I am a Sneakerhead which is honestly just slang for sneaker
nerd. My appreciation for the design, craft, and comfort is inundated into my
DNA at this point in life. You may not know this but we share a very close
connection to the comic nerd. Yeah, we’re not so different you and I.
Here is why:
Childhood Memories
Growing up in a single parent household, shoe purchases came
once a year for school. This only fed my
infatuation. Hoping that one day my kicks would be as amazing as Martin Payne
or Corey Mathews.
“Corey had heat”
Fortunately I have a loving mother that was proud to feed my
other love which was comic books. She would proudly drive us out to the suburbs
every few weeks to pick up our latest Marvel fix. This obsession was much less
expensive and could provide a lasting feeling of satisfaction. I miss those
days. So once I hit high-school, the first time I got a fresh pair of Nike’s it
gave me that feeling all over again. However, it’s a much more expensive hobby
that doesn’t appear to be settling any time soon. Thanks Mom.
OG’s are a prized possession
Much Like OG sneakers, a first run comic has a far greater
value than a second or third printing. That doesn't take anything away from a
retro Jordan or a second edition 1st issue, but there is nothing like
that first run.
“Especially when it comes to selling/trading it in the
future.”
Gotta Catch em’ all.
I have OCD when it comes to completion. There is no better
feeling than having every single edition or colorway possible. Of course this
is obtainable with lots of time and money so you always feel as if you have a
chance to make this happen. In fact I know more than a few dedicated people
that have.
"Bastard"
Hypebeasts
So when I went to see The Avengers and was waiting for the second after credits scene, this guy behind me who came
with his group of clueless friends tries to explain to them what just happened.
He continued to say Thaynus as he
pronounced it was an Egyptian x-men villain who was trying to kill mutants
throughout the universe. It took my every being to not nerd rage all over this
guy and his cohorts.
“My Nerd rage is full of protein”
What posers are to Comics, Hypebeasts are
to sneakers. Too often do people try to slip into your culture and completely get
it wrong with no remorse. I have no love for these people and neither should
you.
The Day One Cop Routine
The homey Mike religiously makes his comic purchases every Wednesday.
I am the same way with sneakers. Every Saturday morning I’m up early to secure
my latest infatuation.
It is this glorious routine that keeps us grounded in the
culture. Until it’s no longer a routine and just a part of life. I know
personally I would have it no other way.
Respect the Creator
Tinker Hatfield and Eric Avar mean as much to me as Stan Lee
and Jack Kirby. These are my idols and the gods that crafted the most
influential things in my life. I don’t need to say more. Oh these aren't tears,
its power juice.
Storage
I got racks on racks on racks of sneakers. My homeys got
stacks on stacks of comics around the crib. We do this and dammit we protect
our investments. If I could get an air tight vault-like chamber to store my
babies I would and my comic book fiends would as well. Wait….no….I wear my
kicks and they read their books……You get what I'm saying though.
The Stigma
Well if you like comics you must be a supreme mega nerd
right. A virgin, no life outside of larping and playing WOW with people you
never met but may one day marry. You wear tapped up glasses and have no fashion
sense. It isn't fair but that stigma is probably not going away anytime soon. Unfortunately
Sneakerhead also has a negative connotation surrounding it as well. Thanks to a
bunch of idiots who couldn't keep their shit together when those concords dropped.
"My people"
Conventions
Yeah we both do this. They are both equally as awesome and are
a must for your nerd Bucket List. Although sneakerheads don’t have anything
that would even come close to rivaling Comic-Con, we definitely learned a lot from
it. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the
culture, meet your brethren and in some cases come home with that grand prized possession……
Grails
Ahh yes, the reason we do it. That one comic, toy, sneaker,
autograph, etc. that got away. Some of us are fortunate and may be able to find
that Grail in a retro or maybe it wasn't that popular enough and you can get it
from your local comic shop.
“My Grail”
But, that’s not always the case is it? Sometimes it’s far too
limited or expensive for us to get our hands on. Sometimes it doesn't come in
your size or even your country. Sometimes
it’s just plain not meant to be. But the search continues never the less. This
is what binds our obsessions and our culture.
Happy hunting. - LeMar G.
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