little push in those directions.