Keepin' it real in comics

Comics never really were that popular. Besides around the time of their "creation" in the 30s/40s and maybe they may have had a slight insurgence in the 90s due to some hyped up stories to grab attention (Superman dies! Broken Bat! Hal Jordan, galactic murderer!), but after that, it's only been slipping further. There has of course been a huge influx of comic-themed movies since sometime around the new millennium, but those are probably the biggest payoffs anyone in the industry has seen in the past few decades. This blog isn't really about the state of the comic industry though. It's about comics; a slight obsession of mine since I was barely five.

I've been going through a ton of graphic novels lately (blame the library) and I recently went through the much-lauded Watchmen, and the less-lauded but still excellent Identity Crisis, both from DC. I've read dozens more, but these two have stuck with me the most.

Watchmen, for one, is not just a great comic, but it's great literature; great art; great period. Basically it's about if the world really DID have superheroes, how exactly would they affect things? It's not at all bright-eyed or bushy-tailed, as these heroes are decidedly human themselves. Some of them flat-out insane in their drive. Some with morals that need a little tweaking. There are plenty of other strange quirks to the writing and art itself; with many hidden themes, messages and details that bring the world to life. Ultimately, the book asks the question: is doing the "right thing" always the best thing for us and those around us? The climax is nothing beyond simply... fucked up. At the same time, the writing has a depressing futility to it, an underlying but biting sarcasm, and lacks hope in lieu of "real." There's hope in reality too though isn't there?? The writer, Alan Moore, is a self-admitted and supporting "anarchist" though, so I can see where it's coming from. Despite that one big flaw, if you read one graphic novel in your life, this should probably be it. That or if you grew up on superheroes or superhero comics, Watchmen will mess with the notion of "doing the right thing, at the right time, all the time."

Identity Crisis, which takes place in the regular DC Universe, revolves around practically every big hero and even some small ones, with Green Arrow doing the bulk of the narrating. Identity Crisis may not push the envelope of reality onto its heroes like Watchmen does, but it still deals with very real issues. Basically, have you ever wondered why a hero's secret identity was so important? Ask Elongated Man, who was almost always public about his identity. His wife is murdered in the first 20 pages, even with advanced and alien technology safe-guarding their home. This then sets off a sort of panic amongst all the heroes and their families; brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, children, even friends. When you put on a mask and fight crime, you're not only dragging yourself into it, you're bringing in everyone you know and love; most of which cannot defend themselves as well as you. The other issue explored in this is when a vote is cast in the JLA to not only mind-wipe a villain, but completely alter their personality. Basically... a lobotomy. Is it right? No. But what can you do when you can't kill them and you know they'll still go after those you love when they escape from prison again... oh and they will escape. The payoff isn't all that worth it at the end, as the mystery killer was just... whoops, spoilers. But it's the telling that makes this one of the more interesting DC stories of the recent years.

Comics are always fun to read, but they only tend to get better with a lethal dose of reality. For me at least.