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Comics Aren’t Just for Nerds Anymore

By Glenn Walker

The mantra used to be Comics aren't just for kids anymore, but these days things have changed. A thought occurred to me several weeks back while watching the Super Bowl. We have gone mainstream. The nerds have inherited the earth.

Thanks to Marvel Studios, more people can identify these characters than ever could before. (Official downloadable wallpaper from The Avengers movie)

I had friends and family call me during the game, not about the game, mind you but about the commercials, pushed to call by seeing trailers for the new Ghost Rider flick, and The Avengers of course. They didn't call me to find out what these movies are because they already knew – they wanted to know what I thought of them. They also wanted to know if there would be previews for The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises, or even The Man of Steel during the game as well.

None of these things were unknown entities. They were all known quantities to folks who know nothing about comic books. This was not a game of ask-the-geek because he'll know what the hell it is, it was ask-the-geek because he'll know if we should see it. Gone are the days of only nerds knowing how many days until the next comic book movie comes out, now everyone is on that clock.

And for clarification, when I say things like nerd, geek, fanboy, etc., it's a term of endearment, and to differentiate ourselves from this new type of fan, the mainstream fan. Remember the days when nobody knew who Green Lantern was outside of your comic shop? Well, game over, your mom knows Green Lantern now. He's Ryan Reynolds in that flick that bombed last year. But still, there is awareness.

CBS sit-com "The Big Bang Theory" features scientist fanboy Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parson, pictured) who usually wears DC Comics hero logo shirts.

Almost all of our Hollywood blockbusters these days, whether they succeed or not, are based on comic books. Audiences around the world get indoctrinated to geek culture on a weekly basis watching "Big Bang Theory." Kevin Smith just started a nerd version of "Hardcore Pawn" set in his own comic book shop. Comics-based "The Walking Dead" gets better ratings on AMC than "Mad Men."

Comic book culture has gone mainstream. It has already happened. Nerds rule. The bad news is we're no longer special. Just sayin'.

Last 5 posts by Glenn Walker

• Review - Uncanny Avengers #7 - April 24th, 2013
• Review - Happy! Trade Paperback - April 17th, 2013
• The Original Guardians of the Galaxy - April 16th, 2013
• Review - Batman: Li'l Gotham #1 - April 10th, 2013
• Review - Guardians of the Galaxy #1 - March 28th, 2013