Patrick Rittenhouse asked:


Comic books and graphic novels have long captured the imaginations of children, teens and adults everywhere. Many people have read comics when they were kids, occasionally hiding a comic book inside of a school book in order to read it while their teacher lectured.  The frequency of which we would enjoy these tales usually decreased the more we grew into adulthood however, they still have a tremendous appeal.  Comic books have usually been thought of as nothing more than mere “children’s books” however, they have come a long way over the years.
Comics and graphic novels address a range of societal issues and allow us to showcase what is happening in the world today. Some comic books act only as plot devices, some as social commentary, and others try to make us think.

Their has been a rise in interest in comics in recent years primarily due to the entertainment industry and the internet.  The internet has given people new options for buying, selling and trading comic books with the online marketplace and websites such as Ebay and Amazon.com.  Online comic book forums and message boards have also given comic book readers and collectors an instrument through which to connect and share their passion for this creative medium and have piqued interest in those new to comic culture.

Comics are now recognized as a valued medium and we can see their influence in just about every sector of our entertainment. From movies to television and from video games to amusement parks, comics have had a tremendous impact on our culture. As a result comics are no longer being censored in the sense of what should and shouldn’t be in them. This may be a bad thing for some but for others it is a basic part of free speech and the first amendment.



VIRGIL

Sue Jan asked:


Research shows that the main cause of downfall of the comic industry is the removal of comic books from shops and stores. But this cannot be the sole cause since comic books are now easily available on the internet, in movies and animations.
Another question that comes to mind is why Japanese animation or “manga” is doing better then traditional comic books? The answer is simple. The Japanese write a better story line and their animated movies are made for a wider audience. Often, Japanese comic books are framed as graphic novels containing 70 to 220 pages for a mature audience. The manga holds a more important place in Japanese culture, and is both well respected as an art form and also as a form of popular literature. On the other hand, comic books in Western countries are generally geared towards young teenagers rather than adults. This approach has made it tough for the Western comic industry to attain its dominant position.

Common misconceptions regarding comic books turning readers into out-of-touch delinquents have also hurt sale. Many parents fear that comics will brainwash children into believing that supermans and batmans actually exist in the world. For this reason, many parents forbid their children from reading comic books as in their view they carry no ethical or moral values. These attitudes have contributed to the lack of interest in comics as well as its drop in publication.

The comic book price guide also sheds some light on why comics are no longer sold. The price guide reveals that the cost of comic books has soared up with the success of movies like Batman, Spiderman, and Superman etc. making it unaffordable to many. Plus when it comes to buying storybooks parents prefer to buy their children fables or novels that will help them build up their vocabulary and learn proper English.

But these parents fail to realize that without fantasy and imagination as found in comics, a child’s creativity cannot develop. Comic books help break the monotony in children’s lives and refresh these young minds to face the challenges of daily life.



LYLE

ComicBookClub asked:

Today we’ve got TWO shows for you guys, counting down the Top Twenty Comic Books, Series, and Graphic Novels of 2008. Look for Part One, where we count down from #20-#11! Be sure to comment, subscribe, and tell your friends.

ABEL

tazwert asked:


Comic Books, the periodical or magazine variety, are published on a frequent basis ranging from weekly to quarterly. Whole stories usually require buying multiple issues. The whole story can be later collected up in to graphic novels (also referred to as trade paperbacks).

Monthly comic books generally have more ads per capita than the graphic novel. Some retailers require establishing a pull list or even paying for the monthly comics in advance, to ensure getting all the monthly comic books containing a story.

MERLE

I asked:


I love reading comics, graphic novels especially. I know a good number of people at school that read books or poetry, but whenever I try to recommend a graphic novel, lets say, Watchmen for example, they automatically dub it as dumb because it’s a comic book.

I just don’t get this. Why do some people tend to think ALL comics are only about superheroes beating up bad guys? They’re not.

Has anyone else dealt with this before?

SALVATORE

DominoRecords asked:

From Forbidden Planet in London, find out which graphic novels impressed and inspired Dev from the page to the Stage. (He even has tattoos of some of them!) Check them out… Summer Blonde - Adrian Tomine Blackhole - Charles Burns Madman - Michael Allred Unlikely - Jeffrey Brown David Boring - Daniel Clowes For more info check the Domino website… www.dominorecordco.com www.lightspeedchampion.com www.myspace.com/lightspeedchampion

ARON

chrisandniki asked:


I love graphic novel and comic book art. Any suggestions on books I should study to become a better comic book artist? I’m thinking both art books and perhaps specific graphic novels or comic books?

Any suggestions you might have would be appreciated. Thank you!

WESLEY

azoreanheart asked:


Just wanted to know what some of your favorite comic books or graphic novels are. I’m into Marvel and my favorite character is Deadpool, but have an open mind for other comics and such. Let me know.

NOLAN

Vibes asked:


I remember you could sell old classic graphic novels for good money.

I have 2 boxes full of comic books since i was a kid, but since our economy has changed so much in recent years, i was wondering if i should even bother selling them?

VANCE