Long before the days of Snapchat and live-tweeting, there were only a handful of places online for audiences to participate in a particular fandom. A forum here, a fansite there, but communication was nowhere near as fast and easy as it is now, and forget about actually contacting the entertainer or creator themselves. You were lucky to receive an autographed headshot in the mail for sending your favorite actor a message on their contact page.
Now here we are in 2016, and you know exactly where to go to sing praises to the stars of your weekly stories, the author of the book you’re currently obsessing over, and even the artists and programmers behind your favorite video games. Celebrities of all sorts who once shied away from the world of social media are coming out of the woodwork, whether of their own accord or that of their management.
In any case, the most popular route for staying in touch with folks within our fandoms is the almighty Twitterverse. Instagram and Snapchat may be right on its tail, but the variety of amazing creators who share their work and post about their daily lives is far superior on the Twitter timeline.
J.K. Rowling
Arthur lived, so Lupin had to die. I’m sorry. I didn’t enjoy doing it. The only time my editor ever saw me cry was over the fate of Teddy. ????
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) May 2, 2016
Fans of Rowling’s wizarding world have had quite a year with the constant stream of news regarding Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, as well as the upcoming stage play, The Cursed Child. Now more than ever, J.K. Rowling interacts with both magical folk and muggles alike, sharing secrets about the story and apologizing for the fictional deaths fans continue to mourn over.
Robert Kirkman
If you’re a Star Wars Fan and you’re not watching Star Wars Rebels you are Star Wars Missing Out. It’s GREAT. — Robert Kirkman (@RobertKirkman) April 1, 2016
If you don’t trust the brain behind The Walking Dead for legitimate comic book recommendations, then who in the world would you trust? When he’s not writing for TV and comics, Robert Kirkman takes to Twitter to discuss his latest plotlines, and those of other series’ that he admires. Bonus, he’s a Star Wars nut, and he’s not afraid to show it.
Lin Manuel-Miranda
Gmorning. Look at you! Damn, you alright! Pssh. They ain’t ready for you! — Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 13, 2016
You can try to deny the wit and charisma of Lin Manuel-Miranda, but beware the wrath of his 16.4 thousand Twitter followers and “Hamilfans.” He not only stars in the immensely successful Hamilton on Broadway, but he’s the brains behind the entire operation. Already a Tony-award winner for In The Heights, Miranda has secured a name for himself as a groundbreaking storyteller, and as a social media fiend. You’ll never feel lonely with Lin Manuel-Miranda’s daily “Good morning!” and “Good night!” tweets.
Jessica Jones Official Account
Happy Whateverimgoingbacktosleep Day — Jessica Jones (@JessicaJones) May 8, 2016
The official Twitter account for Netflix’s Jessica Jones is as raw and sarcastic as the super-heroine the series revolves around. It’s as if the account were managed by Jessica herself, with sass and smirk splattered across the timeline.
Maureen Johnson
Deadline status: tweeting, mostly gifs
— Maureen Johnson (@maureenjohnson) May 11, 2016
As if conquering the world of YA fiction wasn’t enough, Maureen Johnson has won the hearts of readers and Twitterers alike by waving her geek flag as high as possible, and sharing her wit and humor on the world wide web.
Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill
Thinking a lot about George today-This reminds me of just how much fun Carrison & I had working w/ him! #SWMemeories https://t.co/qGc2yp6AcZ
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) May 14, 2016
No longer do the stars of Star Wars feel far, far away. On the contrary, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher feel closer than ever as they wish happy birthdays and share pet photos on their social media channels regularly.
The Sims Gurus
PSA: Don’t believe every SimGuru you see. If you’re unsure, ping me, @SimGuruDrake, @SimGuruLyndsay, @SimGuruGraham, etc and ask us. 🙂 — Trevor Lindsey (@SimGuruTrev) March 25, 2016
The Sims community has always been a strong one, and the proof is in the series itself as it’s evolved into it’s fourth generation. It used to be that the best way to comment on the game and communicate with it’s makers was on the game’s website, but technology has affected more than The Sims’ graphics and depth. Gamemakers and community managers called gurus interact with fans of the series daily, updating them on new developments and reminiscing on memorable plays from games past.
Misha Collins
I’ve decided to remove any pretense of privacy between myself & the public. To wit… A very exciting update here: https://t.co/1rKzbM43es
— Misha Collins (@mishacollins) May 14, 2016
To non-Supernatural fans, you’re behind and should start watching the show immediately. To Supernatural fans who don’t follow Misha Collins on Twitter, you have no idea what you’re missing. Collins provides behind-the-scenes photos, fan theories, and Snapchat-bashing abound, for both our entertainment and his own.
Neil Gaiman
Happy birthday, William Shakespeare. You were born on April 23rd. Hurrah. (You also died on April 23rd. Sorry about that.) — Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) April 23, 2016
Servants of the written word bow to him, and the social media obsessed flock to him. Neil Gaiman has certainly earned his 2.4 million Twitter followers, and his reach continues to grow. He’s written everything from books, to films, to graphic novels, and his tweets carry just as much cleverness and sly humor.
Felicia Day
Guys, a Poke bowl is hawaiian sushi, it’s not made of harvested Pokemon. Although I could see one made of Manaphy with an Oddish salad.
— Felicia Day (@feliciaday) March 23, 2016
Geek & Sundry’s very own Khaleesi herself, Felicia Day speaks Geek fluently, and often. Whether you’re looking for updates on pop culture or Day’s love for donuts, you’ll want to keep track of her musings on Twitter.
What geeky figures do you prefer to keep up with online? Share your favorites in the comments below.
Featured image: Mark Hamill
