Every summer, San Diego hosts the San Diego Comic Convention (Comic-Con International), a massive celebration of all things nerdy: comics, yes, but also other “popular arts,” including science fiction and fantasy movies, shows, games, and literature. Many attendees dress up as their favorite characters from such media (an activity known as “cosplay”). The convention hosts panels and events galore, a veritable feast for fans of superheroes, aliens, anime, and more.

This year, the event began on Thursday and ends today. I didn’t obtain a badge (I wasn’t aware that I would be in San Diego this summer when they went on sale in the fall!), but I went downtown for a while on Friday to check out the scene, snapping a quick photo of this sign at the San Diego Convention Center:

I also glimpsed this advertisement for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (the text on the left reads “Strange brought you here. Curiosity keeps you.”):

Witnessing Comic-Con (even from afar) has made me reflect upon stories I’ve loved over the years, of which I have called myself a “fan”: books like the Harry Potter series and The Lord of the Rings, shows like Star Trek and Doctor Who, games like Night in the Woods and Undertale, and multimedia franchises like Pokémon. What elements made me (and so many others) fall in love with these stories? What makes a story resonate and endure, even gaining a massive following?

Two big factors (for me) are characters and worlds: characters I care about, and worlds I want to explore…and maybe even live in for a little while. A third, less tangible factor that I also love to see is an element of hope: the idea that we can work together to make the world a better place. I am typically not a big consumer of horror or dystopian fiction (nor plots that resolve themselves purely through violence) for that reason; I prefer to imagine brighter futures and believe in the magic of possibility.

What about you? What are the stories (in any medium) for which you proudly identify as a “fan” (or have in the past)? What do they have in common? What are elements you wish you saw in stories more?

I look forward to reading your answers below!