Kevin Smith’s Comic Book Men on AMC

First, Orange County Choppers brought motorcycles and chopper customization into the mainstream, then Miami Ink did the same for tattooing and piercing. Can Kevin Smith’s Comic Book Men do the same thing for comic book and geek culture? It’s not like the blockbuster movies and television shows haven’t started this already, but I’m thinking this has the opportunity to make comic books, and the people who collect and read them, more discussed around the water cooler.

Clips throughout the show featured customers trying to sell collectible items to the crew, it had a sort of Pawn Stars vibe. I liked that, for the same reasons (and more) that I like the Pawn Stars show. You get to see unique items, hopefully learn some history on them, and then see what they’re worth. It was nice to see both Bob Kane and Jack Kirby brought up in this episode, they are two legendary artists, and a good way to introduce viewers to what they did for comics. The next time someone brings in a special piece of art by one of these guys, the viewers will already know the kind of excitement that it creates for comic book geeks. I love that the requisite guy-that-doesn’t-get-paid-but-hangs-out-here-everyday-regardless-of-the-fact is Bryan Johnson (doing a great job conjuring Alan Moore). Anyone who has worked at a guitar store, music store or comic book store (or video game store, or movie store, etc.) will tell you there is always one of these guys. They usually last longer than most employees and they engage the customers in the same way Johnson did, as this intellectual overseer that is there to keep customers and workers in check.

The other part of the show featured the kind of “buddies-sitting-around” dialog that I have always enjoyed about Kevin Smith’s movies and speaking tours. It’s the way me and my friends talk about subjects we’ve conversed about so many times that we over-analyze and go so deeply into a topic that normally you wouldn’t (or shouldn’t). On the other hand, if you’re not in on the jokes, or didn’t grow up thinking about the Six Million Dollar Man episode, you could easily be bored or lost on some of this stuff.

Overall, I thought it was pretty entertaining. As it turns out, Kevin Smith can speak without swearing and still be interesting. I don’t think it’s going to create a big culture shift, or open up comic book shop culture to the masses. I do think that people already living the comic book geek life will find it fun and humorous to see the kinds of interactions and conversations they’ve had, played out “reality tv” style. I will be tuning in next week.