Comic Book Guy - Jenkins

Comic Book Guy - Fanatic

In Henry Jenkins article, “Get a Life!”: Fans, Poachers, Nomads, he refers to the concept of what a fan is. He first starts in by discussing what a fan started out as and a definition as literally, “Of or belonging to the temple, a temple servant, a devotee.” He comments that these fans are usually and frequently characterized as de-gendered, asexual or impotent. Jenkins also states that a fan will always remain a “fanatic” or false worshiper, whose interest are fundamentally alien to the realm of “normal” cultural experience and whose mentality is dangerously out of touch with reality. Basically his article is talking about how there are fans of say baseball and sports and then you have “fanatics” for such things as Star Trek, Star Wars or even following actors and actresses. These fans go above and beyond just watching the movies and shows, they try to become a character or live their lives entirely based upon these shows they are “fans” of. This even goes as far as Jenkins notes on page 13 of his article, “news reports frequently characterize fans as psychopaths whose frustrated fantasies of intimate relationships with starts or unsatisfied desires to achieve their own stardom take violent and antisocial forms.” This further reiterates the point that some of these “fans” go above and beyond, simply viewing or watching. These fans are not in touch with reality and as stated are often portrayed as being outcasts and not part of normal society.

The way of these people being portrayed as outcasts and cut off from society as social misfits can be seen on a very well known animated series; The Simpsons. This show, as many of you probably watch, features a character by the name of Comic Book Guy. Jenkins talks about how we classify these fans and this is no exception. Comic Book Guy is a stereotypical comic store owner and fanatic of comics. He is a bigger guy, hair in a pony-tail, a slob, no friends, and above all else a true comic fan. They regularly show him attending conventions where he is asking questions about an episode or comic book where he states the specific details about the particular book or episode, then wants to know even more about it. Usually the person that was staring in the feature has no clue what he is even talking about (showing how obsessed he actually is). This is showing that he is going above and beyond just viewing a particular episode or reading a comic book, he wants to be a part of it and lives his life by it. Bart and Millhouse regularly go into the shop and Comic Book Guy is very protective of his comics and they usually make fun of him for his appearance and “freak-like” nature. Jenkins talks about how fanatics are usually characterized as psychopaths take on this anti-social nature. This is no different when it comes to Comic Book Guy as he is probably the most anti-social character featured on the show. It is interesting how we see these types of fanatics in the media or in a YouTube video and in all places, an animated series. Comic Book Guy might not be a real person, but the creators have portrayed him exactly how Jenkins talks about how a fanatic is portrayed in real life.