Comic's Negative Stigma

[mikegraham6]

iSteve's thread about Kids and comics got me thinking about how the general public perceives the medium. Do you think the idea of comics being "kids stuff" is still prevalent. I'm sure most people are aware that there are socially revalent graphic novels out there (i know a lot of people who have read Maus) but why do i still feel apprehensive about telling people i read comics? I always feel i have to explain to people that they aren't just superhero fare, and even those aren't written for children anymore. It's hard to get my friends to read them.
An example: one of my roommates has gotten a sudden facination with all things Zombie. so i told him that i have an amazing book about zombies, probably one of the best interpretations of the genre i have ever read. this peaked his interest, until i pulled out my Walking Dead trade. he gave me this look like "you expect me to read this??" and then said "this isn't a book, its a comic" i eventually convinced him to give the first book a shot and now he's begging me for the second. So he knows that there is actually various kinds of comic litterature out there but when i suggest other comics to him, he is still apprehensive and its like pulling teeth getting him to read watchmen (but he did like Preacher).
So what do you guys think of this situation? do you run into this often as well, and as a fan community how can the comic reading audience tackle this stigma? do you think its going away or is it just me who thinks it's still prevalent?

[humphrey-lee]

I think people are fools and it'll be a sweet, sweet day when I rule over them all and crush all these insolent ones....


...... I got that idea from Doom...

[mikegraham6]

BAH! All impudent non-comic readers! BOW BEFORE DOOM!

[ekval]

I don't even sweat it normally. This is one of those cases where I just feel free to let my dork flag fly. In particular with regard to superhero stuff. I mean, I like some non superhero stuff, but I got into and stay in comics for superheroes.

Of course, letting that fly is perhaps why I have no friends....j/k

[fred]

I still get weird reactions from people about comics, but not nearly as often as before. Maybe comics are more acceptable, maybe I'm defined as more weird

toss up

[k33k3r]

I don't get as many weird reactions anymore as well. Either people just don't care anymore or just don't realize that I'm an avid reader.

Actually funny story, at my old job one day my boss came up to me and started asking me what titles were safe for his kid to read because he had been out of the comic scene for years (I would have never taken him for a comic person) and didn't want his kid reading something a 8 year old shouldn't.

I pointed him in the direction of the Ultimate lineup and a few other books. I can't remember what books I told him to stay away from but he was happy for the advice.

[mister-s]

I think people are starting to come around to the fact that comics are a medium, not a genre. My wife and I had a really long talk about this yesterday (we are high school English teachers). Comics are not only literature, but a type of literature entirely unto itself.

[horatio616]

People now think of comics less as a domain of kids and more a domain of dorks, like Star Wars, Star Trek, etc. etc.

[xyzzy]

I read my comics on public transit and nobody's ever expressed anything other than polite interest. Some people even read over my shoulder, which is a bit rude, but I don't mind.

[k33k3r]

I read my comics on public transit and nobody's ever expressed anything other than polite interest. Some people even read over my shoulder, which is a bit rude, but I don't mind.

Yeah I use to have that happen all the time when I used the bus to go to work. Oddly though a couple days later I saw the kid reading his own on the bus. So it helped get another person reading comics.

[iSteve]

When I got back into comics, I wasn't too keen about letting others know about my new obsession. Then my kids "outted" me to an adult friend. Turns out, he was a fanboy too. And another friend of ours turned out to be a comic fan as well. Before you know it, we have our own little Richmond chapter of adult fanboys. We go to local comicons together and drag our kids along. One way or another, we are going to pass along the tradition.

Out and Proud - to be a fanboy.

[iSteve]

My obligatory post to reach the 500th mark! Yeah! Do I get a prize?

[alexg]

I definitely think comics are generally thought of as "adult geek" rather than kid fare nowadays. Comics don't seem part of the things that surround kid culture anymore anyway--videogames, collectible card games, tv, crappy food-that's the world for kids now. Comics just aren't part of it now. Despite a lot of talk about how comics 'aren't written for kids" anymore (a belief I've subscribed to myself) I think that when I was a kid I would have really dug a lot of the stories that are being told now, and I'm sure a lot of other kids would to. Comics can still do what the medium is great at-distilling real world events/ideas and having those ideas speak through archtypal characters. Maybe comics are just too old fashioned for kids now. Eh, too bad, less buyers means it's easier for me to find back issues when I want them...hmm...maybe that's not so good.

