The Curious Case of Superhero Comics

            Superhero comics and mainstream acceptance

BY:  Dominic Ciolli

            Superhero comic books have deep roots in American society.  Arguably the two most well-known and popular superheroes, Superman and Batman, made their debuts in 1938 and 1939, respectively.  This makes them older than twenty-three National Football League teams, the entire National Basketball Association, and all but six National Hockey League teams.  Yet despite this history, there has long been a stigma attached to superhero comics; a stigma that simultaneously is waning and remaining as powerful as ever.

            Show me a college student who has not seen a superhero movie in the past three years and I will show you a liar.  Since the modern-era of superhero movies began in 2000 with the release of Marvel’s X-Men, the two major publishers, Marvel and DC Comics, have released twenty-four and seven movies, respectively.  Together, these thirty-one films have grossed over thirteen and a half billion dollars, with more on the way.  Seven of the fifty highest grossing films of all time are superhero movies.  Out of the top one hundred opening-weekend grossing movies, sixteen are comic book superhero movies, including four of the top ten.  When most movies open, they open.  When superhero movies open, they are events.

            Despite these factors, there is still a social stigma attached to reading physical comic books.  In one of my classes this semester, my professor used an article from Foreign Policy about how the comic book Justice League International represented the United Nations.  When our class discussed the article, the silence was deafening and I admit that I was nervous to reveal my knowledge about the book and its characters.  But why is this?

            I believe that there are three popular culture causes for the stigma.  The first, and most obvious, is the 1960s Batman television show, starring Adam West.  The ridiculously campy and cheesy show has an unintentional comedy score of 100/100 and instilled the image of silly and stupid comic books in the subconscious of Americans.  Second, and the most minor of the three, is the Simpsons character “Comic Book Guy,” a fat, pretentious loser who is obsessed with comics.  The third is a particularly interesting case, The Big Bang Theory.  While billed as an integration of the “nerd” lifestyle into the mainstream, this is just not true.  All the show does is perpetuate the same negative stereotypes to seventeen million viewers every week.  I am sure the show is enjoyable, but the belief that it is anything other than a hindrance to mainstream acceptance of comics is simply incorrect.

            The point of this column is not to insinuate that fans of superhero movies who do not read comics are posers.  Many of these movies tell outstanding stories and deserve to be appreciated by a vast audience.  But comics themselves deserve this as well.  Marvel and DC have been telling fantastic stories accompanied by gorgeous art.  The sheer breadth of both companies, along with countless smaller publishers, means that everybody can find a title or two which appeals to them.

            Further, reading comics is not a huge commitment.  Each title typically comes out monthly, costing between $2.99 and $4.99, depending on the popularity of the book (Batman, for example, costs $4.99 while Green Arrow costs $2.99).  $4.99 a month is nothing when compared to the price some people pay for a cup of coffee each morning.  A common hesitation to picking up comics is the perceived depth of continuity which would make the beginning reader confused.  While it is true that there will be references to previous stories, in the age of Wikipedia any confusion can be cleared up with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks. 

            I cannot recommend comics enough, especially to those who love the movies.  By reading the comics themselves, the reader can meet characters who will likely never make it the silver screen.  Damian Wayne, Zatanna Zatara and Miles Morales are three of my favorite comic characters but the odds of them ever appearing in a movie are very slim.  Additionally, some story arcs which have happened in comics are nearly impossible to transfer to a movie, but are outstanding; Marvel’s “Civil War” immediately comes to mind. 

            It is a shame that comics still possess the stigma which has haunted them for decades, especially in an era where superheroes have undoubtedly entered the mainstream of popular culture.  People eager for Iron Man 3 and/or Man of Steel this summer should find a local comic book store and pick up a book or two.  Iron Man: “Extremis” is a great intro into the character, as well as a basis for the upcoming movie.  Superman for All Seasons is a nice standalone story and Batman: The Long Halloween served as a key inspiration for The Dark Knight.  I can almost guarantee that if you give comics a chance, you will not regret it.