I do.
I, at one time in my life, had my doubts. I was well read and my boyfriend at the time read mostly comic books. We never really discussed it, but I thought he was wasting his time. I thought it was childish.
One day, in the early 1990, he asked me if I would like to go to the comic book store with him that week. I figured "Why not?" and I went. I wanted to see where he goes every week for a few hours. We had a local comic book store that would hold copies of new comics, or any you wanted, behind the desk especially if the owner knew you well and you came in every week when the new releases came out.
My ex was a Marvel man. He went his way, and he told me to look around and if I found something that he would buy it for me. Well, what did I find but "Sandman" by Neil Gaiman. It had just come out. I have the whole collection as well as the Death spin-off and a host of other comics that he either wrote or helped write. I picked out a few other comics also that day. I had already, without knowing it, cemented myself in the comic world and as a DC girl.
So each week we would go and Sandman was my favorite, but I had comics like Spawn, Animal Man, Lenore, and to be honest I would have to go down in my boxes (the comic book people know what boxes I am talking about) to give you a huge list of titles I followed.
Then, after breaking up with this man, comics started getting more expensive than they already were so, with a broken heart, I stopped collecting comic books.
Come back to June of 2013. After not being able to read for 14 years due to medical issues, I am suddenly able to read again. I started with two books my mother had purchased for me. Then I went to Barnes & Noble and to my wonderful surprise, I found BOOKS by Neil Gaiman. I could not believe it. I started with The Graveyard Book and went back the next week and purchased Neverwhere. I plan on reading all of his books. No one can weave a story like Neil Gaiman. And I have read the reviews on his other books. All very good.
Since June, I have continued to read all genres of books. And then I met a friend named Luciano and he told me about ComicCon. I had heard of it but I never went. I spoke with my husband about going, because it would be a big deal to go into New York for the day with my health like it is. But luckily they had badges you received identifying you as someone with a medical issue and they have all kinds of help on hand for example storage for you medication. I have to thank my badge because after seeing the line for the "Robot Chicken" panel, I explained to the gentleman at the end of the line I could not stand on the line that was wrapped three times around ropes. I was not expecting a line jump, that is not what the badge is for. But you are not supposed to sit on the floor so I wanted to know what to do. I was told to see the lady with a blow up mallet at the beginning of the line and she ushered me in to the panel room and sat me in the fourth row! I thanked both of them profusely when I came out.
So at ComicCon, and I can write a huge article on just that day, but I saw as well as met, so many independent comic book writers, and some book authors. And I came home with 5 books and about 30 comic books. And that is when I started thinking, how different are they?
A comic book is really a book in parts. And it is illustrated of course. But the stories are incredible. I would hope that people who like Neil Gaiman look into at least his graphic novels (a bound collection of comic books, or a longer comic but usually part of a series). He is still telling a story like a book does but you just have to go back to the comic store each week for the rest of the story.
I found out in buying my passes for ComicCon at a comic book store I had never been to (the one I used to go to closed some time ago) that some old comics titles that are still around, and some that were popular and that I liked while collecting and have been reworked and re-issued.
After talking to so many different comic book writers an New York ComicCon (NYCC), what they were telling me is what I think what any author of a book would talk about. Their original concept, what happens to the character, the players involved, and plot twists. Plus many other aspects of telling a story. This is when I really began to see that comics most certainly belong in the world of books.
If you are not a comic book fan but you are an avid reader, go to your local comic book store. Look around. Pick up a comic-they don't bite! And ask the people there to help you. That is one good thing about comic book stores. Most of your employees are comic book lovers and are a wealth of information. If you tell them what you are looking for, they will find it for you.
I will continue to read my books, and I still have not dove into my pile of comics from NYCC yet. That I cannot wait for. But I did read, because I was lucky enough to win a copy from goodreads.com, Batgirl #3:The Death of a Family. Hardcover. It was really good. Now I have to get Volume 1 and 2 so it makes more sense. But that is when the wheels started spinning and the idea for this post came about.
Give a comic book a chance. And tell me how it works out I would love to know! I bet you get hooked on at least one story line.
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