How I know Comics without Reading it
Someone gave a remark that I must have a very good childhood with loads of pocket money. Reason is that I was able to explain and share old comic plotlines, character relationship etc. I must have a lot of pocket money to buy comic books.
That is a fair reasoning, but not true. As I was growing up, my family is frugal. The family can only afford pirated comics when I was probably 10 or 11 years old. In a year, I might be able to afford two or three copies of comics.
Obviously, I get my superheroes fixes through television. The not so obvious source is the newspaper. I do not mean the daily comics. In our local newspaper, there is a weekly section called Worlds of Wonder. This section discusses and reports about comic books and anything that excite my inner geek. Without opening a copy of comic or AD&D books, I would know the plotlines and gossips. That's how I gained my comic knowledge through someone's opinion and review.
I have stopped reading about comics for many years. Nevertheless, I still credit how comics got me through difficult times. None of my kids have any interest in comics. They will never know the excitement of reading the latest issue. Having to read it a million times because it is the only copy that they can afford for a very long time. This experience may be insignificant, but it is important to appreciate and grateful what was given.
When I was growing up, I do not have a lot, but I can enjoy certain entertainment through another means. It was not the best way, but my only way during that time.