Comic Book Men
By Matt Springer,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Juvenile humor mars reality series about geeky collectibles.
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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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What's the Story?
Set within the comic book and collectible store Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash and its environs in Red Bank, New Jersey, COMIC BOOK MEN is an unscripted reality series chronicling the work adventures of grown men who sell toys and comic books for a living. As they endlessly debate the merits of men and women in spandex, they also encounter amazing collectibles and appraise their true value, in the vein of shows like Pawn Stars or Storage Wars.
Is It Any Good?
By now, Kevin Smith has become inextricably linked with a very specific kind of entertainment -- his projects are almost always filled with equal parts true insight and juvenile humor. In Comic Book Men, your ability to tolerate the latter will directly impact your ability to appreciate the former.
When the show focuses on amazing collectibles, such as a one-of-a-kind sketch by Batman creator Bob Kane, it's compelling to see the reactions of the store's staff. But when the show consists of these same employees talking about the hottest superheroines or busting each other's chops over some obscure bit of trivia, it's downright obnoxious. There's a reason why it can be annoying to stand in a store and listen to the employees babble on endlessly about some obscure comic book or movie, and Comic Book Men captures that feeling of "just let me buy this book so I can get out of here" effortlessly.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the show's attitude toward sexuality. What kinds of messages do the men's comments about women send? What kinds of stereotypes about "geeks" does this series reinforce or challenge?
Do you think any of the toys or books you own will ever be as valuable as the collectibles on this show?
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 12, 2012
- Cast: Kevin Smith, Walt Flanagan
- Network: AMC
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: History
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: February 4, 2023
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