Sometimes, I feel singled out as a comic book fan. I love all kinds of comics, be they web comics, superhero comics, graphic novels, or whatever. However, some people do not feel that my hobby is altogether normal. The consensus among many is that comic are a lesser form of literature, fit only for kids and adults who think they are kids. However, were the majority of comic book detractors to actually crack open a comic, they might see the truth. The truth is that there are many comics that are simply for fun. They are like candy in the literary food pyramid. Some should be allowed, but exclusive consumption is detrimental to your literary health. However, there is another side to the coin. Comic books can be deep, nuanced, and serious in nature. They can serve as social commentaries, allegory, art work or simply detailed, well-plotted stories. Today, I would like to point out two comic collections that show two different aspects to the more sophisticated side of comics.

My first pick is Bone by Jeff Smith. As far as comics go, Bone is one of the greatest epics ever penned. On first sight, its cartoonish style and decidedly childish look seem to suggest that Bone is simply another example of literary candy. However, once one begins to read through it, a deep, intriguing storyline unfolds, involving long lost royalty, dragons, and ancient evils on the verge of breaking the world. The nature of Bone's artwork is charming and rich, ranging from the classic cartoonish look to incredibly detailed and realistic looks. And like the art work, the tone of the story changes from one scene to the next. Jeff Smith excels in bringing out the belly laughs one minute and then tugging heartstrings the next. Bone shifts from light-hearted fun to incredibly serious action and plot twists at the drop of a hat. This keeps the reader engaged in the story and helps keep a sensitive balance of humor and drama which complement each other greatly. You will find that Bone, though a comic, is a worthy rival of many written fantasy novels.

But aside from story, comic books are a valuable source of art and though some comics focus little on story, they make up for it in the beauty of their craft. The perfect example is Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay. This stunning collection of weekly comics from the early 20th century are masterpieces of comic art. The subject matter, a young boy who travels to a magical land in his dreams, is extremely bizarre and odd. The writing leaves much to be desired, but in this case, this doesn't matter very much at all. The art work is grand in scale. Winsor McCay, given a fantasy realm in which to play, took great liberties in creating the most intriguing landscapes and astounding characters. On any given page, one might encounter giant mushrooms, talking lions, multicolored-storks with legs a mile long or any other oddity which caught McCay's fancy at the time. Do not let the bizarre nature of the comic deter you. His use of muted colors creates an interesting palette and not an inch of paper is wasted. Every bit of paper is drawn on, leaving a huge selection of art for your eyes to drink from with every flip of the page.

Whether you like deep story lines or simply beautiful artwork, comic books hold something for you. Comic books are not limited to the simple, brainless childhood fantasies. If one were to delve deeper into the world of comics, they would be pleasantly surprised by the amount of quality art and literature.

Learn more about this author, M. Santiago.
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