A question or quandary if you will…
What exactly is a comic book anyway?
Or more to the point what is your definition of a comic?
Let’s do some investigating shall we…
Here is Wikapedia’s definition of a comic book…
” A comic book is a magazine or book containing sequential art in the form of a narrative. Comic books are often called comics for short. Although the term implies otherwise, the subject matter in comic books is not necessarily humorous, and in fact its dramatic seriousness varies widely. The term “comics” in this context does not refer to comic strips (such as Peanuts or Dilbert). In the last quarter of the twentieth century, greater acceptance of the comics form among the general reading populace coincided with a greater usage of the term graphic novel, often meant to differentiate a book of comics with a spine from its saddle-stitched form, but the difference between the terms is ambiguous, as comics have become increasingly available in libraries and mainstream book stores. ”
Pretty succinct.
Pretty Dry also.
The real question for me is ” can a comic be a comic, if the story or the art is less than….lets use the term …..
GOOD?
For some, I would probably say, yes it can. I am sure that there are alot of people who read comics purely for the storyline. Maybe you are an aspiring writer and you have a favorite comic writer. This writer is your inspiration, the person you would most like to model yourself after.
That is fine.
I also know that there are some who feel that art is the thing, and that they have a favorite artist ( or artists ) who they aspire to style wise. And because of this, they will buy a comic featuring this artist’s work, even if the storyline is lacking.
That is fine also…I guess….
On the other hand, maybe a comic just isn’t a comic with out great art!
I mean look at the definition above again…
” book containing sequential art “
That pretty much sums it up right?
Thus the dilemma…I’m sure that everyone has their own preference as do I and I am going to share that preference with you now, thus also answering the aforementioned question…
For me, a comic cannot be a comic without the visual. That’s right, without great art that translates the writers script or storyline if you will, said comic is DOA!
I’m sorry, but this is a fact, if the art cannot convey the story visually, than the comic tanks!
I’m going to crucify myself here,but one of the greats in comics, Mike Mignola of Hellboy fame, is just not my cup of tea. I have never picked up one of Mignolas’s titles…why?
Because his artwork to me is just terrible!
And no, Mike is not the only one. I have no problem mentioning a Batman artist
( choke )…pardon me, named Norm Bryfogel, who was single handedly responsible for my not reading the Batman title for several issues back when he was responsible for the art.
So the real dilemma, for us, the readers of today’s comic book is why should I ( or you for that matter ) pay $2.99 and above for comics that do not have both of these essentials that make up what is defined as a comic book?
The answer is we shouldn’t, not at todays prices. I think that the big three, need to realize that we are tired of comics that do not contain both of these vital ingredients that make up the comic in the first place.
Oh and one more thing, while we are talking about what a comic is…a comic is not a comic if it isn’t in my hand….in other words if a comic is habitually late, or when the next issue of your favorite new title, doesn’t arrive at your local comic shop for several months past it release date, why buy it than!
Haven’t you lost interest at this point? I know I have!
In closing, what makes a comic….
A great Story that makes sense, is well written, and if said story lasts for several issues, doesn’t drag and lack substance.
In other words issue two of that three part storyline, isn’t just filler.It has a purpose in furthering the story.
And Art that compliments, and translates the writers thoughts and words into pictures, in this case art, and yes both of these should be of the best quality possible!
And the last factor to what is a comic…
it’s in my hand, on time, every month, not every few months.
Period.
Okay, no more dilemmas for the rest of the year!
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