the 2008 TIKI Challenge!

[thefreakytiki]

OK, so in the past I have tried to call out/push the limits/challenge people in different ways to help this hobby grow. I have a new one for all of you in 2008. It's actually quite simple really...

In 2008 I challenge you to convert/create an new comic lover.

Now, I'm not talking that you try to push comics on your girlfriend who has no interest what so ever, rather find that one individual who is teetering on joining our ranks ...and closing the deal! Do you have a niece or a nephew who looks longingly at your action figure collection, do you have a co-worker who used to collect but hasn't done it in 10 years or maybe there are people who you see day in and day out on the train/bus commute to work that look over your shoulder while you read that weeks selection? Time to close the deal! You have exactly 9 months to bring 1 new person into the fold.

A few things have made me think of this challenge:

• Last December my Sister-in-law had a Christmas party for all the extended friends and family. Someone dressed as Santa and they handed out presents. They kids had a blast, but do you know what the REAL hit of the party was? The 20 quarter books I picked up at my LCS that I gave out to all the kids. They friggin LOVED them. Their obvious joy led to conversations by the parents that went like this "Wow, comics. I haven't seen a comic in years. Where did you find those?" Needless to say, those comments internally drove me up a wall. Regardless of my inner thoughts, the kids ate them up. Deep down, Kids LOVE comics!

• I have a new Manager at work. We got to shooting the shit about ourselves and I told him of my love for comics. He confessed to me that he used to love them but quit about 10 years ago. I called him a fool because they are better than they have ever been! I could see the interest in his eyes. I could sense him teetering. After talking about what he used to collect, I discovered that the first TPBs of the Ultimates would be right up his alley. He devoured the first trade and humbly asked me if I owned the "next one". Like a good pimp, I smiled and told him that when I see him next week I would bring it to him. I can see that I have this one on the right path.

• Today I came across an article on Heidi MacDonald's "the Beat" that talked about how mainstream America absolutely accepts comics now-a-days and how it's growing... http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/03/13/the-wisdom-of-steven-grant/


Let's do it people! Let's make this hobby grow! All I ask is that you convert one, just one new reader. I don't care how you do it, just do it! We all benefit from this small action.


the Tiki http://www.pixeljoint.com/files/icons/tiki_torches.gif

[thefreakytiki]

No one? Not a single person comes to the massive "call to arms" horn as the Tiki blows it atop the great Volcano? You too can be a Tiki God if you accept and complete the challenge.

Do you have what it takes to take this hobby to the next level? Remember, the best form of advertising is word of mouth, so share your love for the medium with others!


the Tiki http://www.pixeljoint.com/files/icons/tiki_torches.gif

[paper]

I want to be a Tiki God!

[esophagus]

I recently converted my mother, which was a tough sell.

"I don't even know why you're going to a comic book convention"
"Because I read comics?"
"But not the silly ones, like Superman and stuff"
"Yes I do."
"Oh... Are all comics like that?"

And so on and so forth. I convinced her with Blankets. I'm going to push Fun Home on her next, and then perhaps Box Office Poison. Get her to realize what value there is.

[paper]

People need to know that if they love story and character, they can love comics. I'm going to print out this little flash essay I did many moons ago and post it around town. I'll at least flesh it out for mass consumption.

I find the concept of Superman very appealing. I think the difficulty is tapping into what makes him so iconic, so very special. Superman is an outsider, and unlike many caped crusaders, his problem isn't being a superhero, surviving to the end of the day. His problem is straddling that line of being a human and being more than a human. He doesn't really belong anywhere, so he must prove himself to this adopted home. But because he's so powerful, he must live up to an impossible benchmark. He must constantly test his limits, without going too far and becoming a God.

To be Superman is to be the lonliest person in the world while still being burdened with the weight of the hopes and dreams of the countless people he has vowed to protect. If he is to uphold justice, he must work within the limits of justice. And when you can so easily break those limits, restraint is a very noble thing. A very difficult thing.

Just because you are blessed with incredible natural ability does not mean you are prepared to use it. It must be terrible to be Superman, to know that every move you make could change the way the world spins. What guilt you'd have to feel to know that you, through no special merit of your own, gained impossible powers, while those you care about could be compared to eggshells. No matter how good they are, how hard they fight, they will never be the mountain you are. And there's nothing you can do to change that, and there's no matter how many times you save them, they're always going to be in danger.

The best Superman stories probably have nothing to do with great accomplishments as a warrior. As in any great story, the real drama is in his choices. In what he has ultimately decided not to become. In the way he deals with the guilt of his own circumstances.

