What Can Comics Teach You?
by Angelia Ong in Creative Arts | 5 Comments | Add your comment

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“In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil’s might,
Beware my power… Green Lantern’s light!
The Green Lantern Oath, copyright DC Comics

If you’re a comic book geek, you would know this oath. It struck a chord with so many kids back in the day when comics could be read by many different ages and parents didn’t mind paying for them. Many Malaysians would remember rummaging through the boxes of comics that were in certain old bookshops – older and thus cheaper issues to be had – a true treasure trove. I remember reading graphic novel Star Wars as a kid and loved it, and my parents let us buy or borrow comics as kids and my brother still has his. I never knew what happened to my Dazzler comic issue, the first comic I ever owned only because there was a girl on the cover kicking some butt!

I loved (and still love) reading, whether it’s comics or “proper” books. Much has been said about how the reading culture in our country is vanishing and how can we get people or kids reading again, but hardly anyone here says anything about using comics to help kids to gain interest in reading.

There is a movement in the USA right now where groups are lobbying for libraries to bring comics back to their shelves, and to use comics to help kids read more. Children are very visual beings and using comic books to capture their interest in reading would be a great stepping stone to enjoy the practice. There are many age-appropriate readers out there, whether it is movie character-based or the traditional superheroes from the big publishers. Our youngest son got over his reluctance to read “things with lots of words” by reading comics, either with Daddy or his older brothers and he enjoys reading a great deal now.

It doesn’t really matter what the language the comics are written in or what style, whether it is manga, anime or American style comics. A good well written story will engage the reader whatever the medium and this medium is missing from school libraries or in libraries generally. Although our own National Library is working alongside the national comics creators association, Pekomik for A Month of Comics this May/June, it has been noted that there is no section devoted to comics, local or international within the library. Will there be a National Archive of Malaysian comics, including those from the heyday of comics from the 80s? There should be. We need to archive all our creative work, beginning with Malaysian comics.

Why is it so important to maintain the comics industry and how does it help promote a reading culture? As George R. R. Martin was recently quoted in the New York Times from a speech he gave in 1981,

“Every would-be writer needs comic books. I certainly did. I can still vividly recall my discovery of comic books, followed closely by the revelation that this reading stuff was actually good for something. “ Adapted from a speech delivered by George R. R. Martin at Ambercon 3 in Wichita, Kan., on May 31, 1981.

He also went on to say why he found comic books so much more exciting than the ‘readers’ that he had to read as a kid and his teachers had praised his improvement in reading and reading with such expression too! He attributes that to reading comics and what parent or teacher wouldn’t want that for their own kids or students? To find love in reading, opening their eyes to whole new worlds or being able to express themselves, this is something that should be nurtured in kids and in turn adults too.

A hallmark of a developed society is its vibrant arts and creative cultures and Malaysia needs to grow that creativity. There is a slow growing movement that is trying to address this and the lack of a reading habit amongst kids and I really applaud their efforts and support them wholeheartedly. Among those individuals, is Azalia Suhaimi who has even gone onto a local reality TV show to try and raise funds for improving reading and creativity amongst kids, comics included. We need to support her efforts and the efforts of those who are trying to get more people to read, especially comic books. Our country needs more of these Creative Activists!

Locally, there have been commendable efforts by our own publishers to bring kids comics under their titles list, in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin. We need to bring back that heyday where comics was in almost every household and the artists were well respected and in great demand, where comic shops are part of the community consciousness. Comic conventions are a wonderful way to keep that in the public eye and to keep that community thriving and growing, but before that, start that reading culture one comic at a time and don’t just tell a kid to read; read along with them. We have been giving these comics as presents to the kids’ friends to do our own small part in spreading comics around and the kids have enjoyed reading them tremendously and have started collecting on their own account.

So before you buy any presents, why not buy local comics to give as a gift instead?

ABOUT THE COLUMNIST

A lover of words and storytelling, Angelia co-runs a creative consultancy that also works with a collective of creative talents. She is also involved with Pekomik and believes that comics aren’t just for kids and good storytelling transcends all mediums and languages. She believes in the motto “Fortune Aids the Brave” and that passion in whatever you do will get you far. You can reach Angelia via Twitter or Facebook.

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