‘Yes, girls read comics’ (More fangirls CCC exclusive interview)

The term “fanboys” has become common in the comic book industry, not to mention the science fiction, film or gaming worlds. It basically refers to passionate fans and indirectly, insinuates that diehard genre fans are mostly males.

Here to prove that wrong — by a long shot — are two young women who read comics and write about their love for pop culture.

Jill Pantozzi, 26, of New Jersey, is better known as “The Nerdy Bird” to Twitter and MySpace users. The radio DJ writes the comic book blog, “Has Boobs, Reads Comics.” Stephanie Carmichael, 20, of the Pittsburgh, Penn. area, is known as “wita” on Twitter. She writes about comics, film, TV and gaming on her blog, “What Is Techno Again?.” (I’d recommend reading both blogs.)

Here are excerpts from my lengthy e-mail interview with these two dedicated “fangirls”:

Cary’s Comics Craze: How did you get interested in comic books? Was there a specific event or person specifically instrumental in that?

Pantozzi: “I’d always been a fan of comic book characters growing up from the different movies or television shows they appeared in, but it wasn’t until a few years ago someone finally sat me down with a giant pile of comics and told me to read them. I never actually knew anyone who read comics on a weekly basis, or at least admitted it, so it was just the type of thing I needed to get me hooked and boy, was I.”

Carmichael: “Contrary to the popular theory, I haven’t been into comic books that long — just a few years now, really. But I like to consider myself a long-time superhero fan and comics gal in the making. Most of my favorite shows growing up were ones like the 90s ‘X-Men’ and ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ cartoons and ‘Batman Beyond’ — that sort of thing. I would always rush home after school and turn on the TV hoping to catch the latest episode. Coincidentally, television goes hand-in-hand with my love of gaming, too. …

“I attended one Free Comic Book Day event before I really got going with comics, and I ate it up. … But it took a year or two until I rented ‘Batman Begins’ (BB) and all that nostalgia for the ‘90s cartoons came surging back. A friend gave me some comics to rummage through, and after (director Christopher) Nolan’s BB, I was practically drooling over ‘The Dark Knight.’ I started my blog, one thing led to another, and here I am today.”

CCC: What’s it like being a “fangirl” in a culture seemingly dominated by males? What kind of response do you get from the general public and/or fanboys when they discover you’re a fan?

Pantozzi: “Some people are shocked to learn I read comic books or love sci-fi, but most people, if they’re into the same thing, will just think it’s cool. Of course every once in a while you’ll get a smart aleck who thinks you must be lying and tries to test your knowledge of said culture. I take great pleasure in flexing my giant geeky brain to put them in their place.”

Carmichael: “Actually, I’m waiting for the day when people realize how overrated it is. Usually it’s the same sort of response: Some stuttering, maybe a little drooling at the corner of the mouth. … OK, it’s not that bad. (Laughs.)

“Yes, girls read comics. We do a lot of other things, like watch and read science-fiction, gush over gory horror films and play video games for hours straight. I don’t mind the term ‘fangirl’ — probably because ‘fanboy’ is used just as much. But I think everyone would be a lot happier once we stop tripping over the gender barrier in geek culture. Girls were playing the NES and reading the same comics boys were long before the stiflingly gender-picky Nintendo DS or ‘Twilight’ made it look trendy.”

For much more from Pantozzi and Carmichael, here’s part 1 (“Fangirls frenzy”) about titles they recommend, female characters who should be getting fans’ attention, etc. Then cruise over to part 2 (“Fangirls frenzy continues”) about dressing up for conventions and the challenges of casting Wonder Woman. Please e-mail your feedback to cashby@norwalkreflector.com or post a comment below. Let’s talk shop!