In 1988, comic books were not considered the mere influence of over-the-top high-budget Hollywood films. Back when computer graphics were just being toyed with in films, and Robert Downy Junior was the rich brat you hated in movies like Weird Science, I received my first comic book.

Before Jeff Bezos revolutionized e-commerce, Sears still circulated a thick catalog seasonally. Four times a year the hottest items they were selling were brought to your door via paperback. Customers would mail checks, or cash directly to the sales department with an order form including the details of the product they desired. My young mind imagined that everything in the entire world, that was ever for sale was in that catalog, I thought they had everything from 80s fashion, old car parts, lawn decorations, you could stock an entire garage with tools, they had boomboxes, cassette tapes, Bikes, R.C. cars, and even comic books.

Every autumn in Nebraska when college football season started, I was handed a Sears catalog with instructions to pick a gift for Christmas. Every year I recruited into my amassing army of action figures, and every year I grew closer to my ultimate goal of total galactic liberation! I would act out a battle of revolution regularly, Luke Skywalker and I would save the Republic! I knew somewhere there was a villain that stood in my way, and I knew somewhere my queen was waiting to be rescued!  

One year, I saw something different from the latest potential Transformer recruit. Perhaps I was growing tired of my G.I. Joe action figure kung fu grip; maybe I thought I was too old to be playing with he-man dolls! (He-Mans haircut was terrible) The art is what first caught my eye, it reminded me of the designs on my toy packages. Colorful, strong, courageous! There was action and adventure literally written all over the cover!

My first comic book may have arrived in my mail order, but shortly after I had made friends who that took me to a comic book shop. This new world seemed incredible with all the comic books displayed on the walls. The posters and figurines were so fascinating to me! I appreciated the art. The detail, the design, the appreciation of the creativity, and the time it took to create. It wasn’t long until I had my box lined with comics. Of course, each one had its packaging in a plastic bag and cardboard backing. Stacked neatly upright in the box. I would eventually decorate the box with my drawings to personalize it. Put stickers on it.

Comic book storys are always so adventurous, and so I was immersed in them. The art paints a picture that is often caught in writing. The pictures had so much detail that a single chapter in a book would be required to properly capture it. The heroes and villains are so relatable. I believe that to be one of the greatest overlooked qualities. The creators are everyday people thinking of who a comic book hero should be. In their creation, they can bridge a gap and make them relatable.

Everyone has a favorite. Batman, Iron Man, and Wonder Woman, they become our favorites due to some qualities that are impressionable to readers. This is what makes us fans. Villains make us genuinely loathe them for their crimes. It triggers our reactions. A good villain like the Joker always leaves the reader shocked in a manner never thought possible

At the age of 47 years, all my comics have been passed on to my godson. What inspired me to immerse myself into those worlds I hope finds him as well. I am still a fan, and always will be but Child-like faith does not mean to remain a child. I have responsibilities to others and can not afford to spend all day dreaming of being the hero. This life has real dragons to slay, and growing up means having a strategy, and the courage to conquer them. One of the greatest reasons to slay real-life dragons is to protect the innocence of children, so they can spend all day reading those comics.