The Complexity Of Comic Books

In Understanding Comics, McCloud defines comics as, “Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer” (McCloud, 1993, p. 9).

I love comics, especially superhero comics. I have been in love with them since I was seven, when my uncle introduced me to Superman and Batman. I was just so mesmerized by the plot, even if it was repetitive, I was so intrigued that I couldn’t stop. You know the plot, the one where a victim or victims are distressed and the hero swoops in at the right time to save them from any danger. Growing up though, as life got more complicated, so did comics. It wasn’t the same old plot anymore. More casualties occurred in the stories, heroes developed more weaknesses. It was as if the comic book creators were trying to make the readers realize that superheroes and an regular person are not so far apart. I will never be able to see it that way though. Why you ask? It’s because unlike a regular person, superheroes will never be a reality. No one will swoop in to save you in your time of need. The only person that can protect you, is yourself. If you are able to do that, maybe the next step is to protect people that can’t protect themselves.

The Graphic Novel Club is a school club that I have unofficially led for the past two years. In this club we encourage the members to look deeper into any passion they have for comics, anime, superheroes, or cartoon design. We look at a broad range of art from comic strips to the full scale production of the latest Marvel movie and why components of the art have changed to accommodate the changing demographic.

“What was it? Who were they? Where are they now? Do they exist?” wonders the writer Sherman Alexie if the Native American reservation school system ever exposed him to the concept of creative writing or writers. In his essay, “The Joy of Reading: Superman and Me,” he describes how notions such as creative writing and reading high-level texts were considered “beyond Indians.” To combat such unwarranted profiling, he reminds young Native Americans of the importance of resisting negative stereotypes. Alexie claims that no matter the situations they were born into, they can still accomplish their aspirations. He supports this contention through his own experiences, reflecting upon how empowerment from reading and writing– particularly that which he garnered from reading the iconic comic Superman at the age of three– “saved” him from the failure expected from his race. In his essay, Spokane Indian-American writer Sherman Alexie employs relatable and uplifting personal narrative to motivate Native American youth to view others’ success, real or fictional, as validation of their own potential.

Why are comics not appreciated as much as the dry narratives of novels in the literary world? A comic is composed of symbols to express concepts shared by all people in their own social environment, and provide more tools than conventional art to truly show artistic intention.

During the significant changes in American history, comic books contributed information that described what was happening during a specific event. Starting with Superman, battling against the corrupted ceo’s and government politicians to Batman being a juvenile delinquent who eventually became one with the law. Yet with these comic book characters relating to everything around a human beings life, changed the American youth culture in a great way.

In our world at this particular time people are overly sensitive to what is published in the media, mainly about anything to do with religion. I believe that it is a first amendment right for newspapers to publish cartoons even if it is viewed as offensive to a certain population. What is not acceptable is the way it is handled by society. Things have been taken way out of proportion. It is unjust and goes against the Constitution of the United States if anyone has to suppress their opinions just because it might offend a community.

Comics, a medium used to express ideas via images and pictures, can be traced back to the cave period when humans communicated ideas and thoughts using paintings and pictures. However, as humans began to use words to communicate with one another, paintings and pictures as a mode of communication took a backseat. They began to be used only for visual impact whenever needed. In course of time, other than oral communication, written communication and print media were considered effective means of communication. Various genre like novels, poems, short stories, essays were all realized and accepted by scholars as resources to be used when educating children and adults. Inspite of the many famous comics – be it

The Sentry also know as Robert Reynolds is a fictional Marvel superhero, known for always doing good. However, unlike other Marvel Superheroes, The Sentry was bullied at a young age, the emotional effect on him caused him to resort to Methamphetamine. His Methamphetamine addiction led to him breaking into the laboratory of Professor Cornelius and drinking a serum that granted him super powers, eventually making him one of the strongest Marvel Super Heroes. The serum induced a chemical reaction sending neurological signals to his brain, resulting in a hyper state of consciousness and triggered the activation of superhuman powers. The Sentry’s has a variety of superpowers such as superhuman speed and reflex so he can run, catch bullets and villains,

Many would consider comic books and graphic novels to be unconventional. However, many studies have proven that comic books and graphic novels can motivate students to learn almost anything.

Since the beginning of time (particularly beginning in the 1920’s), comic books have always been a creative reflection of what’s going on in popular culture. Comic books tend to perfectly depict animations that relate to current politics, historical events, and current social issues that we face every day in the United States. Comic books cover a wide range of pop culture genres such as: adventure, horror, crime, mystery, romance, westerns, and humor (just to name a few). However, comic books also discuss serious American popular culture issues but utilize superheroes (such as Spiderman, Batman, and Superman) and villains (such as The Joker, Dr. Doom, and Lex Luthor) as the main characters; which fascinated the youth and thus resulted in a popular, successful, and booming comic book industry.

Without comics and characters such as batman television audiences would be shocked with what some characters were like, it is suggested that comic books helped ease such characters on to our screens. I agree with this statement as there are a lot of articles to back this suggestion.

Ever thought how dumb comic books or graphic novels were growing up? Why such avid readers were called (myself included) nerds? Yet were smarter than you? Think back to how geeky their way of speaking was and they touched on such complexities even for a book! Shortly, reasoning will tell you why comic books are the best. Over the years, from the 20th to 21st century, research and documentation has been stacking up to prove that comic books make their readers smarter. Comics make you want to read, and they use complex language which progresses verbal intelligence. Like steroids for the mind, comics can take struggling readers and make them stronger!

Another way in which Batman displays himself as a Byronic hero is his function as a subversive character which refuses to submit to demonic forces. He tries to appear to be a man who is morally upright. However, Batman is unable to separate himself from the pain of his parents ' untimely death, which gives him a new identity as a mysterious masked crime fighter. In most books and films, he tries to put this tragic incident behind him without much success. As Peter J. Tomasi indicates, “instead we see a presentation of Batman’s powers by exacting strange acts in the name of justice like teleporting hotheaded” (1).

Since the times of the Persian Empires, propaganda has been an effective tool for forces of the State government, or other institutions trying to spread a political message, usually for militarily or humanitarian missions. In modern times, propaganda has taken a new face with the Internet, but during the 1940’s one of the most effective types of propaganda was the use of comic books. Currently comic books are used around the world to spread the message of peace, war, and even religion. For example, in Egypt a comic book is used to spread the word of Islam and what a true Muslim should act like in accordance to Allah. Catholic undertones are used in comic books to spread a message of Christianity to people in an interesting way, with bloody action. In Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War, Superman was used to get out awareness of landmines to the people in affected areas. Comic Books are an effective form of propaganda because they are meant to be interesting, and the superheroes show people how they should be acting during times of strife. Throughout the history of comic books, they have been unifying and brought people together and light to certain messages for people from different countries, cultures, and ethnicities.