Introduction
For
some people, the word “nerd” might bring to mind images of a skinny
teenage boy with braces and Coke-bottle glasses. The nerd was once a specific
brand of social outcast: one who never talked to girls, did well in science
class, and read comic books religiously. Well, I have news for you: the nerd is
no more. Outcast boys have learned that there are also outcast girls, that
being good at science is no longer something to be embarrassed about, and that
reading comic books is something everyone can enjoy.
Still,
not everyone has hopped on the comic book and graphic novel train. Some people
don’t take comic books as seriously as they take other books, and most people
don’t realize the benefits of reading these visual masterpieces. So, what are
some of the benefits of reading comic books?
#1: Comic Books Help People Learn to Love Reading
Lots of
people, especially young readers who are struggling to improve their reading
skills, can benefit from the visual format of comic books and graphic
novels. With their intense visuals and focus on plot and characters, comic
books can be much more engaging than other literary media, such as novels or
short stories.
Comic
books may also help people develop the reading skills required to comprehend
texts with higher levels of difficulty. When people read comic books, they
learn how to process information differently, as we’ll explore in the following
section. Further, comic books and graphic novels can help people learn
information that they may otherwise find boring, such as
stories from history or other educational information.
#2: Comic Books Help Us Think Differently
According
to University of Windsor English professor Dale Jacobs (2007), comic books
require readers to create meaning using “multiple modalities.” Readers of comic
books must process all the different components—visual, spatial, and textual—of
what they are reading and integrate these components into one solid understanding
of the story. This means that, even though comic books may appeal to readers
for the same reason these individuals are drawn to other forms of
entertainment, such as television and video games, reading these books actually
involves much more complex processing. More research remains to be done
regarding the neurological benefits of reading comic books, but it is evident
that there is far more to this genre than simply “looking at
pictures,” as some critics of comic books believe.
#3: Stories May Be Good for Your Brain
No
doubt you’ve been told that reading is good for you. Growing up, you were
likely told that the more you read, the better a reader you would become.
However, if you aren’t interested in being a good reader in the first place,
this really isn’t much incentive to read more. But what if reading were good
for more than just getting better at reading itself?
Neuroscientific research by Berns, Blaine, Prietula, and
Pye (2013) indicates that reading stories actually has a noticeable effect on
brain function. This study showed how reading a compelling novel changed
participants’ neuron activity not only while they were reading but also for
several days after they finished the novel that was assigned to them. Stories
can actually change the ways in which our brains function and the ways in which
we think—and tell me, what’s a more story-based medium than comic books?
#4: Comic Books Are Cool
Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles. Batman. Wolverine. Green Lantern. Superman.
The Incredible Hulk. Men in Black. Captain America. The Fantastic Four.
Iron Man. Spider-Man.
Unless
you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely heard of all of these
characters. You’ve probably even seen most of their movies. You know why?
Because superheroes are cool. And where do superheroes originate from? Comic
books. If you enjoy big superhero blockbusters, such as The Avengers or The
Dark Knight, there’s no reason you won’t enjoy the stories from whence
these adaptations came. There is a whole culture to explore surrounding comic
books and their adaptations; why not join the fun?
#5: Comic Books Are More than Just Superhero Stories
Okay,
so maybe you’re not into superheroes. That’s fair. But did you know that you
can read comic books and graphic novels about lots of other topics, too? There
are tons of comic books out there sans evil villains or vats of toxic waste,
such as the Scott Pilgrim series, The Walking Dead, The Sandman, and many more.
There are also tons of great graphic novels and graphic nonfiction books out there, such as Alison Bechdel’s autobiography, Fun Home; Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis; and many more. Many of these stories, just like your favorite books, explore weighty themes and feelings. The visual nature of graphic novels allows you, as the reader, to experience these themes in different ways than you do when reading a traditional book. Don’t limit yourself to regular prose; explore everything the world of comic books and graphic novels has to offer. You probably won’t like everything you encounter, but then again, you don’t like all the books out there, either. You just have to explore and find what’s right for you!
Source: https://www.scribendi.com/academy/articles/reasons_to_start_reading_comic_books.en.html
