The Final Not-So-Secret Origin: Tiny Doom
When Cartoon Sara, The Red Menace, and Smalerie started sharing their origin stories I began filing the proper paperwork with a certain shadowy government agency. Well, the approval has finally come though, so at the start of this new year, it's time for my not-so-secret origin.
The interests- Much like The Red Menace, I found my way to comics in my early to mid teens. While my friends would skateboard, I would wander into Newbury Comics (yeah, they used to sell more comics) and pick up some books. Yes it was mostly 90’s X-Men, yes I had a crush on Gambit, yes I was obsessed with what it would be like to live in the X-mansion.
Stereotypical, sure, but as opposed to what the “fake geek girl” set would have you believe, these books were a gateway into what would become a defining interest. Now I read lots of stuff and interestingly, no X-Men titles. Though I am a little obsessed with what it would be like the live in the Avengers mansion or work for S.H.I.E.L.D. Do you think the mansion has a pool?
The Goog- What many people may not know is that The Goog and I met on an online dating site. My profile mentioned an interest in comics. This turned out to be a pretty good litmus test, as it seemed to confuse a lot of people. After sifting through requests that ranged from patronizing to just plain trite (want to get together for an evening of romantic cultural fun?? Puke!), I got a note from The Goog. Rather than jumping right into planning a date, he asked what I was reading and suggested some of his favorites. The rest, as I say, is vaudeville.
The Ladies- The other ladies outlined our meetings pretty well and frankly, a rehash might be fairly boring. Suffice to say that Comicazi has not only brought more reading, more trivia, and more community into my life. It has also brought me amazing friends and partners in crime. Of course there is one Lady who I didn't meet through Comicazi. To get the full story of my meeting of Smalerie we would have to jump into the wayback machine to year to 1980. I imagine it went something like this:
Mom: This is your new baby sister. Tinier Tiny Doom: Oh...ROCKING HORSE! *end scene
The nickname- I am a small human...barely 5ft. tall. This might not be as obvious in pics with the Ladies (as a group, we are never going to be drafted for a basketball team), so check out this picture of me and Penn Gillette from a few years back. He's crazy tall, but still, you get the idea.
Tiny Doom was bequeathed to me by none other than our own Red Menace, inspired but the Flora YA book series by Ysabeau S. Wilce (TRM wrote about these books here). You'll have to read the books to find out why this is such an awesome and flattering handle, but I think Yoda says it best, "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not."
As previously mentioned today is the start of a new year. Last year was pretty darn OK as years go. Highlights include winning the ladies trophy in a mini-golf tourney (the sports!), and placing in the bar division of the 2013 Comicazi Cookie Clash. I don't make New Year resolutions so let's leave it as hoping that this coming year is happy, healthy, and filled with good adventures.