Did Normies Ruined Comics or Saved Them? Experts Reveal the Surprising Truth

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As a devoted movie enthusiast, I’ve often found myself echoing sentiments shared by comic book fans: “It seems like the industry has taken a turn that doesn’t quite resonate with us original fans.

But did they? In his classic video, author David Stewart addressed this theory.

From the transcript:

It’s my belief that comics weren’t spoiled by typical or conventional folks; instead, they flourished under their influence.

Once comics were relegated to the sidelines, I’d like to share my perspective on this shift. To clarify, when I refer to ‘comics’, I’m not discussing the general comic strip found in newspapers, but rather the complex, narrative-driven graphic novels that have gained popularity in recent years.

In essence, what I believe is that these works of art were unfairly pushed aside due to outdated perceptions about their literary and artistic value. Comics are more than just a form of entertainment; they are a powerful medium capable of addressing complex societal issues, exploring deep emotional themes, and even challenging the status quo. By dismissing them from the mainstream, we’ve missed out on some truly compelling stories that could have enriched our cultural landscape.

In essence, when a niche community experiences a surge in popularity attracting people outside its original circle, this influx can inevitably change the nature of the community in ways its founders may not desire. This change might dilute some unique aspects that initially set the community apart and made it distinctive.

Actually, I’m referring to something else here. Let me clarify: Comic books were once much more widely read than they are now, due to a shift in their core content that led to a decline in mainstream appeal.

Immediately, it became clear to me that David was presenting a counterargument against the Mop Theory, which posits that individuals often known as “geeks” are the ones who establish a fresh, exciting cultural movement. Eventually, this scene is allegedly disrupted by what are referred to as “Normies,” or non-geeks.

In fact, David argues for the diametric opposite position.

Let me share a thought-provoking quote with you that aligns with my perspective. This idea suggests that comics were removed from mainstream audiences, rather than corrupted by them.

This conversation is with Jim Shooter, who led Marvel for nearly a decade during the 1980s. His main argument about current comics centers around storytelling – specifically, he feels they aren’t telling compelling stories that readers care about. Now, let me share his quote.

In this way, the information is conveyed in a more conversational and easy-to-understand manner.

Storytelling now seems to drag on and on, taking as long as six months what Stan Lee could achieve in just six pages.

Let’s discuss sales figures. Marvel Comics are priced higher than $4 each, and they’re ecstatic that their total sales exceed thirty thousand units. In my time at Marvel, the landscape was completely different. We didn’t sell just one comic book title; we had a whopping 75 titles! None of our comics sold less than 100,000 copies. The X-Men series was even approaching 750,000 sales!

In this film, there’s no grand climax with a death, costume change, or wedding; it’s just consistently engaging throughout.” (First-person perspective: “I didn’t find a dramatic climax involving someone dying, changing costumes, or getting married in this movie. Instead, it was consistently captivating from start to finish.”)

Most of the sales were from individuals purchasing individual copies, rather than bulk purchases. The magazine’s unique, foil-embossed cover didn’t seem to encourage mass purchases. Every issue was sold in this manner.

To put it simply, that quote essentially mirrors my main argument: Comics were once incredibly popular, to the extent that they could be found in a pharmacy’s shelves, say during the 1980s. I recall vividly seeing comic books at such places when I was a child.

In reality, I recall purchasing Ninja Turtle comics directly from the shelves instead of visiting a dedicated comic book store. It wasn’t until the 1990s that I first stepped inside a comic book store, which felt unusual as it was only then that these stores became the primary location for buying comics.

At one point, these elements were widely accepted and popular, but they’ve since lost their mainstream appeal and have been adopted by a specific group, transforming into a distinct culture within the industry. In essence, this subculture has seized control and started eliminating aspects that once made comics appealing to a broader audience.

Watch the whole video:

Whatever the cause of the comic book industry’s demise, one conclusion is irrefutable:

Marvel and DC are dead. Move on.

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2025-04-24 20:45