I call myself a comics fan. But that’s just a starting point.
Where do I come down in the current too-online debate of Marvel comics fan vs. Marvel Cinematic Universe fan?
I am trying again with the socials, particularly with Threads and Bluesky, as I try to connect this site with other fans who might appreciate what I’m writing and building here. I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I imagine we all do if we’re being honest.
The love comes from the promise. Social media really does help connect people to others with similar interests. That’s a great thing for geeks and fans! But then there’s the downside—the increased anxiety and depression, the promotion of terrible ideas, the development of a terminally-online perspective. Don’t get me started on the way it reinforces short attention spans!
On Threads, as I’m diving into the Marvel community space there, I’m seeing lots of debate about Marvel Comics fans vs Marvel Cinematic Universe fans. Who are the true fans?! the Internet asks. Take this post from themarvelreader.
Do I think this really matters? Nope, not a bit. It’s the kind of thing the terminally-online obsess over. If you ignore it, those short attention spans will shift and there will be something else to debate. I generally just don’t engage. Most of these debates are about gate keeping for a community. I’m definitely an all-are-welcome-here person.
But did it get me thinking about myself and how I see myself? Definitely! Am I a comics fan or an MCU fan?
Clearly, I love both. I hope this site is a testament to that. I did realize, though, that if you ask me—what kind of Marvel fan are you, Deryck?—I would likely answer that I’m a comics fan. Not because I think comics are better than film. Comics were my entry into the fandom. I mentioned how I found X-Men at a young age in my intro post for this site. But that’s the thing, it was just my starting point. It’s how I found my way in, but I love most anything with Marvel now. Movies. TV. Games. You name it.
I hope this site can be a little corner of the Internet where that ethos abides. All are welcome! But then, it’s also fun to know what someone’s starting point with Marvel was. How did you make your way into this fandom?