Get on my level…(Of nerd…)

Written By Austin A. Hamblin.

All my friends, family, and even people I barley know, understand that I am, well, a nerd. Starting off as a freshmen in high school, I used to get made fun of because of my marvel backpack, but when I became a senior I had some of the same people who made fun of me buy the first comic I self-published.

Now, I always read articles online and wonder the same thing, ‘what qualifies this person to be writing something I read?’ Is he/she really a nerd? I know I am, but none of you know that so I figured I would show you why I am a nerd…

Lets start with the WWE aka professional wrestling. This was my first “nerd love”. I even made my dad change my room into a wrestling ring. Combine that with my walls covered in WWE posters and I had quite the room. I also made my Dad take me to live events and shows (Was not very hard to convince him).

The greatest thing that ever happened was when I went to a Smackdown/ECW taping, and I got on television holding up a sign. At this time there was a professional wrestler name Balls Mahoney, who went “Balls to the wall”. I held up a sign that said I heart balls…oh yeah I was eight years old. I went home and got to watch myself on TV. I had no idea! Some of my buddies at school saw me on TV! It was a really really cool deal.

Random WWE Facts

*I high fived Rob Van Dam, Gold Dust, and Dolph ZIggler

*I got to talk to Dolph Ziggler

*Best Match I ever saw live was Big Show us Rick Flair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CARop3RD6Gk

Then we move on to the love of my life (sorry to my girlfriend, Alivia). Comic books. Comics have always been my escape from life; mostly my depression. Harvey Pekar once said, “Comics are words and pictures. You can do anything with words and pictures.” I fell in love with comics beginning with the 90’s X-Men and Spider-man animated series. It was a continuing story line. Something that was new to me in a cartoon.

This led me to, in my teens, to make my father drive me 45 minutes to our closest comic book store. Then, I made my dad take me to my first autograph signing with artist/writer Phil Hester. This was the first time I met Phil and would lead to a lasting relationship, with him eventually becoming my mentor and me his apprentice.

In October 2012, I began working under comic book great Phil Hester. Basically, he reads over my stuff and gives me input Now that we are on the subject of my comic career, I am a published comic book writer, along with a self-published book out. I have participated in two 24-hour comic book challenges.

To tell you how big of a “nerd” I am, when the Avengers came out all of my friends were begging me to go with them. I said I already was going with my brother-in-law. They then all offered to dress up with me… we had a full team including (white Nick Fury).

I know there are many people that are bigger nerds then me, but I just wanted to show “you people” that I know my stuff! So don’t be afraid to read my articles!

Random Comic book facts:

*My likeness is on a Walking Dead sketch card by Mikey Babinski.

*I almost work with a professional Penciler/Inker.