COMIC BOOK ENTHUSIASTS &

EMERGING
TECH
Prepared by Trevor Graham
INFO200 FA19
Dr. Villagran
 Comic Book Enthusiasts don't just use emerging tech, they
imagine it!

With its tech rich history, it's no wonder comic book enthusiasts are at the forefront
of emerging tech acceptance. Entire collections of Digital comic books are available
to anyone with an internet connection. (Polo, S. 2018). They are being read on
computers, tablets, and even on smartphones - used extensively by Marvel's
Avengers starting in the 1960s known as the "Video Transceiver". (Webber, T. 2017)

Photos: www.cbr.com ; www.blonde20.com

S H A RIN G O F I N F O R M A T I O N USING DISCUSSION GROUPS

POPULAR FEATURE FOR INFORMATION SEEKERS

ON REDDIT EVERY THURSDAY
QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS THURSDAY
(NOVEMBER 14, 2019) - ASK QUESTIONS! GET
ANSWERS!IT'S THURSDAY, SO IT'S TIME TO GET
YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS ABOUT COMICS OFF
YOUR CHEST. IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A STARTING
POINT ABOUT COMICS, OR HAVE A RANDOM
QUESTION ABOUT A CHARACTER, OR ARE
LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO
READ NEXT, ASK IT HERE AND THE COMMUNITY
WILL ANSWER IT FOR YOU!
Photos: www.facebook.com ; www.reddit.com
 The comic book enthusiast has always been on emerging tech. Many of the stories are set in worlds where the writer
plays "What if?" by taking a known world, and inserting an unknown element. (Thomas, D. & Brown, J. S., 2011). This
allows writers to bring tech into storylines continuing to move the plot forward while avoiding writing themselves into a
corner. However, some of these plot devices have been embraced by the community to become actual tech. While
Thor's Hammer, Mjölnir, may not exist outside of mythology, tech such as Spider-Man's "Spider Tracers" (Ankle
monitors), Batman's "Flying Eye"(Drone cameras), and Dick Tracy's Wrist Radio (Smartwatches) were introduced in
comic books that then became real tech. (Weber, T. 2017).

Photos: www.cbr.com
I've always had this thought that the tech seen in comic books and science fiction writing paves the way for future tech.
A perfect example is Star Trek's communicator as a template for our now ubiquitous mobile phones. Ringtones can
even be downloaded to mimic the famous chirping sounds.
My buddy and I even refer to the internet as the "Batcomputer"; Bruce Wayne's computer that was used to search all
databases helping the World's Greatest Detective solve his latest case.

Photo: www.cbr.com
 Some community members are so inspired by their enthusiasm, they go on to careers as scientists and engineers
creating this tech themselves. My own brother studied computer science due to his love of comic books. Some go on
to become writers, artists, and graphic designers adding to the richness of future tech.

As mentioned on Blonde2.0, with the advent of the digital age, creators can now get their work directly to consumers.
There is no longer a need for a creative team, they only need an internet connection and an eager target market to
start making a profit with their work. (2015)
 REFERENCES
Comic Book Collecting (2019, November 16). [Web banner graphic]. Retrieved from
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ComicBookCollecting

Polo, S. (2018, December 26). The best ways to buy and read digital comics right now: From Marvel to DC and everything in between.
Retrieved from https://www.polygon.com

Questions and suggestions Thursday (2019, November 14). Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com

Staff, B. (2015, February 26). How Comic Books Shape Technology and Vice Versa. [Web log post] Retrieved November 14, 2019 from
https://www.blonde20.com

Thomas, D. & Brown, J. S. (2011, February 17). Cultivating the imagination: building learning environments for innovation. Retrieved from
https://www.tcrecord.org

Webber, T. (2017, November 9). Modern marvels: 15 IRL inventions you won't believe started in comic books. Retrieved from
https://www.cbr.com