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Archive:Fanboy

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Fanboy or fanboi is a term used to describe an individual (usually male, though the feminine version fangirl may be used for females) who has an above average interest in some aspect of pop culture, typically related to the arts or entertainment (comics,movies and video games for example). Often stereotyped as people whom care so much for their hobby that it can be considered an obsession.


History of fanboys and the term

The term originated in comic book circles, to describe someone who immersed himself in the fictional worlds of comics and the culture of comics fandom. The Word rose in popularity with comic readers in the mid 90’s who felt they didn’t fit the stereotyped comic fan mold (overweight, middle aged people whom have no social skills and poor hygiene) and didn’t have a way to set themselves apart from those that did.

The term is mostly used by comic and anime fans, thought gamers and tekkies have also begun to use this term over the last few years. A Fanboy is Similar to an Otaku, but not as extreme. It is important not to confuse the Fanboy and the Uber-fan. The main difference between fanboys and the former are that fanboys usually don't allow their hobby (no matter how much they enjoy it) to become an obsession. Fanboys are usually in touch with social norms and will only go so far to express their love for which ever hobby it is they persue. This in no way means that fanboys hide their fandom but, rather fanboys refuse to go to the extreme’s that Uber-fans tend to go.

For example: A comic book fanboy may wear a Spider-man belt or shirt, but a Uber-fan may wear the matching shocks, patches and backpack or even an entire Spider-man costume. The Fanboy knowing how socially akward the Uber-fans attair would be would never put themseleves in this situation.

The earliest use of the word "fanboy" has been dated to 1982, to the cover of the "Official Underground and Newave Comix Price Guide". On this cover page are sketched overweight, overzealous comic book collectors wearing T-shirts that state "Fanboys of America," and are describing the extreme measures they would go to, including moving to San Francisco, to preserve their comics. Another early use is in a smart-alec editorial reply by "Ambush Bug" to a letter in his comic in 1985.

The term is sometimes used in a derogatory manner by other fans. In the songs of the fannish parody musician Luke Ski, many characters proudly consider themselves fanboys. The term is most commonly associated with adolescent and teen males but can be applicable to any age or sex. Common subjects of reverence by fanboys are TV shows, movies, anime,video game consoles, video games, operating systems, MMORPGs, and software companies.


The Uber-Fanboy or Uber-fan

The Uber-fanboy is a fan whom is more in line with the stereotype comic/anime/game fan. Dispite this they still do not see themselves as “comic geeks", "vid nerds" or Otaku, but rather as fanboys. This has resulted in the word fanboy being, in certain situations, a derogatory comment.

Uber-fans can display an intense obsession with the object of their affections. This is often shown by their devotion to a company/product/character, often to the detriment of their sense of veracity. This condition often coincides with bouts of heavy denial and a marked resistance to any type of meaningful or significant change in the status quo of the obsession, as noted in the controversy surrounding the introduction of Green Lantern Kyle Rayner.

The stereotypical image

The stereotypical image of the fanboy is as an unkempt, socially awkward, young man who may be perceived as a loud mouthed pseudo-intellectual. A popular depiction of this stereotype is the Comic Book Guy on The Simpsons (it should be noted that the sterotype image is more in line with the Uber-fan then an actual fanboy) . While this is not totally wrong, a majority of the people whom consider themselves fanboys don't prescribe to this image.

Trivia

Fanboys can be a mnemonic for the conjunctions of the English language, "for", "and", "nor", "but", "or", "yet", and "so".

Media

Comic Book

  • Sergio Aragonés' Fanboy
  • Doug Holverson's 'Fanboy' (anthropomorphized rotary fan obsessed with comics, who uses his electrical plug for a hand). Dates from the prolific minicomic wave of the 1980s.

Television

Radio/Podcasts

Webcomics

See also

de:Fanboy

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