Here's my proposal for exposing new people to comics: try and sell comics to drunks. I know it sounds ridiculous (I'm sure Roland would even think it was "redorkulous") but hear me out first. We all know that when people are drunk they are more liable to do things that they normally wouldn't do and since most people wouldn't normally buy comics why not try to sell them to the intoxicated?
Now, I know this may come off as either a crazy scheme or a hoax but I assure you that it is neither. I have done this myself with some good results. My experiment consisted of me taking the new MAX Fury #1 and trying to sell it at a couple local Boston bars. Now, I went to my comic store and stocked up on some copies of the book. I then went out drinking. At each bar I would talk about the comic and then offer to sell it to anyone who was interested. Now some people just tuned me out. When they heard the word "comics" something in their brain shut down but I persisted nonetheless. I pointed to the scene where Nick Fury orders half a dozen Asian prostitutes and exhausts them all. For some reason drunk guys love this scene. Whenever I sold a copy of the book I included a print out of directions on how to get back to the comic book store that I got it from hoping that they had the initiative to go get more.
Now, for those of you who are of the missionary mindset, let me give a few words of advice on this manner of preaching the gospel. The main problem with this system wasn't with the drunks you're peddling your wares to, instead it was the owners of the bar that don't like people selling stuff, in the real world it's called soliciting and it's quite looked down upon. Some of the owners just looked the other way while others asked or told me to stop. But there were a few that were quite belligerent bartenders; one literally threw me out of the bar.
All in all though, I think this is the way to go. This is the audience that we want to attract: the drinking audience. These are guy's guys. If we can convert these guys into the comic fold than perhaps beating up comic geeks can become a thing of the past. No more will people duck and sneak through the halls of their California high school counting the minutes until they are free. Perhaps kids will even be free of lying to their mother saying they spent their money on comics and not getting beaten up in the schoolyard for it. Maybe that child will get to keep his comic collection and not have it sold while he was at school.
I don't just do this for me but for all comic geeks out there still to come. I do this so that they may hold their heads up high with pride. I, like Saul of Tarsus, will convert the heathens into true believers so that we can all live together in peace and harmony.
On a mission from God,
Guy Ryder
PS - I have given up this strategy since it has lead to me being punched in the face not once or twice but thrice! But that's alright; I've already got an idea for my next way of distributing comics to a wider audience. Leaving behind comics in public restrooms.
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