Cultural stigmas limit comic book audience

When people think of comics, most unfortunately hold very dated and cliché views of the medium. That’s why so many articles and superhero movie reviews have the trite words “Pow!” “Wham!” “Bam!” headlines. This has some unfortunate consequences: Parents taking their kids to very mature films like The Dark Knight or Watchmen, for example, because they’re comic books, they must be for kids — or so the thinking goes.

For the most part, the general public still has the perception that comic books are kids’ stuff. And every so often there’s a media controversy over violence and death in comics, or things like breastfeeding on the cover of Brian K. Vaughan’s new series Saga. Never mind the fact that many comics are written for and labeled as appropriate only for mature audiences.

If you’re letting a 10-year-old read PunisherMAX or Criminal, maybe you should reconsider your parenting skills.

But it’s more than just some exhausting, foolish controversy. The cultural perception of comics essentially consists of most people writing off the art form entirely because they think everything is like the 1960s Batman television show.

I still get odd looks or get dismissively called a nerd — and expletive-laden variations of the same — when I admit to reading comics; the basic idea being anyone over the age of 12 is weird for doing so.

No matter how many well-made, smart comic book movies or television shows come out, that stereotype won’t seem to go away. And that’s a stereotype from almost half a century ago, when major censorship limited comics to absurd, cheesy storylines and writing. That censorship has eased dramatically, and now comics are telling stories far removed from that “Zap!” mentality.

Sure, there are superheroes and big bust-up fights in comic books, but there are also political dramas, coming-of-age stories and horror. Comic books are a medium, not a genre. Unfortunately, in a world where ‘comic book movie’ equals ‘superhero movie,’ that idea isn’t getting across. Road to Perdition and A History of Violence are also comic book movies. Where are the dismissive comments on those films for their origins?

At the same time, the comic industry itself, whether from fans or creators, is facing the inverse of that problem. Trying to get over the kid stereotype, and still bearing grim and gritty post-Watchmen elements, those involved in comic books are constantly talking about the maturity and the absence of childlike qualities of series they read. If a series is well-written and deals with intense subjects, that’s great, but it’s this kind of knee-jerk defensive reaction that undermines the argument for a book. And those aren’t even the worst problems.

Comic book sales, even with new initiatives and the digital market, sell around 200,000 copies. The public’s exposure to comics is on the rise thanks to the prominence of comic book-based shows and the popularity of Comic-Con, but that isn’t translating into comic sales, in part because of the cultural divide mixed with the inaccessibility for younger readers. If they alienate any potential new blood, the industry will inevitably shrink and eventually die.

Sure, major and independent companies have all-ages books out there, but they’re often ignored in favor of the latest dark series where someone dies.

This isn’t to say that comics need to stop what they’re doing and suddenly focus on books to draw younger readers in. And it doesn’t mean that the general public should suddenly think the comic industry is darker than the love child of Six Feet Under and Taken. But things do need to change.

This sort of absolutist perception from all parties hurts the industry.

For the general public, they’re essentially disregarding and generalizing an entire medium. That’s like saying you don’t watch television because all shows are like American Idol. They aren’t, and you’re missing out on quality writing if you do.

So here’s an idea. Let’s stop with the clichés. Comics are not washed-up remnants dripping in corny puns. And comic book makers and fans, let’s be more inclusive. If we love the medium, we need to support it, and that means showing people the wide spectrum of comics available, not shouting from one extreme of it.

If a certain comic series seems interesting, read it. Don’t worry if people think it’s for kids. And if it is a series written for them, share it with a younger friend.

Nicholas Slayton is a junior majoring in print and digital journalism. His column “Panel to Panel” runs Thursdays.