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by Ben Erdrich

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If you don't like comic books, more than likely you aren't looking to become an avid reader. However, there are many comic books out there that can change your opinion and turn you into an unintentional avid reader anyway.

If you flat out are opposed to the idea of reading a comic, then there's probably something wrong with you because the comic book is one of the greatest storytelling formats ever. They are a combination of art and writing, and when done correctly it can turn into one of the greatest stories you will ever read. Even if you don't like comics and are convinced they are all superheroes in tights fighting the same old bad guys day in and day out.

What you may not know is how evolved the comic book format has become since the heydays of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Black and White storytelling was how it was done. Good guy vs. Bad guy, silly and dated dialogue, all the things one thinks of when the word comic book is spoken but not that descriptive of today's standards of the industry.

One day, some up and coming comic book writer decided to throw some realistic parallels into his work. That man was Stan Lee with Peter Parker and his actual real world kind of problems however unrealistic and simplified they were for the time. At the time, most comics were whimsical and let you escape reality with some wild and crazy adventure with cartoonish characters. Today most comic books have a lot of realism in them in some form. While the story may involve the last son of some exploded planet fighting aliens to protect the Earth, it is usually done in a realistic fashion. Or at least as realistic as you can be with that concept, by using dialogue and more serious styles of drawing.

In the 1980s, a renaissance came over the comic book world. Darker tones were set and the writing evolved from there as did the art. A man from Britain came and wrote a story about superheroes in a real world setting and how politics changed everything for them. That story was "Watchmen" by Alan Moore. Then a fellow by the name of Frank Miller took Batman 20 years into a dystopian future and created "The Dark Knight Returns" and the entire industry was reborn. Campy characters, light and fluffy cartoonish worlds were replaced with a real world setting. That kind of writing exists today, more and more the superheroes are put in a modern world mirroring the real one.

But it's not just superheroes today. The industry has evolved into multiple genres, or actually revived multiple genres from before the age of the superhero. There used to be Horror, Romance, War, and all these varying genres in comics but the superhero sold the most and that's what an entire generation or two discovered as a child. Today there are multiple independent comics not necessarily about superheroes but real world situations.

If you are not a fan of the traditional superhero comic book, check out the other genres. Many independent books, as well as those released by the big companies, fit the title. DC releases such titles under it's mature reader themed branch known as Vertigo. DC's Vertigo line is designed for mature readers by creating non-superhero titles of a darker theme usually. It's the perfect place for an anti-comic person to start reading some comic books.

One those mature titles being DMZ by Brian Wood. It is a look at the near future in a war torn united states. A realistic and grim look at the potential of a second civil war. Y the Last Man by Brian K Vaughn tells the tale of a plague that wipes out every male on the planet, except two, a young man and his monkey. It's the world run by women and the madness that comes knowing there is no next generation. There's also Fables by Bill Willingham, set in a world where every fable, folklore, tall tale, fairy tale and bedtime story is real. The characters exist and a war split them from their homelands and made the immortal fables cross into the real world centuries ago and forced them to hide amongst the normal humans right up to the modern age of New York City.

Marvel comics also throws into the mature themed line with their own imprint MAX. But they take it a step further and usually include their existing characters and settings in the adult world. Most notably, The Punisher, especially the issues by Garth Ennis really bring this dark and grim character to life albeit a violent one. Beyond the Punisher exists series such as Alias about a private investigator/former super heroine Jessica Jones, known for her foul mouth and contempt for the superheroes she has to deal with in everyday life. But besides the mature themed lines exists great titles like Nextwave: Agents of HATE written by Warren Ellis and art by Stuart Immonen. "It's an absolute distillation of the superhero genre. No plot lines, characters, emotions, nothing whatsoever. It's people posing in the street for no good reason. It is people getting kicked, and then exploding. It is a pure comic book, and I will fight anyone who says otherwise. And afterwords, they will explode." According to Warren Ellis, and it's true.

Outside the big mainstream companies of DC and Marvel exist many good books by great writers and artists. Invincible by Robert Kirkman is a refreshing new take on the superhero genre. Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai is the story of a samurai rabbit in an anthropomorphic feudal Japan. Sin City, the crime noir sensation not only relies on great story but distinctive art style by the writer/artist Frank Miller.

Pick up any of these titles if you are looking for some good non-traditional comic book experiences. It's the best way to get someone who does not read comics into comics. Even if you do not want to be an avid reader you would find these titles and more enjoyable. If you don't like comic books try these stories, and you still don't enjoy them after that, then there's just no pleasing some people.

Learn more about this author, Ben Erdrich.

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