Fandom in comics

I found a journal article which covers the fandom of comics, abstract below.

Abstract from Journal article 'From Love to Money: The First Decade of Comics Fandom.'

There have been comics fans for as long as there have been comics, but “fandom,” an organized expression created by the fans themselves, took a considerable time to develop. The explosion in comics publishing during the late 1930s and early 1940s generated a range of responses, but an organized fandom ultimately emerged the offered comic book readers a sense of identity and a community of like-minded enthusiasts. The movement led to fans assuming control of the process of comic book production as large numbers of fans became professionals, and this shift transformed the way comic book companies are staffed and prompted the industry to focus on the superhero adventures the fans loved.

Coogan, P (2010) ‘From Love to Money: The First Decade of Comics Fandom’ International Journal of Comic Art, 12 (1), pp.50-67

There is evidently a fandom in comics which is currently seeing an expansion. More often now, films and television series are being made from them which perpetuates the fandom by bringing awareness to potential readers through film and television. People will discover comics through films and television series that are hyped by the media, acting as a gateway to comics in general, giving some a realisation that comics/graphic novels can be enjoyed as an alternative storytelling medium. Examples are films like 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)' and 'Kick-Ass (2010)' and television series like 'The Walking Dead (2010-)'. Of course there is also the number of superhero films as well which gain growing popularity. If the fandom of comics is considered a subculture then it may soon become too much of an accepted consensus if it becomes too popularised.