How to Get Into Comic Book Reading
I'm Not Really A Fan Of Superheroes
I've heard this complaint before as well. People may like the Captain America, Batman, Superman, etc. movies, but they're not actually fans of superheroes, and so reading comics is out of the question. This is a point which makes quite a bit of sense to me. Batman Begins had all the tightly well crafted tale of an urban vigilante without all the tie ups of Robins, Batgirls, Apokoliptian minions, magic, aliens, etc. It was something of a vigilante tale wrapped up in superhero garb. Avengers appealed because of a limited tale which garnered good will via multiple smaller movies leading into one big one. However, the story of Spider-Man having to run in fear because the mystic totem hunting Morlun is coming after him, or the story of a man who can change himself into any chemical chain, or the story of space conqueror whoever fighting earth heroes assembled into teams seems weird or something unappealing.
I find it a tad odd because people read science fiction novels, follow heavy handed drama of forensic scientists, read horribly written vampire fantasy, or even love stories about boys who grow up in magical boarding schools. If those were on paper shared with pictures though? Forget it. Because all of those stories have very superhero ideas. The genius and socially incapable detective who is just lovable enough in Bones has several parallels with Batman if Bones was merged her FBI husband and decided to wear a cowl. Harry Potter is a chosen one in a universe filled with people who specialize in certain magics who bands with others to try and stop an oncoming darkness which reflects himself as he also struggles with the dilemma, sort of like any superhero story in recent memory dealing with the Avengers, or the Justice League, or really any hero team. And I won't lie, these are something of a stretch because Batman does have romance and drama stories, but they're not exactly as dripping thick as a Bones episode (which is a good thing), and Harry Potter was beyond tightly written story filled with adventure that didn't involve bright colors outside of wand battling as opposed to beam vision and fist killing.
This I actually get. The idea of superheroes can seem very childish to many people. Lacking in maturity, culture, taste, growth, context, etc. It's why people don't go about watching shows about Sesame Street after the age of 8 or whatever. It is a stigma which will be covered in the next article, but it's one that crosses over into how people straight up won't give them a chance. This isn't about how people view readers as much as how people view the characters. People see them as boring, one dimensional, bleh sort of endeavors. Who cares that Superman punched that meteor out of the sky, doesn't he do it twice a week? Yawn. Another alien invasion. Geez I really wish they'd up the ante and have Batman start a relationship with a married woman like the time he did that exact thing with Orion's wife, but instead of the natural curve of that relationship I want something forced like we find out Orion is a totally okay guy who was just troubled and wants her back and not the freaking Dog of War for New Genesis and the story suddenly becomes about the love triangle brought about by this indecisive woman's inability to choose which penis she wants more because gosh she just has so many feelings. Or better yet, we should have a story about how Tony Stark and Clint Barton fight over which is the better man for the Wasp by engaging in long staring contests, pissing contests, abusive relationship tactics, and overall overly emotional dialogue appealing to an indecisive Wasp that even the 60's comic books would find a little contrived while said Wasp really wants both because both represent something she wants rather than realizing life is significantly more complex. That or at least have it about a bunch of kid heroes who are learning from their elders in proper usage of their powers while dealing with teenage things like growth, crushes, self image, and a conspiracy to kill them all. Wait, we called that one Avengers Academy. (I'll admit, nowhere near as well done as Harry Potter) Drama, romance, strife, heartache, death, dying, struggle, racism, all things covered in comics. Captain Marvel (not the DC one, the Marvel one) actually straight up died from cancer as opposed to just getting hit too many times. Dr. Light was an out and out rapist who assaulted Sue Dibney (the Elongated Man's wife) on the Justice League Watchtower, seeing future versions of present characters faced with what they may become if they continue their path. Things all inside of comics. Strong stories, messages, great action, wittiness and thought, all of it can be found there. And it doesn't even have to contain superheroes.
There is a perception that comic books are just about superheroes, and it couldn't be further from the truth. It's just that superheroes make up the bulk of comic sales and get all the movies and such. There are several comic books which are either superhero-esque or have nothing to do with superheroes at all. Some are Slice of Life, some are romantic, some are sci-fi, some are horror, some are even comedic. Some of those will have superheroes or superhero elements, and some will just be about normal people living in normal or supernatural situations.
A problem is people see "superhero" over the broad stroke and assume it's all just one story, rather than just a section of story telling. It's the same belief which would have you think all horror stories are "Alien" or all action stories are "Divergent." Rather than realizing Alien is Sci-Fi Horror as opposed to supernatural horror like Nightmare on Elm Street, and how Cobra fits under action as action adventure where Divergent falls under dystopia, coming of age action. And this is the same with superheroes. People see superheroes and they think "Super Friends," not Squadron Supreme or the Watchmen, or the more mature Batman/Iron Man/Captain America stories which were converted into extremely profitable movies people raved about concerning complexity and content. Which leads to the final bit.
Another problem is people see comic books as primarily kid stories, and so why would you want to give a kid's story a chance? I mean, doing that would be like adults watching Adventure Time, Spongebob Squarepants, Gravity Falls, freaking Jimmy Neutron, etc. And we all know right and proper adults wouldn't give those shows the time of day. Sarcasm mode off. Superheroes are for all ages, and are primarily aimed at 15-35 year olds which means there's rarely any threat on getting stories about how you should drink your milk and exercise.
Seriously, if you want to know superheroes can cross over extremely mature themes, comedy, and explicit content all at the same time while well written? Go out and buy Bomb Queen right now. If you want a smartly, dramatic, powerful science fiction sans superheroes? Go out and buy Saga right now. There's so many different comics that you'll most likely find something you can get behind and enjoy. Even if it's the Walking Dead.
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