by Ericka Simpson
Assistant Editor
Sophomore Alex Stephens received his first comic book, “Avengers Assemble”, from his girlfriend, Jessica Quinley, on Valentine’s Day in 2009.
“I’ve been hooked ever since,” he said.
As a kid, he grew up watching Marvel™ cartoons based on the comic books and would play-act as different superheroes with his brothers and friends, so he reads mostly Marvel comics.
His love for comics inspired him to start the first Bryan College Comic Book Club, which, according to Stephens, is a working title because he wants a “cooler, more superhero” name.
“All my time is consumed by running and studying, which is okay, but I felt like I was missing out on something, and I have a huge interest in Marvel comics, so I decided to start a club,” said Stephens, who also competes on the varsity cross country and track and field teams.
Stephens conducted the first club meeting on Nov. 30, and 16 people showed up.
Even though the turnout was not huge, he said he was still pleased because a variety of people came that would not generally connect together. He said he likes that the club started small because it helps him provide comics for all the members within the club budget.
Junior Jacob Hudgins, one of the attendees, said he’s been reading comic books since he was five-years old.
“I like comic books and thought it would be cool, and that I would have a good time,” he said.
Sophomore Kristin Fortenberry started reading comics about six years ago and said she is excited about Stephens starting the club.
“[The meeting] was super nerdy, but I love it,” she said. “There were more normal people than I thought would be there, but I don’t claim to be normal either.”
When the club meets again next semester, the group will be following a Marvel special series, Civil War, which is compiled into seven issues.
Hudgins, who has already read the series, said he believes that the series will be divisive because it’s about superheroes picking sides.
In the series, the government wants all the mutants to come out publicly and register so they can be organized into a special forces team. The superheroes spilt into groups of pro-registration or anti-registration. For that reason, Stephens said that the theme of the club will be, “Whose side are you on?”
Stephens said that he wants the club to be a place to learn and share, and they will use the Marvel website (www.marvel.com) to learn about characters and to also create their own superheroes. They will not strictly read Marvel comics. Stephens said they plan on reading DC™ comics as well.
“Even today, I want to be a superhero,” Stephens said.
The Comic Book club will meet once every two weeks starting next semester.