Most of the time, when people first meet me, they have no clue, even if they see my half sleeve tattoo of three giant panels on my left arm. They eventually find out and don't care too much. The real judging comes in when they find out I write comics... Then, they look at me in disgust.... I try again and again to get some of my friends to at least read Green Lantern: Sinestro War.... I always get a sea of blank faces... Yet, these same people are first in line for Batman.... And will refuse to read Long Halloween...  The stigma attached to comic book readers right now is ridiculous. Most people that read are in their mid-twenties, full-time job, wives, kids, etc... The whole idea that a comic book reader is a shut-in fat kid, eating ho-hos and dreaming of talking to a girl is a thing of the past.


ADDED BONUS:
I find it funny in my group of friends that the one that reads comics is also the toughest guy in the group. I'm also one of two with a "real job".  Everyone judges comic readers and to be honest, I just don't care anymore. Many of us are at an age where the whole "you're cool, I'm cool" routine is laughable.

To the younger readers out there... If you ever take crap from some "cool kid" day-in, day-out..... Just remember, that guy will either be serving you dinner, detailing your car, or be your minion in the workplace in 10 years. The "cool kids" in school, for the most part, fail in real life. One of my students was a guy that picked on me in high school, for having a blue mohawk... I thought it was cool... Anyway, the guy had me as is professor.... I treated him like anyone else that walks into my classroom... Fairness is more important than petty grudges..... God, I'm a dork....