doesn't it seem like comic books were never as popular as they've been shown to be on fictional shows?

Question

it seems like on many fictional shows they show the characters reading comic books as children. but i think in reality, theyre not mainstream at all, even for young children. i mean people know who spiderman is and everything but you'd be hardpressed to find anyone who's actually read a spiderman comic book. do you agree that shows should stop showing kids reading comics when no one actually reads them?

i know some people read them but ide have to say they're not even close to mainstream.

yeah my dad was a kid in the sixties and he never told me anything about that. i dont think they were even that big then.

umm its a question. if your answer is "..." i suggest not posting.

ok missing the question though

Answer 1

when I was a child comic books were popular, Bat Man Superman. Green Hornet, Archie Andrews Ect.

Answer 2

well to answer you questions i would have to first say no it doesnt seem like comic books are not as popular as shown in tv shows, i will give you reasons, the first is ask anyone if they have ever heard of the following characters " the x men, daredevil, spiderman as you pointed out, superman, batman, ghost rider, men in black" those are a few examples of comics that go to hollywood and become blockbuster movies, so if comics are not that popular then why are so many movies made about them, also have you visited a comic shop recently? or have you ever heard of comicon ? and oh yes just a couple weeks ago i watch a television news show that was interviewing a business man who got his start in trading comics. so i would have to say no to your first question, and your second question i dont agree that people dont read comics anymore becuase i know many of people that still do, and no i wouldnt be hardpressed to find someone that actually has read a spiderman comic i can look in the mirror or call over dozen friends and several family members that have. so i think you really should do more research in to how mainstream comics actually are and quit bothering people with half baked ideas about thing that you barely even understand just because you dont read comics doesnt mean that no one else does, i dont listen to rap but i know many of people that do so get a life and read a comic you might find you enjoy them

Answer 3

I think this is a difficult question because the questioner has specified which country and/or which period or what type of comic book. In France, for example, Tintin has been hugely popular for decades and the popularity in France has led to huge readership in the former french colonies in Africa.

I think it also worth mentioning that the 'comic book' is not allways the primary media from which people come in to contact with Superheroes etc. in the past, Newspapers often Serialized superheroecomic strips (I remember the UK's Judge Dredd having a daiy strip in the Star throughout the 80's and 90's, for example).

However, despite this i'd agree there is a disproportionate prominance of some american superhero icons. This is because : a) The US is politicaly and economicaly dominant on the Planet at this time. b) (And this is Key) Many, if not most, writers and artists will have read comic books as children. They may not hve read them for very long nor thnk they are very valuble but they would have formed part of their creative developement. You said you were hardpressed to find any comic book readers, i'd bet you didn't ask many writers. Writers have many bias's which appear in their work (have you ever noticed how drama and films often portray Teachers exceptionaly well? Why not, the writer probably only developed the confidence to go into a writing career because of encouragement from one such 'specail' teacher).

So to sumerise. 1) Comic books and comic book icons play a larger part in worldwide culture than might commonaly be believed. 2) Comic book icons do transpose well to other media. 3) The authors of popular culture were often heavily influenced by them during their creative development.

Finaly, you ask wheather shows should stop referencing them because they are not part of popular culture. This is a very different question. Is your exeriance of the world normative? Was/is your chldhood a good reflection of worldwide experiance? I'd argue that given you have access to the internet your life experiance is atypical, the majority of the world still wouldn't have even seen a real life laptop... Furthermore, i don't think american shows properly reflect the realities of American life, I think american shows present an image of a picture of opulance which is not only atypical but unrealistic by any yardstick. Friends? An out-of-work actor, a waitress and a part time busker manage to live in some of the most fashinble areas of New York? Do you have any idea what kind of rental costs are there?).

Anywho, i'm babeling. Cheers for your attention.

Answer 4

I think comic books were extremely popular with young people in the fifties and sixties but lost a lot of those readers as they grew up.


Comic books are still read today by young people and there are few adults that miss reading the comics in the newspaper.

Take care,
Troy

Answer 5

Comic books were big back in the '60's. Television was still fairly new and there were no video games. We either played outside or read comic books. Television was more of a family get together event. I don't remember any of us four kids sitting and watching tv alone, maybe Saturday morning cartoons but that's it.

Answer 6

I was a total comic book addit as a kid! Not too sure how many kids read them nowadays though...but I think they are still very popular with adults!

Answer 7

It depends on who you talk to. Also, most people still think comics are JUST for kids. If they ONLY knew (V for Vendetta, Kabuki, Sin City, DC's Kingdom Come, etc).

I was really into the X-Men back when Chris Claremont wrote it, and it used to be good.

I hate how the movies totally trashed his characters, and his story ideas. But it made a lot of money, so what do I know?

Answer 8

wrong
when my dad was a kid he says there wasonly the beginning of t.v. no videos etc
they all read comics on a monthly basis and swapped them too
that was in the sixties
which incidentally most of the shows you talk about are representative of
the only thing misrepresented is the age of the readers most were up to 15/16 y.o. not about 20 as seen

Answer 9

Well, some people still reads them. But I read books and Graphic Novels.