snap judgments

I have worked at a variety of places. From comics stores to video stores to music stores to restaurants to electronics stores…. and I can say with 100% assurity that one place that couples make out the most out of those places?

The comic shop.

Having been at two, I see couples in all the time and, on the average, 7 out of 10 are physically attached to each other in one way, shape or form. Hands around one another, holding hands to drag one another down the aisles like anxious children, sitting at their feet while the other one goes through back issues with a dogged focus, making out in one of the corners of the store, couples love to administer PDA in here. It’s weird… and vaguely uncomfortable.

Are comics romantic? Does the florescent lighting set the mood? Does the smell of back issues just really do it for some people?

On one hand, I could say that the less they are in here to shop, the more affectionate they are. Sometimes I think it’s a comicless girl’s method of shooing the boyfriend out of the store. “Look, honey, hugs and kisses! Pay attention to me so we can leave!” Sometimes I think it’s a territorial thing. “See? I’m not a nerd, I gotta girlfriend!” Most of the time I’m just confused.

A good customer pal of mine and I were talking relationships when she was picking out some trade paperback presents for a new beau and I have to agree with a point most clearly made by her: having common interests in movies or music is one thing and sometimes, general interests can be faked. But the more obscure your passion, the less popular your culture is, if there’s a spark between you over potato clocks or Fraggle Rock or Mr. Spock, something one can give or take…  it’s a beautiful thing.