I think gatekeeping comic shops are actually fine

Idk maybe it's just me but I used to get annoyed when the guy at Cosmic Comics in Denver would grill new readers on what they've read before recommending stuff. Now after 5 years of watching people walk in and ask for 'that Batman movie stuff' I kinda get it. He's not trying to be mean, he just wants to match people with runs that actually make sense. Has anyone else come around on the shop owners who push back a little?

2 comments

2 Comments

riley8605d ago

Gotta say I see it way different. Asking someone what they've read before giving suggestions is just being helpful, but the way some of those guys do it feels more like a test than actual help. I've seen new people get talked down to so bad they just leave and never come back, which is the opposite of building a community. Gatekeeping might come from a good place sometimes, but it usually just makes comic shops feel like exclusive clubs instead of welcoming places for anyone who's curious. Customers don't need a gatekeeper, they need a friendly guide who can meet them where they're at without making them feel dumb.

miawalker4d ago

Gatekeeping is definitely a real thing in comics, but I think the bigger issue is how some folks confuse "being helpful" with "being the boss of what counts as real fandom." Asking what someone liked before is fine, but the second you make them feel bad for starting with the wrong series, that's on you, not them.