Do You Think that There is Any Value from Reading Comics?

I disagree with the statement that there is little value in reading comics. Undeniably, in a few cases, it might not be totally beneficial to the reader but I believe that for most people, comic-reading has more than a little value.

Comics are the bridge between the world of written words and that of pictures. A child who has been used to seeing picture books with few or no words at all would find it helpful to read them before attempting books with more complex reading material. It serves well as transitional reading material.

Comics are widely varied. While there are comics with blood and gore and very little storyline to speak of, there are also comics with very good storylines that have been painstakingly designed, sketched, inked, and printed to give an excellent comic that could in its own way be called a good piece of work.

Comics are pictorial - many find that they convey an idea or a story much better than mere words and that the pictures add life and excitement to the story. They stir up the imagination of children, and aid in developing their own creativity. A child's imagination, which later affects the way he thinks and plans, is not of little value, and anything that can help develop it is of use.

These picture books are not just for children. Almost every major newspaper carries daily comics strips and surprisingly, they are enjoyed, not just by children and teenagers, but also by adults. Comics provide relief from the stress and monotony of everyday life. Even adults - or rather, especially the adults - turn to comics for a laugh and to relieve the tension from work. It is important to have a sense of humour, to be able to laugh at something, and certain comics can help by providing something humourous. Comics bring some amount of humour into our lives and are not of little value to us.

Sometimes black humour and satire in comics can be used to poke fun at events and people. A local cartoonist has recently completed a book on the Tiananmen Square massacre, a book with a difference. It is a book of comics, slyly poking fun at what happened and what the Chinese leaders said or did. It its own way it brings out the tragedy and sadness more poignantly than any written article ever can.

In Japan, comics are widely read and the variety available is extensive. This love of the Japanese people for comics have been put to good use. Some Japanese companies have published little comic booklets with fictional companies and characters to show people how to deal with difficult situations as they arise. Along the same lines, the Singapore newspapers have recently taken to explaining the whys and hows of various government policies through cartoon strips. For example, a two part cartoon special was used to illustrate the problem of super-jams and the necessity to curb the car population. It depicted a fictional character, Mr.Lim, who was stuck in his car for hours in a super-jam which developed as a result of an increase in the car population. These comics are especially useful to bring across a message to children, be it on road safety, oral hygiene and even the importance of reading.

Just as authors have fans, certain comic strip characters have their own following. A good example is the legendary Superman, the 'man of steel' who was conceived so many years ago in America. His exploits cross language barriers and are widely read by many avid fans all over the world. Comics have brought great enjoyment to many people and they continue to do so.

Collecting comics is the treasured hobby of many and they have often been put to good use. During World War 2, certain American comic strip characters were used to depict the battle between good and evil (with their side as the good) to boost the people's morale. A 'Captain America' fought bravely and proudly displayed the American colours and symbols on his costume. A 'Spiderman' battled with the dreaded 'Red Skull', an evil charac-ter from Germany who embodied the evil qualities the enemies were supposed to have. Even in war, it was not of little value to read comics.

Comics vary widely and whether it is of value to the reader depends largely on the nature of the comics. It is of little value reading comics that depict senseless fighting, inhuman behaviour and lots of blood and gore. But comics that proudly endorse what is good and right. can implant the beginnings of morals in children. Comics that sketch imaginative and beautiful stories provide comic relief and enjoyment while others bring across important messages to children and help them in the transition to more difficult books. In my opinion, the benefits outweigh the potential for harm. The value of reading comics is unquestionable for these picture books are part of our society, as drawings crudely painted on walls were to ancient civilisations.

Indeed, comics have so much to offer. It remains for us to be discerning in our choice of comics to read and if the right ones are chosen, then reading them is certainly not of little value.