Learning From Comic-book Characters and Romantic Movies

You might be surprised to learn that, for a substantial part, comic-book readers are neither children nor teenagers. Enthusiastic collectors know every Spiderman adventure by heart and, nowadays, internet sites allow people to trade old editions of Superman adventures. We cannot tell exactly how many adults are still burning with that flame, but the number goes into the thousands.

Romantic movies and pocket books are steadfastly consumed by many women from the cradle to the grave. The details portrayed in sentimental tales have become more explicit in the last decades, but the old feelings are still there. The size of the market, if we include romantic TV serials, amounts to billions of US dollars per year.

The demand for stories continues to grow worldwide, 24 hours a day, never taking a single day of vacation. Since Ancient Greece, the three acts are still played out relentlessly, as though the world had never changed. The discovery of a kindred spirit, the abandonment to passion, and the victory over difficulties fill our television screens, movie theatres, bookshops, and popular magazines.

What lesson can be learned from this flood of adventure, action, and everlasting hope? If you think that this is a meaningless phenomenon, please pause and make a list of the people you know who never watch such films, buy such books, or follow such stories on TV. Chances are that your list will be short. Here is why:

1. An important segment of the population draws their ethical convictions from popular fiction, whether in the form of novels, films, or television episodes. Intellectual approaches to morality, philosophy, and happiness are as rare as purely rational investors.

2. There are good reason why human beings prefer to take their ethical cues from fiction rather than from professional philosophers. If only because movies, TV films, and comic-books are more fun, cheaper, and more readily accessible than sophisticated moral discourse.

3. Amongst a wide variety of abstract ideas, it is difficult to tell which one is true. On the other hand, fiction can be quickly judged as entertaining or boring, satisfying or disconcerting. Well-constructed stories present self-contained value assessments that can be instantly apprehended.

The conclusion is not that you should discard organized thinking and research as tools for establishing the truth. By all means, push your intellectual and business pursuits forward, but do not underestimate the difficulty of communicating complex chains of thoughts to unfamiliar audiences.

My point is that stories offer a short-cut for presenting ideas. A dry exposition will always lose against a sequence of dramatic images held together by clear motivation. Making your argumentation easily accessible is frequently as important as ensuring that you are building your thoughts on consistent premises.

When it comes to the ability to show what is right and wrong, comic-book characters and romantic heroines form the most effective group of teachers to learn from. Let us acknowledge the power of sharp story-telling, extract the best it has to offer, and use it to our advantage.

JOHN VESPASIAN writes about rational living. He has resided in New York, Madrid, Paris, and Munich. His stories reflect the values of entrepreneurship, tolerance, and self-reliance. See John Vespasian's blog about rational living.

http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com/

Comic Book Reviews for 09/15/10
Business never slows down in the comic book industry. This week we have reviews for Halo, God of War, Green Lantern, Spider-Man, Deadpool, Thor, Wolverine, G.I. Joe and many more comics. Read on to see what we thought!
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Female Comic Book Characters and What They Mean to Comics

Early female comic book characters were limited to supporting roles or used as damsels in distress. They were the Lois Lanes and Lana Langs; characters that mattered to a certain extent, but not as much as the male leads. But since comics were primarily marketed to the male population, this was acceptable and expected.

With the role of women becoming more prominent in society in later years, though, more and more female comic book characters took on larger roles, like Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl. These women were not simply supporting characters, but lead characters who took a backseat to no one as they trail blazed the way for the future of female comic book characters.

In modern times, female comic book characters are as diverse and plentiful as their male counterparts. Whether in the superhero genre or various other genres, more and more women characters are seen every day. This is especially the case in Manga, the Japanese comic book form, and Anime, it’s television equal. The bulk of these stories are primarily targeted towards a female audience and thus feature lead female comic book characters like Cardcaptor Sakura.

Traditionally, superhero comics with female leads have been hard sells for whatever reason. Many heroines have had their own series only to be canceled after only a few issues. There are a few exceptions, though, like Birds of Prey, a DC Comics book that features a team of female comic book characters fighting crime, which has lasted well over 100 issues. And Marvel Comics’ Spider-Girl, featuring Spider-Man’s daughter, May Parker, which was saved from cancellation three times thanks to fan support.

In the early 2000s, Crossgen Comics also created several books with strong female leads, like Sojourn, Meridian and Crux, that forced other companies to take another look at their own female comic book characters. Today, Ms. Marvel and Catwoman are both doing well with their own titles, and Image’s Bomb Queen has had several mini-series and continues to carry a strong fan base. And when mentioned female comic book characters, one can’t forget Aspen Comics’ Aspen Matthews and her book Fathom, which became popular in the 90s and still has a strong following even though it’s not currently producing many issues.

The rise of strong female comic book characters, especially in superhero comics, is obviously intended to extend the audience beyond the typical target market, giving female readers something to relate to as well. And with female characters stepping up even in male dominated team books, like Emma Frost and Storm in the X-Men books, should comic companies continue to cater to this growing audience it should reach its goal. And more readers for comics is always a good thing for the medium.

