Answering the age-old question

What comic do I give to a n00b to get them interested in comic books? There is simultaneously no answer and a million answers to this question.

By the time I left my last job I had no less then 8 people reading comics and they were all reading a mixture of different things that I selected for them.

Two were pretty easy, both had read Marvel and DC as kids/teenagers, both were artists, all I had to do was find quality superhero books with good art and they latched on. One, as a matter a fact, is now buying even more comics then I am. In their cases I used books like The Immortal Iron Fist, The Ultimates, and New Avengers.

Another coworker was a long time Star Wars fan as well as a big fan of crime/gangster movies/novels. For him I prescribed Dark Horse's Star Wars comics and a large helping of Brubaker and Phillips, largely Criminal.

Two more were fans of fairy tales and fantasy novels, for them Gaiman, Carey, and Willingham. Even the one who looked at me like I was a crazy man for giving her a comic admitted to loving Gaiman's work afterwards.

Two more had been swept up in the excitement connected with the plethora of comic related movies. Wolverine (Claremont/Miller), Watchman, Punisher: Welcome Back Frank, and Essential X-Men had them reading comics on a nightly basis even when their significant other made fun of them for it.

Another was interested in comics for her kids. Outside of the kid friendly stuff she even ended up reading more adult stuff like Umbrella Academy.

Pretty much everyone damn near cried with WE3, laughed out load at Kick-Ass, and loved Scott Pilgrim.

The fact is there is no 1 answer to this question. For every reader there is a comic. They might not know about it, but a comic exists that they will love, it's just a matter of finding it. If there is a person or people in your life that you want to share the joy of comics with ask questions, find out what they like, and then choose appropriately. Remember you are an ambassador of a strange, largely unknown land, don't insist and don't be a jerk if they disagree. Try giving them a couple different things and let them find their own groove.

So go forth champions of comicbookdom and spread the word, and that word is variety.

-egs

Three posts in one night, so much for needing a social life.