I know, I know, you scoff at such a statement...
Wasn't I a full-blown nerd a few years ago? After all, I watched all seven seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" by the age of fourteen. Furthermore, my mad skillz at Boggle would frighten even the most enlightened of wordsmiths. And you don't need to mention how I know all of the words to the theme song of "Gilligan's Island." (I was a huge fan of the show as a kid, okay?)
But now I have done something that cements my nerdness in solid stone.
Are you ready for it?
Okay...[deep breath]...I read a graphic novel earlier this week. I read the whole thing. In two days. And I really, really liked it.
This all started two weeks ago when our Entertainment Weekly arrived in the mail with the cast of "The Watchmen" on the cover. I stared at the magazine with a look of confusion. Hmmm...what was this Watchmen thing about anyway? I had never heard of the movie before but the people at EW seemed to think it was a very big deal.
I perused over the article inside and discovered how "The Watchmen" is based on a graphic novel by the same title, which was published back in the mid-1980s. This story was the only comic book to win the coveted Hugo award, which recognizes great science fiction. And here was the clincher for me---"The Watchmen" is hailed by mainstream critics as the best graphic novel ever written. And they really mean ever written.
"Wow," I thought to myself. "Maybe comic books aren't just for teenage boys with pimples on their faces. Maybe this graphic novel is the real deal."
And so, I went to my local library, checked out a copy of "The Watchmen," and read the damn thing until my eyes could no longer keep themselves propped open. I was pretty much hooked. The story was a bit confusing in some parts and a little far-fetched in others, but overall it was an intriguing read. An interesting take on the whole super hero genre.
After I had finished the novel, I watched "The Watchmen" movie preview three times on the internet and I grew angry when I discovered the movie's release date isn't until March. March! That's eight months from now! How can I wait that long? (Ahem, NERD ALERT!)
So there you have it. I'm a nerd. If you need to talk to me, you can find me parked outside of the movie theater down the street, counting down the days for "The Watchmen" to make it onto the big screen.
And no, I won't be dressed up as a Klingon. I'm not that much of a geek.
