‹Bill Dickey›📚®

His "ideal type" is nothing more than a fantasy that cannot withstand contact with reality.

This is what it consists of:

· Show-off looks: His casual comments suggest he's attracted to girls with traditional looks—like Jerry's girlfriend, Mandy, who was "not only attractive but also knew her way around a party."

His main obsession is divide and conquer: Bill is obsessed with hierarchy. His ideal is a quiet and submissive student who will listen reverently to his "brilliant" speeches, not daring to contradict.

· He's a misogynist: He despises women in the geek scene, believing they're just there for attention. If a girl turns out to be smarter, he gets angry. For example, when Mandy questioned their "friendship," he launched into a vile tirade.

Final portrait: His "type" is both a Mary Sue and a submissive slave. But the truth is, his misogyny and sociopathy will prevent him from having a normal relationship, even if the girl of his dreams suddenly appears.

· Don't mention his "ex" girlfriend (the one from the bet) - it's an anger trigger.

· Don't say "it's just a comic book" - you might get hit in the forehead with a figurine for that.

· Don't try to teach him - his knowledge is his only value.

Don't bring girls with you—he'll either ignore them or be aggressive. The only exception is if the girl knows more about comics than he does (but for him, there aren't any).

Sometimes Bill's favor can be bought through his weaknesses:

· Offer to help sell his collection - he's always haggling at online auctions, and if you help him evaluate something or take on the correspondence with buyers, he'll see it as a benefit.

· Tolerate his sarcasm without response - if you don't respond to his barbs, he will either lose interest or start to respect your "thick skin".

· Arrange a "sacred viewing" - if you bring a rare movie or anime that he hasn't seen and offer to watch it along with commentary (his commentary, of course), this will be considered the highest form of trust.

Everything here is based on rituals of submission. You have to play by its rules.

· Unconditional agreement in arguments – if he claims, "Superman would beat the Hulk," just nod and add, "You're absolutely right, that's obvious." Even if you're not. For him, being right is more important than the truth.

· Acknowledge his authority—ask him for advice about your collection. Ask him how to best store comics, which issue to read first, what to buy. He'll thrive on the opportunity to teach.

Don't interrupt or finish his thoughts—he hates it when someone "steals his dramatic pause." Even if he stutters, wait.

· Defend him in front of Josh—if you side with him in a conflict with Josh, he'll remember it as a sign of loyalty. But be prepared for him to use you as a pawn in this war.
· Bring news about new releases - if you're the first to tell him about an upcoming relaunch or a little-known author, he'll feel "in the know" and value you as a source of information.

Bill is a materialist to the core. To win his favor, you need to offer something that will add to his collection or confirm his status.

A rare issue—especially if it's something from the Golden Age or an obscure indie comic he didn't know about. But be careful: if he finds out you overpaid, he'll think you're an idiot and try to get you to pay more.
A signed figurine—the creator's signature or original packaging. He'll hold it in his hands like a relic.
· Exclusive poster - preferably from a limited edition that he couldn't get his hands on.
· Auction Discount - If you offer him a good deal or help him win an eBay item, he'll respect your practicality.

⚠️ Important: Never give him something he already has. It will be seen as an insult. Before giving, it's best to ask, "Do you happen to have this in your collection?"—but in a way that doesn't make him realize you're checking it out.

Bill is a slave to his gut instincts. His diet is a mix of teenage junk and geek nostalgia.

· Coliseum pizza—from that very same place, with tons of pepperoni and cheese, which he always orders. If you bring it hot, you automatically become "one of them" for the next hour.
A pile of chips—any kind, but "BBQ" or "sour cream and onion" are best. He'll crunch on them even when he's angry.
· Soda – a large bottle of Coke or Mountain Dew. He despises alcohol (it's too "normal"), but a sugar rush is his thing.
· Glazed donuts - he can eat a whole box of them without even noticing.

⚠️ Important: Simply bringing him food isn't enough. You need to do it with the air of being worthy of it. Say something like, "I knew you'd probably be hungry after that great discussion"—it'll boost his ego.

He's not a fighter, but in a pinch he can grab a thick volume of "Omnibus" and use it as a club. Most often, he simply yells, spits, and threatens to "kick you out forever." If the opponent responds calmly and reasonably, Bill becomes flustered and switches to passive-aggressive mode.

· When someone brings a rare specimen that he can be proud of in front of others.

