Comic books and science fiction have a number of similarities to religion. Earlier stories tend to use grandiose language and plenty of exclamation points to show importance, but are often the most unrealistic and unbelievable- the majority of these stories tend to be ignored or forgotten unless specific stories need to be referenced to make a point, such as the original Superman. More contemporary stories fit better with current ideas of society, but still aren't realistic or practical- they tend to have a set of rules which would work according to the laws of the story, such as adopting a persona or gaining and using certain powers, but they ultimately cannot work in real life despite the reasoning or wishful thinking behind the idea.

The amount of major and minor characters often leads to favorite characters or characters who are given greater attention today, while less important characters are ignored if they seem to lack purpose.  Events within the story are often tedious and inconsequential, as some details of the story are not as enticing as the major plot points which tend to be remembered and reiterated even today.  Histories of the characters and events may be embellished with other details, but tend to focus on the major points to illustrate the importance of a certain character.     

People find it difficult to read all the writings, so it becomes easier for readers to select certain stories or read for a period of time until becoming bored. Some may quit reading. Others may dedicate their time to reading as much as they can, relate these stories to friends, explain them to the unlearned, gather with others who have thoroughly read them, and ultimately they may feel superior in their knowledge while looking at nonreaders with contempt for their ignorance and unwillingness to learn.

Continuity is a major issue, as fans are required to reason through a series of plot holes and inconsistencies, often inventing a backstory that could fill in the gaps or explain certain oddities. Fans may debate over these minor details, but the important thing is they are dedicated fans, despite their differing and often conflicting views. Retcons are another major issue, as old stories may be explained with newly written details, changing the meaning of the older story. Some may stick to the older story and refuse to look at the newer changes, while others will look at the newer changes as definitive.

While debate within the context of one body of work is acceptable, fans tend to enter bitter disputes with others when addressing an entirely different body of work, often comparing the two in terms of merit, believability, consistency, and emotional impact. Some fans may go into professional jobs writing about their chosen body of work in books or magazine articles, cataloging the impact of important writers from a previous generation, creating elaborate paintings to demonstrate the greatness of certain characters, creating movies or cartoons that demonstrate the main themes of the story, or even go so far as to promote study of the material as an elective course in college or high school.