Ok, that may have been harsh, but I needed to get your attention without you immediately discarding this post. You see, I’ve recently been engaging more than ever in a debate regarding the merits and quality of comic books as fiction. I finally decided it was time to explain to the world why I justify comic books as literature and how, unbeknownst to many, comic books can be completely centered on themes more adult-oriented and in-depth than your average best-selling novel.
Here’s a little backstory as to where this post is coming from. Basically, these are the types of comments I’ve heard all my life regarding my passion for comic books and graphic novels (as a now-22 year old):
-“Yeah…yeah comic books were cool…when I was SEVEN!”
-“Hey when you’re done reading your comics, come over and we’ll play POGS!”
-“I’m ignorant and think I know everything about everything and you’re a moron for liking things that may be enjoyed by someone who isn’t a grown and ignorant adult like me!”
Yes, I know, the last one is an example of what runs through my head after I hear the first two. But you get the picture. The point is that people don’t always have an intellectual respect for comics, and I think two major elements exist to make said lack of respect a reality.
The first of these major elements is that some people don’t understand the content and substance of today’s comic literature. These individuals have no clue as to the intellectual depth and gravity of a well-written series of comic book. The extent of their comic book awareness is the “BAM!...POW!” 60s Batman show, the original “X-Men” animated series, and the Spider-Man movies. Sadly, only one of those three things listed does any kind of justice to its comic book counterpart. Good work X-Men.
The second element is going to be covered in part 2 of this blog post, which will be posted very, very soon (UPDATE: It has now been posted here...but finish reading this one first). It considers the frivolous notion that enjoying comic books isn’t appropriate for an individual over the age of seven and incorporates sage wisdom from an unlikely source to refute this idea of what is or is not appropriate for a 22-year-old.
But we’re going to focus on the content of comics right now. All of the stuff that the casual/non-comic book fan doesn’t ever see because he or she would “never be a big enough baby to pick up a comic book and read it.”
Point blank: If you are one of those people, you are ignorant and you are missing out on something quite enjoyable as a result of your ignorance.
A literary (comic book) masterpiece…
The inspiration behind this post was a discussion regarding the literary achievements of and accolades received by Alan Moore’s Watchmen. Here you have a novel that is the only graphic novel (comic book collection) on Time Magazine’s "100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present" (long title, I know) and the only graphic novel to win a Hugo Award. These aren’t comic book awards. These are awards and distinctions that truly separate the graphic novel from Archie Comics and Sunday funnies as a literary work of fiction.
The themes of Watchmen are intense. The graphic novel covers quite a few of the issues we face (or faced) as humans in the world, ranging from an entire underlying theme of the nation’s distrust and fear as a result of the Cold War to death, murder, justice (legal and vigilante), rape, love, governmental conspiracy, heroism, and the value of human life. And that’s in a 12-issue comic series.
Watchmen isn’t a story about a bunch guys in capes conquering “evil-doers” with one-punch knockouts or masked men catching bank robbers and saving the day. While it has a few similar elements, Watchmen is written in a style that, if one were to replace the comic book illustration with explanatory dialogue, would be considered a captivating work of literary fiction. Let’s be honest, it didn’t make Time’s previously-noted “100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present” list because of the pictures (which is not to say that Dave Gibbons’ artwork doesn’t bring the graphic novel into the pantheon of great comic book masterpieces, because it surely does).
If you feel like comic books aren’t for adults, please give Watchmen a valid reading attempt. I promise: if you are even remotely intelligent, it will change your stance on the issue.
Even so, I can’t rely on this one graphic novel to prove my point. Which is why I’ll take a much more current cultural phenomenon and let it speak for me.
The Dark Knight’s darkness in comic form…
The Dark Knight is already widely considered to be the best superhero movie ever made. Many attribute much of this success to Heath Ledger’s chilling portrayal of a conscious-absent Joker that deviates mightily from the clown-like prankster featured in the 60s television series and the original Batman film (skip to the commercial at 1:12).
But, I ask you this: do you have any idea where the inspiration behind Heath Ledger’s Joker came from? The motivation behind Heath Ledger’s Joker came from COMIC BOOKS. That’s right – the terrifyingly careless man who values human life less than he values his mouth-shredding pocket knife is based on the comic books that portray the Joker as a psychopath who fears nothing.
We’re talking about a Joker that (most non-comic book fans would be appalled to know) beat the second Robin to death right in front of his mother’s eyes…and then BLEW THEM BOTH UP! Here, see the vicious assault for yourself:
And then...
Yeah. Joker beats him down and lets him die. Because, in the comics (before The Dark Knight was even a in its beginning stages), the Joker was that brutal.
Fortunately (and unrealistically), Jason Todd turned up alive years later. Only to be doing things like this (this one is rather graphic, be warned):
Still think comics are simply for little kids?
The Point?
I didn’t write this post to show you some grisly comic book pictures. I wrote it to explain that comic books aren’t just for kids. It’s not only sticky-fingered 7-year-olds that can and should enjoy comic books and graphic novels. I'm in no way saying it's the violence that makes them good, I'm just showing that they aren't as fun-natured, bubbly, and cartoony as some might think.
Comic books employ as many deeply-themed fictional storylines as full-length works of fiction. While the art and pictures in comics help to tell the tale in the place of flowery description, the content and message of the comic’s themes are often much deeper than the stereotypical thoughts people have of them.
Do bad, corny, and otherwise awful comics exist in the world? Of course – just like cheesy romance novels and stupidly gruesome monster murder stories exist for cheap thrills and enjoyment. But that doesn’t mean that, just like any other work of fictional literature, comics can’t provide a well-written, engrossing, and captivating storyline to those who are open-minded enough to invest the time and effort into a comic book.
So, before you make some snide comment to a friend who buys comic books weekly or a coworker who is aggravated by the newest superhero movie’s deviation from its epic 1997 comic storyline, give that person the benefit of the doubt. Keep in mind that maybe, just maybe, the friend or co-worker is currently reading a work of fiction in comic book form that has more substance to it than the current novel you are trudging through each night.
Or maybe he or she is just some adult that needs to grow up and stop acting like a kid.
I’ll be more than happy to continue this discussion in the comments section as well. It’s already far too long a post, but it’s something about which I am passionate and I didn’t want to emaciate the content or message behind it. I said I’d start writing shorter posts, and I feel like I was doing a decent job until this one, so bear with me.
“I been browsin’, inspectin’, X-Men comics, you know I collect ‘em…”
2 comments:
Question. Would you say that those who don't read comic books (not because they think they're for kids or for any reason at all, just don't) are they still considered ignorant to you?
Ooh...that's a good catch. Probably could have worded that section a little bit better.
The way I worded it was intended more for the people who mock comic book readers (hence the "never be a big enough baby..." line), but I probably could have made that a little clearer.
No, actually in the "part 2" of this post, which is now posted, I clarify that exact issue a little bit further. If you don't care to read comic books, I certainly don't think you are ignorant. I don't care to read romance novels, so I shouldn't feel as if I'm expected to do so.
However, I also don't mock people that DO read romance novels because I believe everyone should be able to enjoy what they enjoy without being laughed at for it.
That was more the intent of the statement. If you don't want to read comics, then I recommend not reading them. Just don't mock the people that do when you haven't taken the time to read them yourself.
And that's a generic "you," not "you" as in you, Holli.
Thanks for catching that though. Hopefully people get to the comments and read this response before becoming outraged or anything.
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