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“They’re not comic books.  They’re graphic novels!”

Heard that before?  It is the usual alibi grown men (and women) give to their friends when caught with a comic book collection.  There is usually some teasing involved, some good-natured and some not, which usually follows up with the guilty party blushing with embarrassment and quickly stowing away whatever trade paperback he or she happens to be reading.

My question is simple.  What is so wrong about enjoying a romp through a comic book?

Let’s see if I can guess the answers.   Usually, the first response is very straightforward…comic books are for children.  My reply would be also rather direct.

You’re wrong.

Quite simply, there is some rather complex concepts being thrown about in your average comic book.  Let’s take a look at the comic shown, Amazing Spider-Man #62.  First seen back in July of 1968, this happens to be the oldest original comic book I have in my possession (reprints don’t count).  The general synopsis is rather self-explanatory.  Super-powered boy meets super-powered girl.  Boy fights girl.  The two find that they are both on the same side, fighting only because of some misunderstanding.  Boy and girl go separate ways.  The typical formula for having one hero show up in a cross-over in another hero’s storyline.  At least, that’s what is on the surface.

But wait, there’s more.  Medusa, as it turns out, is really on a scouting mission, to see if society would be able to accept her as she is.  Spidey is worried about how to win back Gwen Stacy after seemingly betraying her father, with the both of them too heartbroken to be able to speak to each other.  Norman Osborne is slowly going mad as memories of his past life as the Green Goblin slowly begin to surface after suffering partial amnesia.  A company executive tries to manipulate first Medusa, then Spidey…all for the sake of publicizing hair spray.   Finally, Medusa rejects society, regretting the fact that the human race is just not ready for the likes of her.

What do we have, then?  We have a story about seeking social acceptance, betrayal, heartbreak, madness, greed and regret.  Not bad for 20 pages of graphic art.

The colorful graphics and flashy art may pull in the kiddies, but it is the intricate plot hooks, far-reaching story arcs and subtle references to real life that keep the grown-ups entertained, too.

So, don’t be ashamed of those comics, err, I mean graphic novels,  in the corner.  Break out an old one and give it a fresh reading.   See what lies beneath the gratuitous imagery.  You might be surprised at what you find.