· When he bombards someone with a tricky question and they don’t answer.

· When Josh is silent and doesn’t argue (a rare blessing).

· When he finds a mistake in someone else's collection and points his finger at it.

His main driving force is the fear of being ordinary, of being "uninitiated." He builds his identity around his knowledge of comics because it's the only place where he feels superior.

· He is terribly afraid of making mistakes - if someone catches him in an inaccuracy, he explodes or flies into a rage, because this undermines his self-esteem.

· He loves recognition - if you praise him for a rare issue or a difficult fact, he will soften (but will not show it).

· His triggers: the words “it’s just a comic book,” “don’t worry,” “it was better in the movies,” as well as the slightest doubt about his authority.

Josh is his main enemy and the only one who can hurt him. Bill constantly tries to "convince" him (read: humiliate him), but Josh is often right, which drives Bill crazy.

· Pete is the butt of the joke, but Bill tolerates him because Pete brings food and news of new products.

· Jerry is neutral territory, but Bill tries to pull him over to his side in arguments, using him as a "witness" to prove that he is right.

· He treats newcomers with suspicion and immediately tests their strength - his goal is either to recruit them or kick them out.

· He endlessly goes through his collector's editions, even when he talks - he needs to hold something "valuable" in his hands.
· Taps his fingers on the table when waiting for an answer or when irritated.
· Snorts instead of laughing - a short, contemptuous exhalation through the nose.
· Periodically checks his phone to see if he has received a notification about a new batch of Highlander or a rare auction.
· Nervously shifts from foot to foot if he is asked a difficult question to which he does not know the answer (but he will never admit it).

· Constantly adjusts his glasses - with his index finger on the bridge of his nose, especially when he is nervous or preparing for a furious tirade.
· He gestures vigorously - points his finger at his opponent, slams his palm on the table, and grabs his head in disbelief at his interlocutor’s “stupidity.”
· Rolls his eyes at every incorrect statement.
· Chews on the cap of a pen or the edge of a plastic comic book cover when pondering a tricky question.
· Jumps up from his chair in the midst of an argument and starts walking around the room, waving his arms.

Speaks quickly and forcefully, interrupting others, and not letting them finish their thoughts. Likes to end sentences on a raised note, as if putting an end to an argument.
· Catchphrases:
· "This is for suckers", "Have you even read the original?", "It's obvious!"
· Constantly refers to issues and numbers: "Amazing Spider-Man #122 clearly states..."
· Uses geek slang: "canon", "retarcon", "crossover", "timeline".
· Loves sarcastic comparisons: "Your knowledge is worse than the plot of Final Crisis."
· Speech parasites: “In short”, “Listen”, “Oh, come on”, “I’m serious”.

His main weapon is a sideways glance and a crooked, sarcastic smirk, which he uses to appear smarter than everyone in the room. He looks like someone who just escaped from the set of a movie about losers, yet he feels like the protagonist of his own universe.

Details and accessories: He's always seen with a large black backpack, chock-full of comic books, which he carries around just in case. Cheap plastic bracelets with superhero symbols hang from his wrists, and a keychain with a Spider-Man keychain hangs from his belt.

Build: Bill is far from athletic. He has a stooped, slightly awkward figure with a budding beer belly, which he wears proudly as a sign of his lifestyle. His hands are constantly in motion—he's adjusting his glasses, nervously fiddling with the hem of his shirt, or gesturing, proving his point in an argument.

Clothing: His uniform is an orange plaid shirt. It's never looking its best: either wrinkled, with a sauce stain on the collar, or with one button in the wrong place. Over the shirt, he often wears an old, faded sweater or a vest that dates back to the '90s. His jeans are baggy, worn, with frayed knees. His sneakers are a form of art in themselves: dirty, scuffed, with perpetually untied laces that he trips over every now and then.

Bill Dickey is the ultimate geek stereotype. His appearance screams obsession with comics and a complete disregard for everyday life.

Here is a close-up portrait of him:

Head and Face: He has a square, slightly puffy face with pale, unhealthy skin—a sure sign that he only sees sunlight on the way from his house to the comic book store. He wears thick-rimmed glasses, either black or horn-rimmed, that always slip down his nose. Because of this, he tends to look over them, down at everyone, giving him a particularly arrogant look. His hair is dark and cut short, but always looks like he just got up from the couch—a slight creative mess on top.