I have no direct connection to comic books, except for the fact that I watch the animated TV shows of several of them. There is no doubt that on my breaks from Loomis Chaffee School I can be found hibernating in my room watching back-to-back episodes of Justice League, Spider Man, Teen Titans, or Superman. It reminds of a time when I loved waking up on Saturday mornings. I would sit with a big bowl of Frosted Flakes, and I would watch X-Men and Batman, all the versions of it, until they were no longer airing for the day. I remember daydreams of becoming Storm, and nightmares that the Joker and the Penguin would come and get me. I love all of these cartoons. I still promise that one day I will be part of the Justice League, but in a realistic way. However, I remember when I found out that all my favorite shows were originally books.
The Justice League. Source: http://movieandtvnews.blogspot.com/2007/09/justice-league-taking-of-pelham-1-2-3.html
People were in frenzy over comic books when they originated in the late 30s, first Superman, in the 60s, a time featuring Spiderman, and the 80s and 90s, featuring the creation of X-Men. Comic books influenced people so much that they had to create the CCA, Comics Code Authority, a union of comic creators that created regulations and guidelines that comic books must have, thus creating the underground publishing and trading in the 60s. The regulations and guidelines stated that comic books must not present parents, police, or any authority figures as corrupt or bad, women must not be sexually exposed, and the language must be appropriate. One argument that caused the CCA to form was that violent and sexual content and imagery in comic books contributed to juvenile delinquency. One question this raises for me is why couldn’t there be an age limit required to buy a certain genre of comics. Comic lovers decided to go to underground for the real comics that portrayed injustices and realities of life. This actually helped several comic creators make more money because they can bypass the newsstands for more direct distribution to readers. Some comic book creators were able to make their comics exclusive by printing viewer, more interesting comic books. Thus, having the ability to charge more money for each issue. All this makes me wonder how cool the other non-commercial comics were.
Would comics ever have a chance of winning over the nation now, the way it did in the 30s and 60s? Superman and Batman already have major influence on people, hence the released, and beloved movie, Dark Knight. There have been efforts to reincarnate the comic book frenzy. People like singer/actor Tyrese Gibson, have put efforts toward this movement. Tyrese noticed the comic impact stating, “It was the first time I was ever exposed to that much selfless passion, to the point to where you don't care how silly you may look -- you don't even consider it silly. ...”, during a CNN interview on September 30, 2009, referring to someone he met dressed in a Superman costume. Tyrese has taken part in making the first digital comic book, titled Mayhem. Mayhem is a superhero that is said to embody raw justice and vengeance. Tyrese mentioned that there were digital versions of his new comic book currently on iTunes. Furthermore, the world famous, pop star Lady Gaga has teamed up with clothing designer Marc Jacobs to create a comic book titled, Lady Saga. The comic book is said to have funny anecdotes about fashion, singing, etc. It sells for about $2 in Marc Jacobs clothing stores. There has also been talk of comic books converted into movies being released soon, such as The Green Hornet, Green Lantern ( of Justice League), and Iron Man 2.
I’ve never been a comic book nerd, but after revisiting my love for my favorite cartoons, I just might become one. I can only imagine how many interesting storyline comic books are floating around. I do not have the tolerance to keep up on episodes of 90210 or Gossip Girl, but I think comic books would be well worth the time. Besides, I only wonder if I’ll find better female superheroes than Storm, of X-Men, and Superwoman.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/29/tyrese.gibson.comics/
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/10/02/lady-gaga-and-marc-jacobs-team-up-for-a-comic-book/
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3402800117.html
The characteristic about your blog that struck me most was the fact that you weren't exactly extremely familiar with your subject itself. Having just learned and researched a lot of this information, your piece flowed pretty well. There were certain areas where I was confused, but that's most likely because I'm a stranger to the comic world. The strongest parts for you without a doubt are when you talk about yourself--your mirror section, if you will. I love this image of you sitting with your cereal watching Saturday morning cartoons because I know I can definitely identify with that. It's probably something everyone can somehow recognize... which gives your piece an availability for everybody.
ReplyDeleteMurphy
As a fellow childhood Saturday morning comic & cereal addict, the beginning of this essay really caught my attention. From then on, though, it felt kind of rambling. It was obvious that you'd researched this a good deal, as it had a range of subject matter, but the subject matter wasn't really synthesized. One second you're wondering why there isn't a minimum age on comic books and the next you're talking about how other people described Lady Gaga's comics. If you had taken one of these questions and zeroed in on it, this would've been a real good essay, but in it's current state, it is overly disorganized
ReplyDeleteAs Ben and Murphy stated before, I can also identify with waking up on Saturday mornings and watching shows like Batman with my brother. Nostalgia shone brightly through this piece. I also like how you chose something you weren't very crazy about and delved into it. Honestly, I wouldn't have thought as comic books as pop culture icon initially, but now i definitely see it.
ReplyDeleteYou should come to Florida sometime. Island of Adventure (theme park in Orlando) has a comic book land.
Alex
I was definitely a part of the comic book craze (not so much superheroes, but the Archie comics) so it was definitely entertaining to read about this. Like Ben and Murphy said, I became a bit confused at different parts of your blog. I feel like there are a lot of interesting aspects, for I was definitely drawn into the collaboration of Lady Gaga and Marc Jacobs, but I had trouble drawing a central question. Otherwise, I admire how you chose a subject that you perhaps knew one side of, such as the television cartoons, but not the root- or the comic books. To me, it seems like you did some sort of exploring through this, which I like, and that although not everyone reads comic books, there is an aspect that people can relate to.
ReplyDeleteChloé
Liyah:
ReplyDeleteI think this piece is about a lot of different things…it flits and dives like a sparrow through a forest…but I think it is really about how to see the world in a new way….that is, in part, what comic books are about , right…I mean they are fantasy…but what is fantasy? Isn’t it to take what you know and to reimagine it….i mean superman is a super “man”….we know what a man is, not let’s re-imagine that ..
And that is true with what you are doing to yourself…I wonder if you are drawn to comic books partly out of nostalgia…true…but nostalgia for what ?....i think it is nostslgia for a time when you were imagining and re-imagining your SELF
So, I would say you have a VERY deep connection to comic books …and the essence is that it was a place where you first can identify imagining a new world…and world that had YOU in it
-David