Serious question, did comic book fans get nicer or is it just me?

I started collecting back in 2012 and the local shop scene was brutal. People would roll their eyes if you asked about a variant cover or judged your pull list out loud. Fast forward to last weekend at a con in Austin and I had three strangers offer to help me find a back issue in a long box. I'm talking people actually holding boxes steady and recommending runs. Is this a real shift in the culture over the last ten years or did I just land in a lucky pocket? Has anyone else noticed fans mellowing out or am I imagining it?

3 comments

3 Comments

mason.brian1mo ago

My shop in Philly had the same shift around 2016, and I swear the guys who used to scoff at my Spider-Verse pulls are now the first ones to save me a spot in line for new release day.

james_campbell121mo ago

Has anyone actually considered that maybe it's just the economy forcing people to be nicer? Think about it... back in 2012 floppies were cheap and everybody had money to burn so there was this competitive vibe like you had to prove you were the "real" collector. Now with books hitting 5 or 6 bucks and key issues going for rent money people can't afford to be jerks because we're all in the same boat trying to stretch a budget. I noticed at my shop the guys who used to scoff at newbies are now the ones asking if anybody wants to split a box or trade for a variant they missed. Desperation breeds camaraderie I guess.

garcia.tyler19d ago

Same thing's happening at my grocery store, people actually offering to let you go ahead instead of racing for the last cart.