Comic Books Are Important For The World

When read with a critical eye, the world of superhero comics often offers a lens with which we can examine society, our values, the meaning of justice, and the role of the individual in regards to the greater community. If all of this information is garnered from critical reading, then the way in which the medium of comics constructs these meanings will reflect an embrace or a rejection of the common symbols and ideology of it’s source culture. In the case of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s 1987 graphic novel, Watchmen, the second approach is used, as Moore’s writing draws upon the common cultural understanding of superheroes and exaggerates or tweaks them, exposing their underlying ideals. In this way, Watchmen functions not only as a

In Michael Chabon’s “Kids’ Stuff,” he is discussing how comic books have changed. Chabon starts off with different varieties of comic books and how they’re widely viewed. He then talks about how comic books have changed to appeal more towards adult readers. He also says that when comic books were aimed at kids there were huge sales, but now comics aimed at adults have less sales and is declining. He refuses to believe that comic books from the past would not appeal to kids today. Chabon then gives four principles that he believes hold true for successful children’s literature. He suggests that publishers should put out comic books for children, about children. Chabon’s argument is, “I suggest that a publisher should try putting out a

The representation of diverse people and experiences in comics is important to expand the thoughts and minds of readers. Yang and Wilson, the minds behind American Born Chinese and Ms. Marvel, use the medium of comic books and graphic novels to help bring a new sense of belonging and acceptance to marginalized people. They do this by applying a “millennial mindset” to their respective stories. What this means is that the characters they have created, whether they are based off real people or are fiction, address the problems of race, religion, or sexuality that we are facing today. These characters also act to threaten the current atmosphere of the comic book industry. Typical comic book characters and superheroes, before now, were mostly white and from a typical American background. Heroes that were women were generally over-sexualized and unrealistic. These two authors hope to challenge the current status quo of the comic book industry by creating characters whose background is much different than previous superheroes.

As a culture, our brains and our society have become accustomed to this linear way of reading, and at times this leads to one being less involved with whatever they are reading (Kartalopoulos, 2014). However, images can really capture a reader’s attention. Two categories of McCloud’s characterization of the different types of ways to use words and pictures are montage and additive. In a montage, McCloud describes it as, “words are treated as integral parts of the picture”. Basically, pictures are formed out of words. This unique combination ensures that you are paying close attention to what you are reading because otherwise you might skip a whole scene or overlook a crucial piece of description. The additive method of combining words and images is using either words or images to “amplify or elaborate” the meanings of each other. If one is inattentive when reading a comic book, or scene utilizing this method of categorization then one will surely miss a detail or askew the meaning of the

In the essay, “In Defense of Graphic Novels”, Kathryn Strong Hansen explains the different opinions about using graphic novels in a classroom. When most people hear of a graphic novel, they assume it’s a comic book and that it has no relevance in a classroom. Because they have pictures, they also assume that they are meant for children. Hansen explains, however, that students can analyze graphic novels the same way they would a prose-only novel. She also states that low level reading students could benefit from reading graphic novels. Because they can be used to help struggling students, students who are doing well believe that graphic novels are too easy of a read. It could also

That’s one thing I love about fiction is that there are as many meanings of it as there are people watching. You see this particularly science fiction and fantasy which, by virtue, often deal with some embodiment of the unknown/other, and thus can really explore the parable-ness of stories. But like I said, meanings. I see The Force Awakens as a story about identity and finding belonging (which makes it different from the original Star Wars despite hitting many of the same plot beats), Firefly is a story fundamentally about family, and Iron Man 2 is about embracing mortality. You could disagree and you’re more than welcome to because, again, the joy of fiction.

The comic books of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, like the novel and video game mediums, were also choc full of excellent story telling. The comics have the added advantage of showing us visual depictions of characters, places and other things we may have only seen in our mind's eye when reading the novels.

In Gasoline Alley, Frank King uses closure to take an average human being, Skeezix, and place him into a surreal world, and in doing so immerses his readers in the fantastic wonderlands they observe. In The Superman Chronicles, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster do the opposite by using closure to take a surreal being and place him into the real world of the readers to show how alien Superman is to planet Earth. For clarity, closure is defined in Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics as, “Observing the parts but perceiving the whole.” Simply put, closure in comics allows the reader to become an active participant in the story. This participation allows the reader to become fully immersed in the world of the characters which leads to an experiential connection between the reader and the character. In order to understand how real and surreal are to be interpreted in this paper, they must be defined. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines surreal as, “marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream,” and defines real as, “not artificial, fraudulent, or illusory…occurring or existing in actuality.” The creators devise diametric plots, but the use of closure as a mechanism to create the immersive worlds in which their readers and characters coexist are nearly the same. Frank King and Siegel & Shuster both use closure as a vehicle to convey the concept that their respective characters are living representations of the opposition between real and surreal, this is evident in

