In Defense of Comics

 

     I know that Leeper makes small comments concerning Hollywood, video, games, etc., that not everyone catches onto. While I have my personal problems with the above topics he has spoken of, I would like to concern this particular post with comments concerning comics.

     I recall him saying that comic book movies almost never rise above their genre, and that comics are derivative. This, however, I think is an unfair assessment. I base this on the fact that I happen to know quite a bit about comic books and their creators. I only began to become interested in this topic a little while ago, but since then I have become fascinated with the medium and what it has to offer. Now, before I continue, let me say that I do agree that super hero comics are quite derivative, and other than a few exceptions, so are their movies. However, I am afraid that it is a sign of a small amount of knowledge concerning the medium, when someone says that all comics are the same. This simply is not true. There are quite a few comics in which the creators do something fresh and new wih their medium. These are often found in creator-owned and indie comics. Only someone with serious prejudice could say that all comics are the same. Also, there are plenty of phenomenal artists working in the comic book medium, who are better artists than anyone most anywhere else. In terms of the medium, I do not think it is that much different than a form of picture books, no different than Leeper's beloved Where the Wild Things Are.

 

 

 

 

 

     Finally, in terms of the comic movies that come out of Hollywood, I can safely say that the problem is not that the films are based upon comics, but rather which comics they are based upon. If you chooses nothing but super hero comics to make movies from, then yes, they will seem derivative. However, just because Hollywood only choooses one aspect of the medium to make movies from, it does not follow that the whole medium is bad. This is a logical fallacy. There are more than a few good comics out there, and I wholeheartedly recommend anyone to look at them and give them a chance. Here are some great places to start: Skottie Young's Oz serie; The Stuff of Legend; Bone; We3; and Axe Cop.