Are Comic Books Art? Why Titles like Batman, Spider Man, X-Men, and Anything by Alan Moore Are Art

In this article, I explained my interest in the gaming field and why it should be considered art. Next in line is a bursting field in the entertainment market, that of comic books. Just in the past few years, several popular super hero movies have been successfully done. The best was likely "Batman Begins," but there were also several X-Men and Spider Man films of quality.

This begs the question: Are comic books art? Does proving themselves in the film medium tell us they should gain more respect?

Perhaps one of the more respectable creators in comics in Frank Miller. In the past years, he co-directed the film "Sin City" which was based on his series of graphic novels of the same name that were published by Dark Horse. There was also the film "300," though, when comparing these two films, I think "Sin City" reigns supreme.

Is film art? There would be little question that films are art, as they are an old and popular medium with many top talents. There have been talents like Truffaut and Kurosawa in this field.

Comparably, there have been many top talents, both in writing and illustrating, in the field of comics. I've already mentioned Frank Miller, but Alan Moore is the best writer out there.

Comic books are art because they provide a similar thing to movies: Images of action, dialogue, and, most importantly, storytelling. There is a reason money continues to be made in comic books. There is also a reason many creators have said the medium is in danger. It seems that telling the same stories over and over again is old. Top writers like Warren Ellis are trying to move away from super heroes, but the field of comics is full of such characters. Super heroes are what sell comic books in most cases.

So, you can see some of the argument, but just having super heroes who aren't realistic isn't the reason many don't consider comic books art. The main reason is that they are so popular with young adults, and many older people would rather read a magazine or a novel.

Still, many avoid the novels of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, as they aren't considered high art.

It seems that, even with many films made, comic books will always be a step behind in getting the national recognition they deserve. The fact is, some of the best stories ever told have made it into comic books.

The question remains, but I think the combination of words and images clearly make comic books an art form.