Common (mis?)-conception that role-playing gamers are also avid comic book fans?

by Hawke Robinson — published Jun 20, 2015 05:05 PM, last modified Feb 05, 2023 12:22 PM

I recently received a private message on Academia.edu from a member informing me about a comic-book-culture-related topic he thought I would find of interest. Though I've been an avid role-playing gamer since 1979, I was never really hooked by comic books, graphic novels, etc...

Common (mis?)-conception that role-playing gamers are also avid comic book fans?

This PM started me wondering about the association of the two sub-cultures; role-playing gamers, and comic book fans.

Is there a high correlation between them?

Or this is another assumption by popular culture because they are both lumped together under "geek" or "nerd" interests?

Are you a role-playing gamer AND comic fan?

Are you a role-playing gamer not interested in comic books / graphic novels?

Are you a fan of comic books / graphic novels, but not a fan of role-playing games?

This is definitely a variable I will add to the more comprehensive questionnaires for upcoming research subjects for the RPG Research project (http://www.rpgresearch.com), to see if the research participants have a high level of correlation.

Though I dabbled with interest in a few comics, I think I purchased maybe 20 or so in my entire life, and mostly when I was around 12-13 years old I believe, they just didn't really hook me the way they seem to have hooked many others. Most of my role-playing game friends are not into comic books either, but I do not know about the role-playing gamers in my observation groups, so I will be asking them at the upcoming session just to see.

What are your thoughts? Do you think there is a high correlation in interest between role-playing gamers and comic fans, or not?