We all are drawn into the amazing world of comics one way or other.  At the end of a year, what better time to get all nostalgic and think about what made us fall in love with the genre?

For me, it was my dad who got me into comics.  I can remember being surrounded by superheroes from a young age.  My dad has the original number 1 issues for numerous comics such as The Avengers and X-Men, as well as the first appearances of many of our favorite characters or villains. What was his first comic ever?  The Flash #112, which was the first appearance of The Elongated Man (yes, he still has it). He had the first appearance of Spider-Man (Amazing Fantasy #15) which my grandmother threw away (yes, it still makes us want to vomit).

While my dad was more of a Silver Age fan, I grew up right before the reemergence  of the genre, so I was surrounded by toys such as “DC Comics Superheroes” and “Super Powers Collections” which were apparently cheap at the time because of the decline of interest in the genre at the time.

Every Thursday we would go to Central City Comics.  I would feel like such a badass because I had a “pull list” at the age of seven or so.  We would often read the comics together and discuss.  I would pose the age-old questions such as, “What would happen if Hulk and Superman were in a fight?”, etc.  At Christmas, my dad and I would lay under the Christmas tree reading comics by the light of the tree.

This was also the time I hopped on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze, but I am glad that I got my initial start with Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s original works.  I even got to the point where I had to “narrow down” my pull list due to the numerous titles I had.

As I grew up we would still go to the comic book store together but began watching movies as well.  The first movie I ever remember seeing was when I was in first grade and it was Batman 89 (Don’t worry, he screened it first).  I loved it (even though I was terrified of the Joker from the movie and my dad got a poster and hung it on my door for me to stare at it and spend many sleepless nights…Back off, I was in first grade).  From there we made it a ritual to see all the Batman movies together (including Batman and Robin…now that is dedication). We continued the tradition by seeing all of the Nolan movies as well as Batman v Superman and Justice League.

Flash forward to the present and we still discuss movies, TV shows, and comics.  Even though we are states apart, anytime I visit, or he comes to visit, it is mandatory that we make our trip to the comic book store, which we never came out empty-handed.

My dad’s favorite has always been The Flash, which quite honestly is the main reason I continue to write reviews on the TV show, even when it has not been at its best.

So that’s the story of how I got my start.  I wouldn’t have found the wonderful world of comics if it weren’t for my real-life superhero, my dad (insert sapping remarks).

How did you get your start?  Do you have any rituals surrounding comics?  Past or present?  Leave your thoughts in the spot below, and as always, thanks for reading!

Also, from my family to yours, God Bless and Happy Holidays!

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