Let geeks be geeks (or how I stopped worrying and learned to love Whovian) by Cavan Scott

OK, I'm excited. Just before Christmas, Titan Comics revealed the cover to issue one of my upcoming Doctor Who comic. It's launching in March to celebrate ten years since the series returned in 2005.

Ten years? How is that even possible? A whole decade since my favourite fandom got a much-needed influx of new blood.

Suddenly, Doctor Who was mainstream. Suddenly, Doctor Who was a hot property. Suddenly, Doctor Who was cool.

And I got something very, very wrong.

Not long after David Tennant stepped into the TARDIS, a new word appeared.

Whovian.

All of a sudden, shiny new fans were announcing to all and sundry that they were Whovians and proud.

And I railed against it.

What kind of stupid word was that? Why do we even need a label? What's wrong with being a Doctor Who fan. That's what we've called ourselves for years, anyway.

I was sneery and snobbish and generally stupid about it. What difference did it make to me what people called themselves? If they wanted to call themselves Whovians or Wholagans or Whoovers, what did it matter? They were having fun and enjoying something I loved. Although, to be fair, I don't think anyone called themselves Whoovers.

It's something that I've seen recently in other fandoms. Today, being a geek is something that has a certain cachet, something people say with pride: "I'm such a geek!" And, just as I was a bit of a prat about Whovians, I've seen people get sniffy about geek chic.

"You can't be a geek unless you've read this or that, or can quote such and such, or have seen every single episode of [insert obscure telefantasy series here]! Pah, I suppose you even call Science Fiction sci-fi!"

And it's a mistake.

Being a fan of something should be inclusive. There shouldn't be entrance exams or gatekeepers telling you whether you're worthy enough to be let in. This is especially true in genre fiction, comics and television. A fandom that celebrates the outsider should never make anyone feel like one.

So, to all the proud Whovians, I apologise, and to everyone who's discovered superheroes, horror or  the world's greatest consulting detective because of Robert Downey Jr, The Walking Dead or Sherlock, welcome. Come on in, we're a friendly bunch. Honest.

And do you know what? I'm a Whovian too!

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Cavan Scott is an author and comic book writer.

He's written Doctor Who, Adventure Time, Skylanders, Judge Dredd, Angry Birds and Warhammer 40,000. He also writes Roger the Dodger, Bananaman, Minnie the Minx for The Beano, but has yet to buy a black and red striped sweater.

It's only a matter of time.

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