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Stories Matter

Marvel Comics Civil War

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It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve just completed reading the complete Marvel Civil War arc.

For those looking for more details, it was nearly a hundred separate comics, including the main Civil War story, tie-ins from Wolverine, Spiderman, Front Lines, Fantastic Four, and many more. The arc included some of the lead-up issues of Spiderman and Iron Man and ended with a handful of The Initiative storyline. In short, it was most, if not all, of the comics that dealt with the event.

Overall I was impressed, even if I was a little let down by the ending. I’ll avoid specific spoilers here, though.

I’ve already written quite a few pieces on comics, but the journey over the course of the past two years has been really interesting. I’ve had many misconceptions about comics shattered, and it’s been fun to read the comics that inspired the Hollywood juggernaut. I think that Civil War highlights what comics are capable of, while at the same time illustrating the limitations of these massive worlds.

First, a little background for those who haven’t read the comics. Civil War begins when a group of superheroes get in a fight near a school. In the course of the fight, there is an incredible explosion, killing over 600 students and teachers. In the wake of the tragedy, Tony Stark becomes the face of a movement to register all superheroes. Those who don’t register, led by Captain America, become fugitives who are sent out of our dimension when they are arrested. From that premise the whole situation develops into the eponymous Civil War.

What I loved most about Civil War is that it tackles a complex problem from dozens of different viewpoints. It deals with dark events and themes, and for the most part, it’s easy to see why superhero registration would be such a divisive issue in the Marvel world. It’s easy to sympathize with characters on both sides of the issue, and in the thousands of pages of illustrations that create the entire story, we see the registration act from all sides.

I think what makes Civil War particularly poignant is that the debate within these pages echoes a debate that I see in much of our civil discourse today. Those who register believe that while superhero registration may cost them some liberties, that sacrifice will help keep the communities they serve safer. Those who oppose registration have concerns about the erosion of their liberties, and whether or not any government or agency has the ability to manage superheroes well.

We see this debate pop up in our political discussions all the time. We struggle to find the balance between government oversight and liberty, and it’s a hard, hard question. I think our society’s answer to that question is a balance that will constantly shift as the years go on. I appreciate that Marvel doesn’t simplify the issue into something black or white. The heroes on both sides have fantastic reasons to believe in what they do.

Marvel created an enormous crossover event that mirrors the challenges we face in our daily life and gives us the opportunity to see the issue from so many different angles. The discussions and the actions they lead to (with life-altering consequences for many of our favorite Marvel heroes) ring with authenticity. It creates a powerful storytelling environment.

And I think to me, this is one of the reasons why the whole enterprise fell a little flat in its final act for me. For one, after so much buildup, it’s hard to create a satisfying conclusion. But it also shows the limitations of the medium. Marvel built a complex, challenging story, but the arc still ended with a fistfight and a surprisingly sudden conclusion.

In fairness, I’m not sure, had I been at the helm, I would have thought of anything better. It’s a nearly impossible story to close. But I know that I wanted more.

Still, I’m very glad that I read the series. It’s probably my favorite overall comics story.

The real question is, what Marvel comics event or series should I read next?

The message and the medium

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In the past three months, I’ve noticed that my viewing and reading habits have shifted, and it’s caused me to think about a subject I’ve never really spent much time on: the ways in which we consume our stories.

One part of life that I’m trying to get better at is to only spend time doing the things that I love (as much as possible – changing diapers usually isn’t much fun – but still altogether necessary). Those who know me know that I’m a notorious completionist. No matter how much I don’t like a movie or a book, I’ll keep going. It’s a practice I’m trying to change, and because of that, I’ve been eliminating shows and books from my life that I don’t love.

Along with this trimming, I’ve been adding as well. Thanks to the influence of a wonderful editor, I’ve discovered a love of comics that I’d never realized, and I’ve gotten back into thrillers as well.

When everything is put together, what I realized is that the majority of what I’m currently consuming is anime and graphic novels/comic books. Those mediums aren’t everything I’m consuming, but they are a substantial portion.

Leaving aside the question of what my entertainment choices says about me, I’ve been thinking about the place these mediums have in our society. Both are mediums that are frequently judged by many, and I’ll confess that I used to fall into that camp. I used to consider both anime and comic books lesser forms of entertainment, even though I based that judgment on nothing more than feelings and cultural bias.

What I have discovered, as I dig deeper into these mediums, is that there is an incredible breadth and depth to both anime and comic books. Like any other medium, there will always be shows and stories that are better than others, or those that we are drawn to more. But I don’t think that’s any indictment of the medium.

As I thought about this question, I asked a number of people why they did or didn’t like the mediums, and I think there’s some good answers. For both anime and comic books, there seems to be a general feeling that they are products for children, and not for adults. I can see this argument, but after experiencing these stories, I think its very safe to say that many of these stories are intended only for adults.

A second reason I encountered, which specifically applies to anime, is that the cultural differences can make a show difficult to watch. There’s no doubt Japanese culture is fundamentally different than American culture, and if you don’t have at least a decent understanding of how Japanese culture functions, it can be difficult to enjoy an anime show.

The final reason people gave is that the subject matter is too different or fantastic for them. And I suppose I can see their point. If the limit of your fantasy is the latest Marvel movie, or perhaps The Lord of the Rings, then yes, anime and comics can go into some pretty strange territory. But I’d argue this is actually one of their strengths. I think some of the most imaginative work is coming out of these mediums. It may not be for everyone, but for some, it’s powerful work.

Perhaps my argument could be summed up like this: there are worthwhile stories everywhere. I don’t think I have the authority to say any one show or story is good and another bad. That can only be up to you. But I do believe we should have some courage and be willing to experiment with different mediums. Try an anime show, or a comic book, or a graphic novel. If you read romance, try a thriller. If you only read novels, try a short story. Let’s not let the medium of the story prevent us from discovering and enjoying them.

How Graphic Novels are Changing my Life

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As many of you know, I love stories. It’s this love of stories which has always drawn me to writing, but it also makes me an avid consumer. I love movies and books and TV shows, and there’s always far more available than I have time to consume. It’s a great problem to have.

If there’s one way I’ve been a failure (and there’s actually been many ways – this is just the one I’m pointing out today), it’s been that until recently, I’ve not given comics and graphic novels enough of a chance.

When I was younger, I was always interested in comics as an idea, but I never was interested enough to figure out how to buy them. As a boy growing up in very small town in the 1980’s comics weren’t accessible. The small local library didn’t carry them, and I didn’t know how to convince my conservative parents that I should be reading comics and they should bring me places hours away where I could buy them. Complicating the fact was that none of my friends were comic fans, so I couldn’t rely on them either.

As I got older, I looked down on comics. They always struck me as something for kids, and I didn’t have time for kid’s stories anymore. It wasn’t until Watchmen (the movie) came out, that I decided to give comics and graphic novels a shot.

I fell in love. On one hand, they’re much easier reading than the huge novels I tend to read. You can speed through them, or better yet, page through and enjoy the brilliance of the artists who work on them. I’ve read the entire Akira series, Watchmen, Sandman, and a handful of actual comics, Batman and classic Spider-man.

Here’s what I love the most: when an amazing writer, like Neil Gaiman or Alan Moore, can use short, evocative prose that perfectly matches the artwork of a talented artist. It creates an emotional response beyond what words and pictures can easily say alone.

I’m hardly an expert on graphic novels. I’m only just getting started, and there’s much to discover. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.