From: mcollins@nyx.cs.du.edu (Killans - First And Last And Always)
Subject: Getting non-comic readers started
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Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 14:08:31 GMT

In article <C1CM88.Dr@unix.amherst.edu> kehandle@unix.amherst.edu (KEITH EDWARD HANDLEY) writes:
>
>I don't know of anyone who reads anything hoping to find "maturity," but
>if I wanted to convince someone that there are comics that are enter-
>taining, I'd start them out on a comedy, since people are used to
>reading funny comics in the paper every day.  Of course, there isn't a
>whole lot of funny stuff out there, and not a whole lot of stuff that
>even tries to be funny.  Only when they are comfortable with that would
>I go for some of the serious stuff.  And for God's sake, don't show
>them Watchmen or Dark Knight Returns (wait quite a while for Watchmen,
>bag DNR altogether because it sucked).  You want them comfortable
>with drama in comics before you show them superheroes.  And don't
>let them go into most comic shops, where they have to compete with
>12-year-olds asking the manager who's stronger, Hulk or Thor.
>
This brings up a topic I've been thinking about recently - what are good
examples of comics to lend to non-comics readers when trying to show
what 'good' comics are? In my experience, Sandman seems to be a pretty safe
bet - my SO started on comics through Season of Mists (I didn't push it -
she found an issue lying around me room and asked what it was about. I
suggested she read it, and the rest was inevitable...), another couple of
friends got lent the GNs, and promptly went out and bought their own (as
well as coming back to borrow other things from me). Another friend was
lent Sandman, found it too confusing, but went straight for one of the
Alan Moore Swamp Thing TPBs I had lying around. 

I would tend to agree with the above comment about Watchmen not being 
a good idea - it is best enjoyed when one is familiar with the conventions 
of comics, particularly superhero comics. Having said that, one friend of
mine spontaneously bought it and loved it, despite being a non-comics
person up to that point. He now borrows regularly from me too...

I would disagree with the above comments about DKR. Apart from being a
cracking good read IMHO, Batman is a very familiar character even to non-
comics readers, and the style of writing is less 'comicy' and more 'filmy'
IMHO, and so may be more accessible to people.

Finally, something else I've given people as an example of good comics is
Heartbreak Soup by Gilbert Hernandez (one of the Love and Rockets people
for those who don't know), as an example of comics that have nothing to do
with silly costumes, ray guns and funny-looking villains, and everything
to do with real-life characters in real-life situations told in a moving
way. This has also been met with good responses - unfortunately, when they
come back asking 'Have you got anything else like this?', they are usually
met with an embarrassed silense followed by me muttering about this book
called Watchmen which is about superheroes but is actually reallty good 
honest...

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Mike

Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc