Holiday Geek Speak

With the winter holidays coming on fast its time to spot light some of the events going on in the Chicago area as well as how to give Santa your geeky gift demands.

First off I want to focus on how to let your family and friends know what comic book or other geek gifts you want for the holidays. To start don’t use "geek speak" i.e. nerd slang similar to jock talk or gamer speak. Geek speak is any slang or in-group talk that is clear to any other comic geek but is complete gibberish to the outsider or the uniformed. This past thanksgiving my brothers and my nephew were sitting around talking comics and my little niece was lost (and disinterested) as to what we were talking about. For example don’t ask for the "ohotmuî"pronounced O-hot-mu but rather ask for the Official Hand Book of Marvel Universe.

Many if not all hobbies, activities and recreational activities have their own in-speak whether its fans discussing a specific sport and it’s rules or D&D gamers talking about their favorite module or piece of equipment. In every example the slang or geek speak alienates outsiders and is exclusive. Keeping the exclusive nature of geek speak in mind try to translate your conversation into terms outsiders can understand making it easier for them to get you the items you want for the holidays.

Often around this time of year I see girlfriends, mothers and wives venture into my local comic shop Chicago Comics and try to get something for the comic geek in their life. Almost in every case the non comic geek has no clue what their loved one wants or already has and ends up purchasing some random comic related item. This act is similar to when a guy goes into a clothes store to get something for his girl friend and has no idea what size she is or what style she wears and just gets whatever the sales person suggests.

Minimizing geek speak as well as translating your hobbies hot holiday items will help include your friends,family,and significant other into the world of your hobby and insure your holiday gift satisfaction.

Another way to get some holiday comic geek satisfaction is by attending some of the fun holiday events at Challengers comics on Dec 23-24th they will be having the blackest night before Christmas 24 hour event with special guest, Tiny Titans artist Art Baltazar. Also on Dec 30^th artist supreme Mike Norton takes over Challengers and will host a variety of comic fun.

Chicago comics has some cool events on tap for December such as on Dec 11th they with be holding a Reading and Pictures charity event with lots a free comic give aways and free snacks. Then on Dec 16th they will be hosting a C2E2 meet and greet with free swag and a chance to get tickets for the event. This event is also a go chance to get the inside info on this huge comic con coming to Chicago in April.

Brainstorm Movies,Comics,and Games will be having a huge pink tag toy drive and sale on giving store credit and discounts to those who donate toys to the charity drive now throught Dec 23^rd.

Third Coast Comics will have super dooper artist Gene ha in the store signing comics as well as doing sketches on December 12^th.

So head out this December and get your comic geek on, but just remember to have your universal translator with you to aid the geek speak impaired.