PSAs From Panels: Bringing Lapsed Fans Back To Comic Books [Comic]

Comic books don't need more lapsed fans to come back into the fold. Catering to 30-40 year old fanboys is what's killing the industry. Comics should be doing everything they can to get NEW readers (i.e. KIDS) reading. THAT'S where the future of the medium lies. Producing material that kids, teenagers & adults can all enjoy would be a good start.

I lapsed only from about 1994-1996, which was the flourishing of my adolesence. By age 16, I realized two things: 1) I wasn't going to get any girls, whether I read comics or not, and 2) I effing love comics. Thankfully, I had a subscription to Batman, so even during my two years as a non-reader I still had a monthly supply of Batman comics coming to my home that I quickly read & then threw in a pile. But, when Doug Moench & Kelley Jones took over the book I started getting into the series again. I then decide return to my comic book store, but I'd only buy Batman comics. That didn't last long.

I lapsed from about 2000-2008. I started reading graphic novels again with Asterios Polyp, Watchmen, V For Vendetta, and Moore/Morrisons/Loeb's Batman. I kept it mostly Vertigo until I started reading weekly comics again during Siege/Blackest Night.

I was a lapsed comics fan from about age 15-30. What brought me back in was Michael Chabon's "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay". I don't read the superheros anymore, but I love graphic novels written for adults -- especially the ones I find for free at the public library -- and my friend's 11 year old has got me reading Naruto. It's good to be back.

I'm curious about this. I'm actually this lapsed fan. I started reading Marvel when I was a kid, and quickly switched overt to mostly DC (started with Green Lantern #50, and kept going from there, getting introduced to the DC Universe largely through Kyle Rayner's eyes).

I stopped reading when Green Lantern was cancelled and it was announced that Geoff Johns had been pegged to take over and bring back Hal Jordan. Nothing against Hal (I actually enjoyed his silver age adventures), but I couldn't stomach Geoff Johns since Day of Judgment. So I stopped reading comics altogether.

But I've been enjoying the hell out of the Avengers cartoons and the Marvel Studios movies. So I'm curious as to what I should read. I've tried everyone once in while, but there are so many mini-series that I never have any idea what to buy, and when I do buy something it's always part 17 of 35. What would you recommend I give a try?

VertigoDC, I'm curious about this. I'm actually this lapsed fan. I started reading Marvel when I was a kid, and quickly switched overt to mostly DC (started with Green Lantern #50, and kept going from there, getting introduced to the DC Universe largely through Kyle Rayner's eyes).

I stopped reading when Green Lantern was cancelled and it was announced that Geoff Johns had been pegged to take over and bring back Hal Jordan. Nothing against Hal (I actually enjoyed his silver age adventures), but I couldn't stomach Geoff Johns since Day of Judgment. So I stopped reading comics altogether.

But I've been enjoying the hell out of the Avengers cartoons and the Marvel Studios movies. So I'm curious as to what I should read. I've tried everyone once in while, but there are so many mini-series that I never have any idea what to buy, and when I do buy something it's always part 17 of 35. What would you recommend I give a try.

I'm entirely convinced that comics collecting is just a result of uncontrollable obsessive compulsive behavior. Especially considering the obscene amount of money being spent on a weekly basis by collectors who by all accounts are all completely dissatisfied with what they read every week. Makes absolutely no sense until you start seeing it from that perspective.