Literature With Pictures

Where would the world be without comics? If you think about the answer to this question, you will come to appreciate comics like myself and many other fans. Let us start off with the basics. What have we learned from comics? Why do people read comics? Is it merely because they intrigue us with their amazing stories? Or is it because they tantalize us with the dynamic artwork and ideas that most would never even dream of? Perhaps they are used as many other forms of entertainment: an escape. After all, in the modern day in which we live, we could all use a little escape once in a while. Whatever the reason may be, a true comic fan would never deny the euphoric state of mind after finishing one of their favorite paperbacks.

There are many forms of comics we can look at, but let us examine eastern comic art that has become increasingly popular among westerners: manga. Manga is quite literally a Japanese comic, and thus should no way be ignored or treated any different than western comics. Though the two differ in many ways, the ultimate approach or idea behind them is the same. They can both answer the questions above. Manga was not always popular here in the west. Though, after gaining popularity in the 1980’s, manga is so prevalent now that no true comic fan is ignorant of what it is and the origins of some of the more zany counterparts of what we first thought of as comics. Manga truly has taken the west by storm, and there is no surprise as to why. The stories are active, intriguing, bold, and of course they can keep themselves alive. Much like western comics, manga has a place in many of our hearts, and will continue to entertain us for years and years to come.

Though it may not be the first thing that comes to our mind, we have an obligation to appreciate what comics really are. When people see a person reading a novel, they are seen as an educated person, a thinker, an intellectual of sorts. Then why is it that when people see a person reading a comic book or a graphic novel, they are seen as unintelligent, unimaginative, or second-rate. I ask you, why is that? Literature is often defined as imaginative or creative writing. Is there a definition that states literature can not be accompanied by drawings or other images? Do not these images add to the creativity of the writing itself? If there is such a definition that states literature must be words and words alone, then I for one do not stand by it. Comics themselves are an expression of universal ideas. The words and images work in harmony with one another to tell a story that neither words nor pictures alone could tell. Together, they create unlimited possibilities. All that is needed is a little creativity, and a blank piece of paper.