L.A. SPEAK

Comic Collectors’ Colloquialisms

comic condom: n . plastic cover used to practice safe collecting. “I’ve got all my old Silver Surfers in comic condoms .”

eye tracks: n . facetious term for damage caused by excessive reading. “You’ve been reading that book for so long you’ve de-minted it with eye tracks. “

fanboy: n . obsessive collector.

Kirbyesque: adj. a style inspired by the late Jack Kirby, who helped create Captain America, Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk and the Fantastic Four.

Marvel zombie: n . fan who buys every issue of Marvel comics, usually has superhero power fantasies. Syn. Marvel dweeb.

mutant head: n . devotee of Mutant comics.

splash page: n . a full page devoted to one drawing--usually a battle scene or other splashy image. “Boy, those Image books are taken over by splash pages. There wasn’t any story.”

squid: n . especially annoying fanboy. “The squid sat me down and talked about X-Men for two hours.”

stoner: n . head-shop type hooked on R. Crumb, Freak Brothers and other druggie comics.