First I'll throw out a theory, then answer the OP's question.
Comic books are one of the single best non-physical hobbies for boys to take up.
They aren't as big nowadays, since you also have more videogames, television, internet, etc. competing for attention.
But it's still one of the few areas of escape that isn't getting the full assault of a feminized school system and helicopter parents.
They help boys grow from both an artistic perspective, and an intellectual perspective.
How much does a kid's vocab, spelling, and reading comprehension shoot up when he's looking up the definitions behind certain villain names?
Or what about learning about the science behind what makes super powers possible?
Not to mention the moral values, and the depictions of people at their peak as something to aspire to, especially in a culture which preaches victimization and conformity.
If you work with young guys, or have young male relatives, talk to them about that stuff or buy them some of the starter comics (i.e. Marvel has versions of popular titles that have less adult content).
You might spark a journey of discovery for them.
Quote: (05-16-2014 11:02 AM)Cunnilinguist Wrote:
One of my good friends at work is in his mid 20s, works out, decent looking......and is absolutely obsessed with Batman, Superman, Spiderman etc. He can tell you everything about each hero, their arch enemies, minor details and so on. What Im getting at is that it isnt just kids that are into it. You see many adults who are heavily invested in this stuff, as well.
Is the comic book obsession a sign that adults nowadays are adopting a childlike mentality?
There is something to be said for the millennial generation delaying adulthood longer and longer. That's a complex topic for another time but I agree it can certainly be a factor, especially with a focus on nostalgia.
The other aspect is that comics have become the new mythology in a lot of ways.
"With great power, comes great responsibility" is a maxim that carries weight alongside any of Aesop's fables.
Keep in mind when you read about Greek mythology for example, some of the stories are actually much more ridiculous at face value than getting bit by a radioactive spider, or developing powers as a result of being the next stage in humanity's evolution.
Yet any serious scholar of Western literature/culture will be well versed in all those ancient legends, and they have inspired or been ripped off for hundreds of subsequent stories that we consider to be essential canon in books, films, theatre, etc.
Also for today's adults, they grew up with superheroes in a way that allowed them to be disseminated through many mediums (comics, animated TV shows, action figures, videogames, etc.) so it just makes sense that when the technology is available to realize the stories in movie form, many people will look forward to it.
And I don't think that's a big generational difference.
Older generations had toy soldiers too, played games like cowboys and indians outside, read pulp magazines with many military, science, detective and fantasy themes, and enjoyed the books or films about these topics well into adulthood.
Now when you look at guys similar to the main characters of "The Big Bang Theory", I don't think their failings are to do with the material they are interested in, but more so the fact that even if they were obsessed with sports instead of sci-fi, they still lack masculinity. A good example of this would be Jonah Hill's character in "Moneyball" since a baseball nerd making money is still a nerd.
I would argue that if you're holding down life as a man, there shouldn't be an expiry date on activities you enjoy, assuming you keep your masculine dignity. This actually shows non-conformity, as you don't need to bend down to an expected role as a man, the same way we reject that you have to "man up and be married with kids in your 30s".
Hard to define that I know, but some examples where society seems to make arbitrary distinctions based on media stereotypes:
Why do we celebrate guys who surf through their retirement, or vacation to ski and snowboard, but age 30 is considered too old to be skateboarding?
Capoeira mestres ("masters") in Brazil often become more revered with age, and continue to progress and teach, yet you wouldn't expect the same reverence in the dance/fitness world for breakdancers, who move their bodies in often the exact same ways.
Gymnastics is one of the single best forms of fitness possible, yet if you heard someone was taking a gymnastics class, you'd assume they were young and/or wearing tights.
And finally comics, the OP's friend is a good example of the type of wide ranging interests for young men going forward.
If Frank Underwood is going to play First Person Shooters on his Xbox or paint miniature models to unwind after a day of being Alpha, I wouldn't be surprised if you find more interesting or non-traditional hobbies staying with Red Pill players on the nights they need a break from their harem.