[labor_days]

When and where did you write that about Superman, Paper? Those are my thoughts exactly on the character and why I find Superman compelling.

The current Geoff Johns Action Comics arc concerning the Legion Of Super-Heroes is full of perfectly realized moments of Superman's loneliness. Not being able to play softball, having no friends that can fly, being able to hear the other kids whisper about him and then one day he meets kids that can fly. Totally great.

Also, Action Comics #850 will make you cry for the man of Steel.

[casually-drowned]

I took the suggestion of the iFanboys and bought Last Day in Vietnam for my father for Christmas. Since we rescheduled it this year to be at the beginning of February, I think that counts as an attempt at conversion.

[paper]

That's from Becca's I Hate Superman thread (http://www.revision3.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7899&highlight=hate+superman). Post 47.

[valoharth]

Okay so a couple years ago I let my friend in on Invincible and Walking Dead... I figured walking dead would be the draw for him well it wasn't he read it and thought meh but then he gave Invincible a read and he was hooked.

Well we fast forward to the last week of February when he was looking for the new trade for Invincible and went to a LCS out in North Carolina where he lives now. He ask the retailer if he had the new Invincible trade and the Comic Book guys laughs at him and tells him quite condescendingly "We don't carry kiddie books... why don't you come back when you want to read real comics". Boy oh boy was I both flabbergasted and pissed. I worked so hard to get my friend to read Invincible hand here is some asshole who is telling him that the comic is crap. It almost dishearten him, it's decently soured him on the whole comic shop idea. I was able to convince him that the Comic book guy didn't know what he was talking about and that no one thinks that is a lame book. I managed to keep him onto it, so that’s technically a save right?

But the moral of the story is, if you suggest your friend to check out comics also recommend a store and if you know of a crappy shop make sure you tell them about it because the experience of a good comic shop is just as good as handing them a copy of Maus or Bone to read.

[itsbecca]

That's from Becca's I Hate Superman thread (http://www.revision3.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7899&highlight=hate+superman). Post 47.

God Conor has me make the best threads....

[conorkilpatrick]

God Conor has me make the best threads....

I do what I can.

Big fan of Becca's "I Hate..." threads.

[paper]

When's the next one?

[itsbecca]

Shouldn't be to long. I am a very disgruntled person.

[xyzzy]

I got a buddy hooked on comics this year. Basically, I've just been letting him take whatever he wanted from my library, giving occasional recommendations, based on what he's liked. And then his Amazon wishlist for his birthday (in Feb) was filled with 20-30 tpbs.

I've got another friend who seems to be turning to the dark side (he loves all of BKV's work), but his new baby has kept him from coming over completely.

[esophagus]

Shouldn't be to long. I am a very disgruntled person."I Hate Gordon", perhaps?

[cenquist]

http://www.pixeljoint.com/files/icons/tiki_torches.gif[/img]

Haha...I forced my gf to read Kick-Ass and after she finished she asked if she could read the second one....she was kinda pissed when I told her she had to wait. I am going to try and push Y:The Last Man next....heres hoping!

[thefreakytiki]

The rules of this challenge are simple (there are only 2):

1. You must start the challenge this year (having done it in the years past do not count)

2. The challenge is considered complete when you see the individual reading a floppie or TPB that YOU DIDN"T GIVE THEM. That way you know that they sought it out on their own and they are hooked. ;)


the Tiki http://www.pixeljoint.com/files/icons/tiki_torches.gif

[mikegraham6]

Paper, that was a great quote. Good insight my man!

[mikegraham6]

I've gotten my Dad to read comics, and i've gotten my roommates to read Civil War, The Walking Dead and Preacher but anything beyond that and they aren't interested. But whenever i run into a book that falls in line with their interests i'll pass it along to them. One my roommates is a real history buff so i gave him a copy of Crecy and he really enjoyed, another roommate loves Zombies and he's always asking me when the new Walking Dead trade is coming out. but beyond that they won't go past these spheres of interest

[thefreakytiki]

MikeGraham6,

I strongly suggest getting your friends to read the Damned by Cullen Bunn. It sounds like it would be right up their alley as well.


the Tiki http://www.pixeljoint.com/files/icons/tiki_torches.gif

[kahunablair]

MikeGraham6,

I strongly suggest getting your friends to read the Damned by Cullen Bunn. It sounds like it would be right up their alley as well.


Damn fine suggestion right there! I read that a few months back and I was smitten.

[esophagus]

I got my mom reading this year. Doubt she'll buy comics on her own though. She barely buys books on her own, and she lives to read.