HOW TO READ COMICS
No, this piece isn’t meant to be as patronizing as the title suggests. I’d like to talk a bit about how comics should be read, as a way of helping new readers getting to grips with the medium. There has been something of an influx of new readers to the comics world thanks to recent blockbusters filling our cinemas with eager new fans. I’d like to welcome those new readers to our rather odd hobby, and help you get the most out of the titles you buy. It can be more than a little daunting at first, when faced with rack upon rack of new releases and endless boxes of back issues, not to mention the spinners and shelves full to bursting with graphic novels. Remember, if you have any questions about getting into comics, feel free to ask the staff at your nearest comic shop, or get in touch with us. We’re in this business to help people find stuff they’ll like, so do ask.
First up, be sure you’re going to get a title you’ll be interested in. If you’re not into the idea of spandex and men flying and want something a bit more adult oriented, try Preacher, Hellblazer, Lucifer, Sandman, or pretty much anything else published by DC’s famous offshoot, Vertigo. If you want full-on Superhero action, you can’t go very wrong with the big names, Superman, Spider-Man, etc. If you want to jump into a well established series, such as X-men, it might be an idea to check the series out on Wikipedia or the Marvel site to get to grips with the continuity a little.
Confused by the terminology involved? Again, just ask. Not sure what a graphic novel is? A graphic novel, or trade paperback (sometimes shortened to just ‘Trades’) are collections of comic books that tell a whole story together. Some collect full series/miniseries of one title, where others just collect individual story arcs for easy consumption. A mini-series, or Limited series, is a standalone story told in four issues or so. These don’t always have to be part of the continuity of the individual universe they take place in, and are on many occasions much more satisfying reads in that they have a better collective story arc. One shot? A one-shot is a story told in a single issue, published outside of an ongoing series.
A crossover? Crossovers are lengthy stories that take place over various titles, for example the recent SECRET INVASION storyline from Marvel, which took place right across the Marvel Universe and thus parts of it were published right across their whole range. Maxi series? A maxi series is a longer version of a mini, running for twelve issues or so, which allows for greater character development and a more gripping plot.
But industry terminology aside, how do you actually READ comic books and graphic novels? Okay, the obvious answer is ‘open them, read the words and look at the pictures’, but there’s more to the medium than just that. Many times you will find the stories are told more by what is going on in each panel rather than the dialogue or narration. Look deeper than just what the people are doing or saying. Check out their body language, their expressions, the background, the things that aren’t said. These things are called graphic novels for a reason- they are novels in which you can delve deeper and garner more detail from what you see in the lines of the art.
The comics industry is so much more than simple talks of derring-do and heroism against powerful villains. The indie titles are full of real life drama and emotion, while even the most commercial superhero titles on the market will carry some dramatic weight. Comics aren’t stupid, they really aren’t. Some of the finest writers alive today make up the higher echelons of the comics pantheon, people like Neil Gaiman, J Michael Straczynski, Brad Meltzer, Warren Ellis and the ubiquitous Alan Moore. There are any number of fascinating and addictive universes out there to enjoy. All you have to do to enter them is browse and ask.