Posted in: Comics | Tagged: comic con, Comics, entertainment, new york, NYCC

Jocks And Geeks: Peace At Last?

Adam Wolfe writes from New York Comic Con

Year after year at New York Comic Con, I've seen people decked out in the most elaborate costumes they can make. Each one happily parades and displays their allegiance to their fictional doppelgangers with pride and passion. The same pride and passion one might get from wearing their favorite jersey to a sporting event. While I don't think there will be any Deadpool cosplayers at Madison Square Garden anytime soon, I have seen quite a bit of sports jerseys at this year's con. In a culture that seems to be so afraid of intrusion it had me wondering, is this the invasion of the jocks? (Perhaps to counter the revenge of the nerds?) Comic books, video games, and all around "geek culture" has become more mainstream than it ever has in the past. It seems the image of the sulking nerd with taped glasses going to comic conventions has all but passed. So I began asking these people who moonlight their interests between fantasy roleplaying and fantasy football about the dichotomy of the two atmospheres, and how they cross over.

The results, as expected were varied. Gerad Delatora, a thirty year old New York native grew up on hockey and was lucky enough to see the Rangers hoist the Stanley Cup in 1994. At the same time however, he was being pulled into another realm by the X-Men animated series. That interest slowly manifested into curiosity until one day he took the plunge and purchased his first comic. Since then, the two worlds have been a vital part of his life. He claimed that the passions begin to "mirror" one another. The devotion and loyalty exhibited to a sports team, is the same feelings people get for their heroes. Though growing up he saw a strong polarization between his "comic book friends" and his "sports friends" the line has slowly been dissolved by adulthood. Mike Scicolone from Jersey had a similar take. Donning Ranger gear from head to toe he remembered the split in his peer group very vividly. He said the mysterious, scrutinized geek culture made it all the more interesting for him. He though that geek culture, much like sports, requires one to "put time in" to become a "dedicated fan." Though he became hooked into the sports world at an earlier age than comics, he admits that he dedicates more time and money to collectables and conventions than tickets for a ballgame. Johnny Gramuglia, a 31 year old Jersey native was on the opposite side of the spectrum. He insisted that the "jock geek divide" was still very much a reality. He admitted that he has many friends that not only don't understand his passion for collectables and conventions, but that he can't even openly talk about it. Still, he was able to find some connections between the two worlds as he admitted seeing a "poser" at a convention is just as maddening as talking to a sports front runner. He alluded to an allure of the geek counter culture, almost as if it were a bandwagon to hop on. The popularity of comic book movies has paved the way for comic book integration into the lives of people they wouldn't normally reach. He agreed that the passion and rush of joy one can feel from getting a new comic, or finding a new collectable is just as "hyped" as your favorite team scoring a goal.

Professional wrestling has always straddled the line between the two worlds. Both revered by geeks and jocks it provides an interesting middle ground for the two. It has the physicality and brutality of any other athletic completion, while providing ridiculous shark jumping story lines comic book fans can always appreciate. It's no wonder most Comic Cons have at least one professional wrestler in attendance (this year its Mick Foley and Hulk Hogan.) Will there come a day where you can come down to NYCC and get an autograph from your favorite pitcher, goalie, or quarterback? I'd like to think so. Regardless as long as comic books continue to establish themselves as pop culture staples rather than a niche hobby for a select few, the more this merge will become permanent. Interestingly enough, I've noticed that most people who started as sports fans became comic book fans later in life. This kind of shoots down the whole "comics are childish" argument doesn't it? Either way, times are a-changing, and we may finally have peace in our time. That's right folks you heard it here first, the days of wedgies and having our lunch money stolen are coming to an end!

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