Note: This article is intended for brand new comic book readers -- not longtime comic book fans.
High Profile Comic Book Movies Draw in New Readers
Thanks to popular film adaptations, general audiences have finally come to realize that comic books possess a deeper context than cheesy men in tights swooping in to save damsels in distress.
Over the past several decades, hordes of new fans have come see the value that comic book veterans have known for over 70 years. However, reading comic books is somewhat different than enjoying the characters and stories on the big screen.
Comic Book Reading: A Skill
It happens time and time again: someone watches the latest Batman or Superman movie, loves it, then tries to read a few comics related to the movie. Faced with an entirely new medium with eons of back stories, the new fan gives up after a few issues.
Brand new graphic novel readers often don’t realize that absorbing all the meaning, plot, and dialogue from a comic book is truly a learned skill. It’s takes a certain amount of practice to pick up the intuition and rhythm of taking in both pictures and words at the same time.
Don’t Give Up on Comics! Just Read Them… Then Read More
If a new fan can just pass the first hump of feeling disoriented, bored, or like they are missing something when reading comics, they will surely be rewarded. Comic books are like any new hobby: they require time and practice.
If the first few issues don’t make sense, keep reading. Read as many stories as are available and then re-read them in order to get the rhythm of absorbing pictures and words together.
Check out Start Reading Comic Books for some more excellent beginners tips for comic book reading and see Classic Graphic Novel Gift Ideas for comic book must-haves for true fans.
Graphic Novels for Beginners: Watch Motion Comics First
If after 10 or 20 issues the new reader still isn’t absorbing the story on the first read-through, it's wise to check out some Motion Comics. Several popular graphic novels are available in Motion Comic format. A motion comic is a comic book/cartoon hybrid and may help make reading comics feel more intuitive.
Once the rhythm of reading comics is perfected, the new comic book fan will revel in how amazingly different the rewards of reading comics is from reading books or watching movies. Then next in starting a comic book hobby is to figure out which series are most agreeable to the new reader’s particular tastes.
Differences Between Marvel, DC and Independent Comic Books
If new readers don’t know before they crack open their first comic book, there are 2 giants in the comic book publishing: Marvel and DC. These companies have many similarities and many differences.
Here's a brief history between Marvel and DC Comics for more information. In a very, very brief nutshell:
Marvel Comics are:
- Based in real cities like New York
- Are more character and team driven—super heroes deal with human issues
DC Comics are:
- Based in make-believe cities like Metropolis and Gotham
- Are grittier and darker
- Heroes are more legendary and iconic
Independent Comics are:
- New readers will just have to wade through the mass of independent comics on their own
Learn to Read Comics, Gain a Hobby for Life
In summary, comic book reading is a learned skill with valuable and unique rewards. No other medium has new, relevant stories written every month about characters in existence for over 70 years.
So see what all the hype is about and get out to the comic shop.