Creating the Geek Elite

I've always felt that there was this unspoken, yet universal, thing in geek and fanboy culture: Geek Cred. You don't just own a lightsaber toy - you own a $1000 replica of Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from The Empire Strikes Back. You don't just own a copy of Deities & Demigods, you own a first print copy with the Moorcock and Mythos stats in it - oh, and it's signed by Gary Gygax. It's like this weird race that somehow reflects one somehow being a "better" fan because they own rare or expensive products.

I get it. I've been caught up in it. I'm not judging it. If you're having fun chasing down rare collectibles or expensive replicas then rock on. But as "geek culture" becomes more and more mainstream, I've noticed something beginning to happen. Items typically associated with Geek Cred are being produced with more and more regularity. I think this is an intentional action on the part of the companies that produce these high end items. The products probably cost far, far less than their sometimes ridiculous price tags and this means that the producers only need to sell a fraction of such items (when compared to more standard items) to reap a profit.

Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice allowed movie-goers to buy an "Ultimate Ticket" for a mere $100. Monte Cook has successfully kickstarted Invisible Sun, an RPG with a minimum $200 buy in. New Line Cinema has just released an edition of the Extended Editions of both the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy with a price tag a penny under $800. 

All this can be yours if you skip your mortgage payment this month.

And people will buy it. Maybe you won't. Maybe you will. But companies wouldn't sell these things if they didn't think it would turn a profit. I can't help but think that with so many traditionally geeky things going mainstream, that the market isn't tapping into that and trying to create a "geek elite" kind of subculture. As if the measure of how cool a geek you are is somehow measured in a price tag.

Or maybe I'm over analyzing things. Either way, I've got my limits and while some of these types of items are cool in and of themselves, I'm a man with responsibilities and financial obligations, so I don't have nearly a thousand dollars to drop on a set of movies with a few knick-knacks and extras included in the package. But, if you do, then more power to you. Have a blast and enjoy your high end purchases - just remember, it doesn't make you somehow cooler or a more dedicated fan of your hobby or interest simply because you've got more disposable income.

Comic Book Musings

So, I've always been a fan of comic books and superheroes. When I was younger I gravitated towards really like Robin during the Robin III run. Robin did everything Batman did - but without the money, the training, or the experience. That was a character I could relate to as a kid. The little underdog.
The classics, in particular Spider-Man and a few other more obscure heroes like Darkhawk. I grew to really love Batman because he was an ordinary man who took justice into his own hands and from Batman I grew to

As I've grown up, my love of superheroes hasn't diminished, but it has changed. My father took me to see The Rocketeer as a boy and introduced me to the pulp heroes of the 30s and 40s - which I love to this day. An extension of that, I developed a love of superheroes from that era. As I age and settle into my everyday life I come to love more "boy scout" superheroes. Captain America, The Rocketeer, and much to my surprise, Superman.

There's something endearing to me about the absolute certainty in characters like Captain America and Superman. They know they're doing the right thing, the good thing. My gaming style has followed. I prefer Lawful Good characters. Stout halflings, dedicated knights, and noble warriors. The theme remains the same on both fronts.

I think this comes from living in a world where seeing what is good and what is evil is not always so easy, but can still be seen. Choosing to do good over doing what is easy. Maybe its because we live in a world where easy choices are the expectation and hope is the exception. But characters like Superman, Captain America, Samwise Gamgee and so many others tell us that it doesn't have to me. It comes down to a choice we make. It doesn't matter whether are powere by a yellow sun, a simple gardner, or an everyday person. Being a "Boy Scout" is an act of hope, an act of defiance; in a world of endless grays we can choose to see black and white - if we have a bit of hope.