an anecdote that occured to me when I posted things comics-related on Facebook today

Back when I was a teenager and I first started working at the comic shop, I knew a customer named Brad. It was only years later than I realized he was the same Brad Meltzer whose name I saw in the metro, adorned on huge ads for bestselling legal thrillers.

What I did know was that he was college friends (roommates? I don't recall) with Judd Winick, a comic writer who might still be more well-known as the guy from The Read World, the season with Puck. Brad once told me that Judd had a trick for whenever he wanted a private moment away from the every-prying eyes of the cameras, there to film virtually every aspect of their lives.

According to Brad, Judd would just start talking about comics. After a minute or so, the red light on the camera would shut off. Because even in The Real World, no one cared.

I laughed, just as it makes me laugh now. But the laugh is one of weary recognition for the invisible passion of comics fandom.