[fred]

My obligatory post to reach the 500th mark! Yeah! Do I get a prize?

they should do no-prizes

can I get one for becoming #1 later tonight or tomorrow?

and welcome to 500+

[jgg0610]

Like many of you, I've struggled with how much of my comic reading becomes common knowledge at work. However, last year, I changed jobs mid-year, and since starting here, I haven't gone out of my way to hide my reading habits as I did at my last job. I don't know really what made me change my habits other than I guess I was just tired of not reading the books during lunch that I really wanted to read. There is one friend at work who I have lunch with on a fairly regular basis and we occasionaly discuss comics. Every single one of these conversations has ended with her calling me either a Geek or a Dork (not in a mean spirited way). I think people still don't really understand that there is a whole lot more to comics than superheroes.

[kwok_talk]

My obligatory post to reach the 500th mark! Yeah! Do I get a prize?

A kiss from Al Gore as passionate as he is giving in your avatar. Anyways, congrats!

[kal]

Yeah, there are still people out there that don't realize that there are more to comics than super heroes, but I also think there's still a negative stigma because comic books are dominated by super hero titles -- and let's be hoenst with ourselves, super hero comics are are still pretty juvenile.

Look at your pull list each week. For 90% of us (myself included), I would wager it's dominated by super hero books. Now, I'm not saying that superhero books can't be socially relevant, deep, or meaningful... but come on, 95% of the time, they're throwaway serial fiction featuring lumbering men in tights. As long as super heroes dominate the American comic market, the regular Joe will think it's still a juvenile form of entertainment. It's a hard point to argue when you walk into just about any comic store and see racks filled with Batman and Spiderman books along with action figures, statues, and all that other stuff.

Look at this way: As long as you can buy Spider-Man or Batman underoos for your tots, the superhero genre will not be respected by the mainstream public.

[cam-]

For the most part I don't notice any stigma about reading comics, the folks at work know I collect, and occassionally ask about books, or rather upcoming comic book movies.

And I've introduced a bunch of my friends to various books, just from having books lying around.

I hate to say it, but I do find women to be less accepting, or judgmental about comics, at least the ones I've worked with. I've been in a couple of arguements where I've said "What's wrong with a comic based web-site? It's a hobby, no different than you keeping up with celebrity gossip" only to be met with incredulance. "Celebrity gossip is REAL LIFE!"

Still that's not true of all women, I bet I could sway some opinions with Strangers in Paradise it worked for my wife...

[conorkilpatrick]

I hate to say it, but I do find women to be less accepting, or judgmental about comics, at least the ones I've worked with. I've been in a couple of arguements where I've said "What's wrong with a comic based web-site? It's a hobby, no different than you keeping up with celebrity gossip" only to be met with incredulance. "Celebrity gossip is REAL LIFE!"

It's funny, I've never met a single woman like that. Most all of them have found it endearing. Even girls that have been dubious about comics at first quickly came around.

[fred]

My wife reads some titles, but nothing with anyone in tights in it. Well, maybe you could argue Runaways(but that's still different than Cap). And while she does make fun of me for it, overall she's rather supportive. She even went to Day 1 of the con and the iFanboy party with me this past weekend.

[iSteve]

My wife reads some titles, but nothing with anyone in tights in it. Well, maybe you could argue Runaways(but that's still different than Cap). And while she does make fun of me for it, overall she's rather supportive. She even went to Day 1 of the con and the iFanboy party with me this past weekend.

Sounds like you are a lucky man, Fred.

[horatio616]

I got my girlfriend to read the Ultimates Volume 1 HC and she said she liked it. Also, she went to see Ghost Rider without complaining and is going with me to see 300 even though she's not sure she can handle Leonidas's screaming for two hours.

[fred]

Sounds like you are a lucky man, Fred.

it would be really easy to come back with a sarcastic answer to this, but instead I'm going to be mature.

Thanks I think I am.

That was really hard. You ever hear What's My Age Again by Blink 182? It's my unofficial theme song.

[fred]

I got my girlfriend to read the Ultimates Volume 1 HC and she said she liked it. Also, she went to see Ghost Rider without complaining and is going with me to see 300 even though she's not sure she can handle Leonidas's screaming for two hours.

I could not get my wife to see Ghost Rider, but then again it was about what I expected so I didn't push it.

[cam-]

Perhaps its just the Jerkwads I work with. Don't get me wrong they're ligh hearted about it, but still don't understand the attraction.

I did convince one to read Pedro and Me as well, but she seems to think that it was an abberation more than the Norm...which may be true.

[alexg]

I've gotten my wife hooked on the Case Closed-Detective Conan Manga. She can't get enough of that. I'd intro her to some American stuff if I found the right things...too much angsty stuff won't cut it.

[mikegraham6]

It's a hobby, no different than you keeping up with celebrity gossip" only to be met with incredulance. "Celebrity gossip is REAL LIFE!"
first off Celebrity gossip is definitely not real life. that shit is a soap opera like any other, just look at Entertainment Tonight and how they follow that meaningless garbage on a daily basis. It's like calling reality tv real life, it just isn't, it's plastic.

