Is Comic Book Guy based on a real person? (Picture: Disney/Fox)
He’s been a mainstay of The Simpsons for a generation, but until now it seems nobody really knew the true story of Comic Book Guy.
Bad-tempered and sarcastic, Comic Book Guy – whose real name in the show is Jeffrey Albertson – has been serving Bart and Milhouse at the comic book store for years.
Now, in the latest episode of a Simpsons podcast, TV writer Eva Anderson has claimed that Comic Book Guy is based on a real person the Simpsons writers may have met.
Anderson told Talking Simpsons that he might be based on a man named John Brian King, who worked at the Amok Bookstore in Los Angeles, which opened back in 1987.
‘I met him a few times and he worked at a book store,’ she began. ‘He has a website and stuff, but he was the one who was eating fried clams when the Simpsons writers came over to the store.’
Anderson’s story links up nicely with one told by Simpsons writer George Meyer, who has been with the show since its earliest days.
Fans have speculated that Comic Book Guy is based on a bookstore owner in Los Angeles (Picture: 20thCentFox/Everett/Shutterstock)
He said back in the year 2000: ‘He was sitting on the high stool, kind of lording over the store with that supercilious attitude and eating behind the counter a big Styrofoam container full of fried clams with a lot of tarter sauce.’
However, Simpsons creator Matt Groening has said that when people come up to him saying they know who Comic Book Guy is based on, he often disappoints them.
‘I can’t tell you how many times people have come up to me saying, “I know who you based that comic book guy on. It’s that comic-book guy right down the block!”
‘And I have to tell them, “No, it’s every comic bookstore guy in America.”
Comic Book Guy has been a Simpsons regular since the early 1990s (Picture: 20thC.Fox/Everett/Shutterstock)
Matt Groening has said the character is ‘every comic bookstore owner in America’ (Picture: Lisa O’Connor/Variety/Getty)
Comic Book Guy first appears in the season two episodes Three Men and a Comic Book, which follows Bart, Millhouse, and Martin fighting over who gets to keep a rare edition of comic series Radioactive Man.
He then appears sporadically across later seasons, with the show eventually revealing that he’s part of Springfield’s Mensa society.
Despite being the butt of a considerable amount of jokes, Comic Book Guy has remained a fan-favourite character on the show, best known for his catchphrase ‘Worst. (Thing). Ever!’
The comic book store that he owns sells not just comic books but also priceless memorabilia, including a rare picture of Sean Connery signed by Roger Moore and used editions of other comic books which have had their puzzles solved.
All of these items are usually sold at high prices.
Another minor character who it turns out had a strong following in the Simpsons fandom was Larry the Barfly, a character who rarely spoke but was always featured in scenes at Moe’s Tavern.
In a recent episode of the show’s 35th season, Larry died suddenly, leaving fans devastated. The episode then focused on whether Homer, Barney, and the other Moe’s patrons even knew him at all.
Watch The Simpsons on Disney Plus.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.