Recognizing a well-written book is crucial. Therefore, when it comes to looking for a well-written book it is important to follow the following steps: look for books that have precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, music in language, understatement, and unexpected insights. For in El Deafo by Cece Bell, the precise vocabulary and unexpected insights makes the graphic novel a well-written book. Moreover, looking for a well-illustrated book is also important—it brings the book to life. Thus, when it comes to looking for a well-illustrated book the following steps should be considered: look for books that establish a setting, define and develop characters, reinforce the text, provide a differing viewpoint, extend or develop the plot,

Now in these days everyone one likes to read comic books since they became part of our society. What makes them interesting is how entertaining they could get giving us different points of views on different stories of superheroes. Many of us believe that “Classic superheroes stories are wildly fun, suspenseful and exciting” (Tom and Matt Morris) forgetting the idea of what really makes a hero. Different perceptions of superheroes are considered based on their wrong actions and way of thinking. Frank’s Miller Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is one of the comic books that make us “rethink the conception of the superhero and press each of us to reconsider some of the fundamental moral principles

On the one hand, the superheroes have a deep impact on American people.The series of the superheroes spread a sense of worth to people. “Superheroes might not be logical in their super abilities, but they embody the moral desire to do the right thing, and they symbolize the good in all of us.” They encouraged people doing the right thing. Furthermore, from a psychological point of view, they make people stronger. “At their best, superhero origin stories inspire us and provide models of coping with adversity, finding meaning in loss and trauma, discovering our strengths and using them for good purpose.” Because these superheroes, people can find ways to defeat their fragile mind. On the other hand, many historians believe that “the American dream” originates from “the Declaration of Independence and the first European Settlers because the basic idea is that every man and every woman shall, regardless of their birth, achieve what there able to do. Everybody shall be treated and seen equally and be recognized by others for what they are and have reached,referring to their position.” And the core of the American Dream is the fair and justice, and the superheroes exactly teach people how to fight for the fair and

Comic books are probably the most popular form of reading material for young people in Hong Kong. Write an essay comic books which deal with all the following points:

I came to Montclair to have the opportunity to study fine art. As an aspiring artist, I am always searching for means of inspiration. When I read a book, I have a lot of trouble remaining focused after the first ten pages. In affect, it typically takes me several different days and time blocks to complete the book. Because Invisible People is a graphic novel, I was able to not only easily keep my attention on the story, but also genuinely enjoy the plot. I sat down during a rainy day and read the whole novel in under an hour. Being provided pictures and drawings while I read a novel helps me connect with what is going on and allows me to metaphorically put myself in the story. The main problem with The Things They Carried is that it is just like every other book I have ever read. Before reading Invisible People, I had never even thought about picking up a comic book, or any form of graphic novel. To my surprise, I had a lot of fun interpreting the story line while I analyzed the well-thought out illustrations. The Things They Carried is an in-depth novel depicting life, love, death and war. Although it contains a compelling message, there is no spark that entices me to continue reading more of it than I was assigned. Fortunately, because of the expressive artwork in the graphic novel Invisible People I was able to acquire enough sentimentality for both novels.

To begin with, comic books play on the concept of perspective, both within their artwork and the character’s points of view in order to create complex story lines that draw the reader in and allow them to connect with the somewhat humanistic characters. Immanuel Kant, a well-known philosopher, asserts that not only does our thoughts reflect our personal reality, but it is our experiences that shape who we are and how we see the world. These experiences, whether good or bad, create somewhat of a lens in which we view the world around us. Therefore, due to the

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a comic shop retailer trying to gain consumers’ business! During an era when the world economy is still recovering from the mortgage crisis and minimum wage is not sufficient to help most citizens support and maintain their respective households, it can be hard to justify frivolous, unnecessary spending. However, those who can afford to self-indulge a bit may choose to take up a hobby such as comic book reading or collecting. Even people who decide that they are willing and able to spend a few extra dollars here and there to pursue something they love must be able to choose wisely so as to avoid suffering from buyer’s remorse. It is essential that readers use criteria such as price point, publishers, characters, genre, and creators to sift through the wide variety of comic books in order to determine which ones they feel are truly worth their hard-earned cash.