Top Ten Comic Book Characters

There are thousands of comic book characters in existence from past to present. Many are well known while the majority are more obscure to the general public. And while top ten lists are generally subjective and based on opinion, there are certain comic book characters that will be discussed in this article that are worthy of that distinction by most standards. These are in random order.

Superman - There absolutely cannot be a top ten list of comic book characters without the Man of Steel. He's one of the first (arguably THE first) superhero to ever grace the four-color world, and thus his history is one of the richest. He's also one of the most popular in both comics and worldwide as viewed by the general public. He represents truth, justice, righteousness and morality. And while many find it hard to relate to him, those same people look up to his characteristics and admire his altruistic spirit.

Batman - Not quite so altruistic, but every bit as popular and loved is the Dark Knight. He may not always do the right thing, or do it the right way, but his motives are always pure, and his intent is always clear. He's a thinking man's hero, but he's also a warrior's hero. He's well rounded and complete, and a little bit gritty, and that's why we like him.

Spider-Man - The boy next door; the everyman; the geeky kid a great majority of us can relate to who overcomes the odds and becomes something great. Spider-Man gives us hope that we can achieve that same greatness in our own special ways. He truly is a standard bearer and a true hero to the core, always trying to do the right thing, but many times messing it up horribly, thus proving he's still human, and thus endearing him more and more to our hearts.

Lex Luthor - The arch-nemesis of the 'Blue Boyscout', Superman, Lex Luthor is all kinds of evil wrapped up in money and a well pressed, expensive suit. He's diabolically clever and vicious, and he never lets Supes sleep on the job. Cementing his legacy as one of the greatest villains of all time, Luthor wins our allegiance for the depth of his character and his driven purpose.

Captain America - Maybe not as popular in modern times as he was in the days of World War II when he first appeared on the comic scene, but still a symbol of America and classic comics from the Golden and Silver ages. Captain America is displaced and so he views the world a bit differently than the rest of us. He sees things the way they should be in his mind, which isn't always the most popular point of view. He's often portrayed as a boy scout, but truthfully he's much deeper than that, and that's where the appeal lies.

Wolverine - Overused or not, Logan is one of the most popular comic book characters in existence today. When he first burst onto the scene in the revitalized X-Men he quickly gained an everlasting fan base because of the difference he brought to the table. He's not your typical do-gooder hero, though he always does fight for the right causes. He's temperamental, at times insecure, rude, crude and unpredictable. He's a loner with a heart of gold and a penchant for violence. He's an anti-hero who takes no crap, but at the same time he deeply cares about those he surrounds himself with. And it's those complexities that make him stand out in our minds.

Wonder Woman - The first widely received female superhero, Wonder Woman is by far the most popular female comic book character to date. She comes from a world where women are dominant, which gained her popularity early on in the women's liberation movement. She stands head-to-head and toe-to-toe with any male superhero, and she shows them up oftentimes. She's a strong, beautiful, intelligent and yet still feminine heroine with a costume that has become more than iconic.

The Joker - The thorn in Batman's side rightly deserves a place on this list for his epic battles with the 'Caped Crusader'. Of all comic book characters in the superhero realm, there is none quite like the Joker. He's maniacal, insane, and ruthless, yet charming, smooth and debonair at the same time. He's a mass murderer and a child killer, and he's obsessed with Batman. He's just too crazy not to love!

The Flash - If underoos and t-shirts are any indication, The Flash is one of the most noticeable and popular iconic comic book characters of all time. He's a fan-favorite of comic readers and non-comic fans alike. He's known worldwide and his trademark red costume with the white circle and yellow lightning bolt are instantly recognized. But more than appearance, it's his powers and his wit that land him on this list. He's one of the original comic relief superheroes in the genre with his sarcastic and humorous banter that rivals that of Spider-Man. And who doesn't love super speed powers? He's the best at what he does.

The Incredible Hulk - Mr. Green Genes himself has to make this list merely for his iconic status in the world of comics and beyond. He's a classic hero that has gained notoriety through comics, television and film. And with the popularity of the second Hulk film that just released, his star will only continue to rise. Couple that with the massive success of Planet Hulk and the Incredible one is a force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s his intense power, or the dynamic between that power and the weak, but intelligent alter-ego Bruce Banner, we love him no matter what.

There are many other comic book characters that could have easily made this list, like Magneto, Iron Man, Robin, Green Lantern, Professor X and so many others. The names represented above, though, are undoubtedly some of the greatest comic book characters ever created.

100 Best Characters: EW cover
Get a taste of special issue: Daniel Radcliffe on Harry Potter -- and Eric Cartman; see more faves in mag!

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Just wanted to know what some of your favorite comic books or graphic novels are. I'm into Marvel and my favorite character is Deadpool, but have an open mind for other comics and such. Let me know.