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I grew up reading comics from, well, various contintents, not just the States, so I didn't catch on for years to 'manga is different from comics' or 2000 AD is different from Captain America (okeh, I mean, yes there's differences, obviously, but I mean, there's differences between Fantastic Four and Strangers in Paradox - Paradise - and they both get to be good, honest, American comics, yeah?). I figure my superheroes-only, manga-only, B&W indie WW3 antho only, friends just thought I was off, or something.
Has this lead to my odd fascination of a Human Torch comic with Johnny as proper bishie? Moto Hagio's Green Lantern? Irrational love of Steam Detectives? That Tin Tin crossover with Magneto I did in the style of Jim Lee, back in junior high?
So?
I think way too much is made of cultural differences getting in the way... I mean, the reading may not be what the creator(s) intend, but is it less valid for that? I mean, if it's really odd... even sub-cultural differences can be interpretted on the fly, just like reading a comic about some alien galacto-empire or such.
And art interpretation - I've never understood the problem. I mean, can you not look at a Picasso and then a... I dunno, Mike Kelly event, and have interpretations of them? Watch 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' followed by a Tom and Jerry short, and not understand both?
I can make out a story from random ink spills on concrete, so if there's actually an intended narrative, hey, how hard can it be.
And for Americans who complain, all I can say is, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LIEFIELD!!!
So it's just a matter of what you prefer then, art-wise, story-wise, genre-wise, whatever. Sappy romances, big fights, sketchy mania, or pop cult intense explosions are not limited to one country or one style and it just kills me that things have to be pushed and proselytized over and over, to get someone to pick up a comic because it's got funny-looking eyes or oversized biceps or, horror of horros, it's in watercolors and everybody's Chinese and fading at the edges! Without actually cracking the book open and reading a page or three, anyway.
If you don't like something, you don't like it, but I can't stand the whole pre-judge thing. I admit, sometimes you see something like, oh, cute girls in love fall into murder mystery, and think, ooh! Ooh! I must have! and it turns crap four pages in and never recovers. Or you want nothing but big explosions and glorious magic superhero splendor and the hyper-realistic painting or overly-preachy dialogue kills it. But I don't think I've ever taken a look at a cover and thought, no way, I'll never, ever, ever read that. I might not pay for it, but if a copy comes my way, I'll at least give it a shot.
From Mike Diana to Kenichi Sonoda to, to, to George Morrison or BePapas, CLAMP, and Gail Simone... there's got to be something that works for you. I'd say, unless you're blind, but you know, I've known blind kids obsessed with Batman and Ranma 1/2 comics, so even that doesn't hold.
And, in closing, I should kinda apologise for how stupidly emotional this became... and how long. Blame it on the meds and a moodiness from being sick for a week. |
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