Comic books are as popular as ever but why is it that fans just can’t seem to put them down? Perhaps comics teach us about our humanity or, maybe, we just enjoy them for the following reasons.
Right Vs Wrong
The interplay between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral in comic books is fascinating. On the one hand, you have clear-cut examples of Zod trying to take over the world and Superman stepping in to protect the human race. That theme repeats itself in every universe multiple times. However, there are plenty of shades of gray, and comic book lovers respect this fact. Consider Batman, for example. He operates outside the law and sometimes in direct opposition to Commissioner Gordon, but comic book readers accept Gotham’s dark knight as the anti-hero that the city needs. Watchmen is a fantastic example of a graphic novel where the battle rages eternally. Never have superheroes been more human.
Fantasy
Of course, comic books are full of fantasy, and who does it better than Neil Gaiman? The other reinvented the Sandman and gave him seven siblings, known as The Endless. While The Sandman comics are undoubtedly dark, they do a wonderful job exploring mortality, relationships and concepts such as heaven and hell. The art is just as evocative. Fans are fortunate that Gaiman has returned to the drawing board to produce more Sandman stories.
Violence
Yes, sometimes of the appeal of a comic book is watching the good guy kick the butt of the bad guy, and there’s plenty of violence to go around. Batman once carried a gun, and Watchmen is gruesome to the extreme. The movie even did a fair job of depicting Rorschach’s insanity-driven violence, and who is a better example of gratuitous violence than the Joker? He kills indiscriminately, ending the life of one Robin, Jason Todd. Joker also put a bullet into Batgirl’s spine, causing her to become paralyzed for life in The Killing Joke, which we think tells a terrible tale terrifically.
Love
In comics, love doesn’t just exist in spite of darkness and violence. Sometimes love thrives because of it. This is the case in The Crow, the most popular indie comic title by James O’Barr. O’Barr wrote the graphic novel and illustrated it himself after his fiancé died in a car accident. The reader will feel a profound sense of loss as they move through the pages, many of which are in stark black and white. The Crow follows Eric after his fiancé is murdered and a mysterious force brings him back to seek vengeance. If you haven’t seen this film yet program your DVR tonight and don’t miss it. You don’t have a DVR yet check out these Direct TV offers and pick up the Genie.
The Good Guy Wins
Sometimes there’s nothing better than seeing the good guy win. It’s why we love Superman, the X-Men and Thor. It’s also why Daredevil has become so iconic. Not only is the character fighting for his city, but he also overcomes the odds to do so as a blind man. Daredevil: The Man Without Fear takes an already interesting character and makes him more compelling than you might have realized before. Brian Michael Bendis tells the story of a character who’s senses are heightened against a noir backdrop that perfectly fits the story.
