You Might Want To Read That First...

[Shea]

Okay, first story post, so I hope I'm doing this right.

So. Background. I work in a comic book shop. People come in, look around, say they don't need help, come up to the front and buy a comic. Then I make small talk.

I get this customer once a month at least. More over this month than any other, though, because it's Christmas and people don't think to listen to the girl behind the counter who might actually know something. Comics are all funny-books for kids, right?

Me: Duh.
SC: Token first timer.

This is the small talk that ensues while I'm counting things up.

Me: Gift?
SC: Yeah, for my son. (It's always the son in these cases because girls don't read comic books. Apparently.)
Me: Really? (Looking at the cover of the book. I make a mental checklist of what's in it. Nudity. Violence. Entrails. Swearing. Sex.) How old?
SC: 10.
Me: ... You might want to look through that first.
SC: I'm sure it's fine. It's just a comic.
Me: No, really. If he's 10, then it might be a bit inappropriate-
SC: Oh come on! It's just a comic book! It's not porn/I just want him to read something/It doesn't have to be good/He'll probably just look at the pictures, so it doesn't really matter/It's not worse than what he's seen on TV.
Me: (In the "I warned you" tone) Okay. But I warned you. And please have a look through it before you wrap it. Would you like a bag with that?
SC: I'm sure it's fine. *Suspiciously eyes me and leaves with purchase*
Me: Just remember that I warned you. That title is rated M. Have a nice day!

They leave, often giving me this look like I'm some stupid chick who shouldn't be working there. And anywhere from an hour to a week later, they're back.

SC: Oh my god! What the hell kind of sick sh*t are you selling?!
Me: I warned you. I can't give you a refund, but we can offer store credit and we'll exchange that for something that's a little more appropriate.
SC: But it's a comic book! Comic books are for kids!
Me: *into a long and well rehearsed explanation about the evolution of comics over time which, so far, has ended with them giving in to shut me up and taking the first other book I recommend*

During December this becomes weekly. Oddly, though, it's more funny than annoying at this point.

[Rapscallion]

During December this becomes weekly. Oddly, though, it's more funny than annoying at this point.

That philosophy helped keep me sane.

Rapscallion

[NateTheChops]

Comic book shop. Wow, you have what may be my second dream job ever. Aside from the CS I hope it's at least somewhat enjoyable.

[Cyphr]

Thast number three on my dream job list behind running my own tech support shop and working at the local D&D dungeon

[CaroPhoenix]

The Gaming Store I work at does sell comic books. However, that's not the main focus of my store. So far *knock on wood* I haven't had anyone just randomly get a comic book and buy it for their kid without looking at it first. Usually the buyers of our comics are all mature & older (my age or thereabouts). Also, we have, in the computer, a pop-up that asks for birthdays if the comic is rated M. (i.e., the CSI comics).

Shea - the comic in question wasn't Grimm Fairy Tales by Zenescope was it? (I, personally, think the comics rock hard core, but they're definitely not for the faint of heart).

[MoonChild2007]

SC: But it's a comic book! Comic books are for kids!

Yeah and video games are for kids as well when apparently there are games rated M for Mature. Dumbass.

[Cyphr]

Yeah and video games are for kids as well when apparently there are games rated M for Mature. Dumbass.

and this is why pricks like Jack thompson exsist. My opinion has alwasy been just use common sense when buying stuff cause the ESRB is a wee bit insane whenthey rate crap (how the hell does smash brothers warrant a T?)

[XCashier]

SC: But it's a comic book! Comic books are for kids!

No, not really, and they haven't been for a long time. And seriously, how long does it take to scan through the book before you decide to buy it for your kid?! I always look through any books I consider for my son to decide if I want him to read them or not (also to see if there are any loose or torn pages, etc.).

Then again, I'm not a SC.

[Shea]

Shea - the comic in question wasn't Grimm Fairy Tales by Zenescope was it? (I, personally, think the comics rock hard core, but they're definitely not for the faint of heart).

The comic in question has been a few of them, actually. Grimm Fairy Tales, The Boys, Girls, Powers and a Y the Last Man trade was a fun one.

SC: *sputtering* This filth! There's-there's-there's-
Me: *perfectly straight face* What did you think was going to be in a book called "Girl on Girl"?

I love people sometimes.

[Imogene]

(how the hell does smash brothers warrant a T?)

Oooh! Oooh! I know this one! Gang beatings! Throwing your defeated enemy into the sky! And that whole thing about the Falcon Punch that has grown into an internet meme about abortion...

[Trayol]

Gang beatings! Throwing your defeated enemy into the sky!

People could do that in the first game and it was rated E.

And that whole thing about the Falcon Punch that has grown into an internet meme about abortion

I did not know that.

[Mike Taylor]

I'm willing to bet that the T rating was applied because it's a fighting game and E-10 didn't exist when it was rated. I'm not sure what rating SSB: Brawl is going to get.

On games that just barely qualify for the ratings they are given, I usually tell the parent to rent the game first, then sit down with the child and watch them play it for a little bit. That way, they don't drop $60 on a game they find objectionable and waste gas trying to return it. (That's when I mention the store policy on open games as well: "Once the seal is broken on the package, we can only exchange it for an identical copy. That's not the store being mean, it's U.S. copyright law kicking in.")

Getting back to the topic at hand, I would have opened the comic right there and showed the customer the subject matter.

[Sliceanddice]

wait they do know theres a series of batman where he kills people right?

[Silas G. T. Brontë]

Oh, Lord! At first I thought the point of the story was that the man was a pervert.

Me: *perfectly straight face* What did you think was going to be in a book called "Girl on Girl"?

I'm going to be laughing for the rest of the day!

[Knightmare]

When I used to collect comic books, I had some titles there were seriously twisted and not for kids.

Faust comes to mind, as well as Evil Ernie and Lady Death. And just about anything from Joseph Linsner (Cry for Dawn).

It's been years since I collected any comics. Maybe I should get back into it again...