What was it like for you, growing up as a comic fan?

[DrNewGod]

A poll of CBR member ages on the DC Forum got me wondering about something. How varied is the experience you grew up with as a comic fan?

Some of us grew up in times when most teachers seemed determined to stamp comics reading out, and bullying jocks seemed determined to stamp comics readers out. These days, the comics provide the IP of some of the most valuable franchises in Hollywood's history. I've got to think that makes for a very different experience than in times past. So what was it like for you?

[KOSLOX]

I grew up in the 90s (graduated in 1999). I didn't know anyone, boys at least, that didn't read at least some comics, mostly X-Men or Image. I don't really remember any sort of comics related stigma. I wrestled and played football and most of my team regularly talked pretty openly about what they were reading or read.

Pretty much everyone watched Spider-Man, and X-Men when they were younger and quite a few watched The Maxx and Spawn, .

[seismic-2]

Remember that in the 1950s, comic book titles sold in the millions every month. Spinner racks were in all the food and drug stores. And they were all in color, for a dime!

[John Ossie]

No-one really cared one way or the other, at least in my experience. I knew several fans and one of them was the best man to my wedding so I have happy memories of comic reading as a kid. I grew up in the 1990s.

[CaptCleghorn]

It's tough to pick an option. I grew up in the 70s. I actually graduated HS the same year as the That 70's Show characters. I can't say comics were frowned upon, but they weren't exactly a respectable hobby then. They were definitely something you were expected to outgrow. i DID KNOW A few fans who were basically a source for back issues. This was before most comic shops.

[TriggerWarning]

1980's. Had to hide the fact I was reading comics from my parents and schoolmates. Parents thought it was little kid stuff and I was wasting my time. The only people who read comics at school were those looking for a reason to be picked on.

[The Darknight Detective]

It's tough to pick an option. I grew up in the 70s. I actually graduated HS the same year as the That 70's Show characters. I can't say comics were frowned upon, but they weren't exactly a respectable hobby then. They were definitely something you were expected to outgrow. i DID KNOW A few fans who were basically a source for back issues. This was before most comic shops.

I'm having the same problem picking an option. Like you, I grew up in the '70s (though I started high school in '79) - comics were accepted and encouraged by my parents, but for most adults it was considered strictly for kids (still is in the mainstream today). I even stopped buying comics for quite a while due to peer pressure in my sophomore year in 1981, though I still read my buddy's in the interim.