Why comics are complicated

Misunderstood art form comes of age

Not since the 1940s when comic books regularly sold millions of copies has there been such a widespread love affair with them in the public imagination as there is now. Properties based on comics are fodder for topgrossing movies and many weekly hours of television. Merchandising in the form of toys, collectibles and clothing is everywhere. Graphic novels regularly make best-seller lists, and major book publishers have begun producing material for every reading niche. San Diego ComicCon, once a convention for die-hard comics fans only, has become the pop culture media event of the year.

So with all of this attention being paid to comic books, graphic novels and their artifacts, it’s about time someone asked the question “Why comics?”

In her new book, “Why Comics? From Underground to Everywhere,” Hillary Chute does just that and follows up by asking “why?” about a lot of issues that comics deal with. Ms. Chute devotes a chapter each to 10 topics with titles such as “Why Disaster?” and “Why Punk?” and “Why War?” She introduces each concept in relationship to comics and then explores it in depth, using examples of specific stories and creators to make her point.

For example, in the chapter “Why Disaster?” Ms. Chute claims that “Disaster is foundational to comics.” From the earliest days, comics have dealt with disaster in many forms, such as the destruction of Superman’s home planet, the murder of Batman’s parents and World War II. The list goes on and is seen in the ongoing representation of mass destruction in every superhero movie. She delves deeper into the topic by discussing “Maus,” an account of the Holocaust by Art Spiegelman, and “I Saw It” and “Barefoot Gen” by Keiji Nakazawa, a survivor and eyewitness to the bombing of Hiroshima.

Where Ms. Chute is most successful is her ability to do a deep reading that deftly and intelligently focuses on both story and art and how they interact to create new meaning. Many reviews of graphic novels focus on one or the other, ignoring what Scott McCloud (author of the seminal “Understanding Comics”) and many others refer to as “the invisible language of comics.” The image/text interplay is a core definition of what comics are, and Ms. Chute not only understands this, but also is able to convey layers of meaning through her descriptions. While most of the public love affair with comics resides with Marvel and DC superheroes, Ms. Chute chooses mostly lesser known creators and comics to make her points. Even the chapter “Why Superheroes?” uses examples from more obscure graphic novels by Chris Ware and Dan Clowes. These creators may be indie superstars, but other than Mr. Clowes’ “Ghost World,” neither of them are well known to the general public. This choice allows Ms. Chute to more clearly demonstrate the degree to which the image of the superhero and the tropes associated with it has infiltrated public consciousness in the less than 100 years since it was first introduced. By discussing relatively unknown examples of the superhero, she is able to more fully address the fullness of the archetype without it being loaded down with the weight of a specific character and its associations.

The chapter “Why Punk?” introduces the do-ityourself ethos that inspired Matt Groening, creator of “The Simpsons,” to invade and subvert the mainstream with a comics product born from independent creativity. Ms. Chute weaves this DIY mindset into the very bedrock of comics fandom and the ongoing popularity of comics. For all of the corporate product being offered, this is a world where everyone has a voice on the internet where original content can be made public. Whether in the form of comics or blogs or videos or simply connecting with likeminded people, new stories are being created.

The flippant answer to the question “Why Comics?” is “Why not?” In truth the answers are as varied as the number of people who create them or read them. Why read this book? To better understand the questions it asks, about comics, about the world, and about ourselves.