To use a science fiction analogy, online dating hasn’t so much taken off in recent years as rocketed through the stratosphere. There are matching services for athletes and jocks; and dating sites for geeks. The reason the respective niche sites works are that they introduce singles based on whatever they have in common. For instance, for geeks and nerds, a common conversation subject might be favorite comic books, a passion that could be explored during chats on their first date. If this topic chimes with you, here are the top five comic books to discuss.
Middlewest
Thanks to TV series like Stranger Things, the vast hinterland of America beyond the metropolises of the East and West Coasts is a place where all sorts of mysteries can lurk. Skottie Young (the brilliant writer behind Deadpool and I Hate Fairyland) creates a magical world where a young kid goes on an adventure across the Midwest, here depicted as a mystical, wild, and seemingly endless stretch of farmlands, while attempting to control his inner angst (and power). Emotionally told, this visually stunning blend of fantasy and reality makes for a terrific conversation starter.
My Heroes Have Always Been Junkies
Artist Sean Phillips (whose previous work has included Batman and Hellblazer) united with writer Ed Brubaker (who penned Westworld) to produce this visually-arresting gem. The central story is rooted in the darker side of pop culture – the often fatal combination of music and drugs – and here events are seen through the eyes of a young girl fascinated by that sleazier side of life. The writing team channels this into a gripping experience for the reader, exploring the truth behind the fame of everyone from Billie Holiday, Gram Parsons, and Judy Garland to Nick Cave. Along the way Bowie’s Hunky Dory album is declared a work of genius – all in all, so much to discuss on a first date!
The Weatherman
If you like your comic books to come at you as fast and furiously as those speeding cars in the movie franchise, this is ideal. This is essentially a science fiction tale told at full throttle, and is inspired by the way events can suddenly conspire to alter the course of your life in seconds. The graphic art itself is invigorating enough, but if you can take the time to truly engage with the unfolding story of a weatherman based on newly-colonized Mars, you guys are in for a treat.
Death or Glory
One terrific aspect of comic books is the way they can bring the present to life as much as the more familiar tropes of fantasy or space opera. As well as working on Marvel’s Captain America, Rick Remender has created a gripping story about Glory, who needs to pay for her dying father’s surgery but is faced with four dangerous cross-country heists. Along the way, there are bent cops, mob hitmen, and deranged ex-lovers, the heady journeys bolstered by enough charged narrative to inspire your first date conversations.
The Wild Storm
Renowned for Red and Transmetropolitan, British comic book writer Warren Ellis has created his DC feature that is unfairly underrated compared to many other bigger names on its roster. The plotlines are complex, distilling traditional elements of science fiction and survival horror, then melding these with a gloriously mind-bending cocktail of secret agendas, politics, and futuristic powers. The foot-to-the-floor pace doesn’t relinquish from the outset, and Jon Davis-Hunt’s captivating art style is perfect for transforming the heady screenplay into an unforgettable postmodern ride. Chatting about The Wild Storm will keep you engrossed into the small hours.