I usually keep my comic reading habits to myself except when speaking to my friends. I have long drawn out conversations trying to explain to them my love of the medium and certain genres. But at work i tend to keep it to myself just because i find that i have to explain it and im just not down with spending the time or energy doing that with them.
Kal is right though, as long as comics are dominated by superheroes, the stigma will persist. I love superheroes, the idea of superpowers is confined to the comic medium and thats why i read them, but my interest in this has led me to discover other great stories as well. I would never have read Y the last man or Preacher had the Ultimate Spider-man not rekindled my interest in comics. I just wish books like that could garner more mainstream attention, i think a lot more people would enjoy them.

[esophagus]

Today I went out shopping, and while waiting for my ride I stopped in at the bookstore to just sit, wait, and read. I grabbed Harvey Pekar's Masedonia, and sat down on the couch to give it a go. There was a group of women sitting in the chairs just down from me, who I overheard whispering "I can't believe anyone his age would still read comics". Now I know this kind of thinking has really slowed lately, but it isn't gone. Yeah, there are millions of people reading comics, but there are (I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way) millions of black people, and that doesn't stop stereotyping there. I have ran into people stereotyping me for reading comics numerous times. A lot of my best friends do it. "You know you can sit with us and read that. We won't make fun of you for reading comics, I think it's cool that you still like that kind of stuff" "Thanks" But actually, I'm not sitting with you, because I'm kind of upset at you right now, not because I read comics.

Any of you guys get this for enjoying comics much?

[senoj1]

Ya I'll always remember when i told my friend i was reading a comic. and he goes "You better not tell anyone else that."

[horatio616]

Either it's gotten a lot better or it's not bothering me as much. Probably a combination of both. Geek is a lot cooler than it used to be.

[itsbecca]

I get a mixed bag. I often save some of my comics to read at work on Thursday if I know I'm going to be slow, plus bring trades all the time. My biggest critic last week came by my desk a few weeks ago to chill, then nonchalantly picked up one off my stack and read. Granted he always say they're stupid when he's done, but I know better. In other words there's a bit of a stigma, but just be patient with people and they might surprise you.

Some other people at work are pretty cool. One of the big cheeses always asks what I'm reading and said my green arrow wallpaper looked cool (even though he didn't know who it was...) And I even found a salesguy who is a huge Batman fanatic and collector who's bringing me some of his old stuff.

Then again I also had the guy at my last job who did the whole "You're a GIRL who reads COMICS?!" thing... then he ranted about his wolverine collection for the next ten minutes and argued that he could beat superman in a fight. That always turns me off so much. And as much as I hate superman... give me a break.

[mikegraham6]

I started a thread similar to this wayyyyy back when i first started coming to this board called Comics negative stigma (http://www.revision3.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4349&highlight=comics+negative+stigma).

i used to be really self conscious about reading comics and i'd always hide, but f*ck everybody else man, i get a helluva lot of enjoyment reading these things and if they think all comics are childish they are just ignorant, it's not my problem. now i read them all the time, on the bus, in Chapters, wherever

[labor_days]

Eh, people rarely give me flak for reading a comic. And I take 'em to work, rock shows, bars, city parks, beaches, etc.

No doubt a lot of folks probably think they're silly. But nah, nobody's ever said anything to me. Sometimes people are surprised in much the same way Becca described.

[esophagus]

I started a thread similar to this wayyyyy back when i first started coming to this board called Comics negative stigma (http://www.revision3.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4349&highlight=comics+negative+stigma).Stigma, damnit! I didn't search that one.

Anyways, yeah, it rarely gets to me. In fact, it rarely happens. High school though, I guess kids can be worse with stuff like that. I was reading Watchmen in biology, and the kid behind me saw Mr. Manhattan, fully nude, and told the teacher I was reading "porno comics". But I have also noticed a lot of people that seem really cool about it. Theres the select few that give the "I read a cool batman once" and the rest that give a "Hmm, whats that about? Looks cool.".

[kwok_talk]

I was reading Watchmen in biology, and the kid behind me saw Mr. Manhattan, fully nude, and told the teacher I was reading "porno comics".

My coworkers didn’t really know I read comics until I was driving to lunch and there was a copy of Alias on the floor. Stupid mature/explicit label. They probably thought it was porn.

[acomicbookgirl]

Today I went out shopping, and while waiting for my ride I stopped in at the bookstore to just sit, wait, and read. I grabbed Harvey Pekar's Masedonia, and sat down on the couch to give it a go. There was a group of women sitting in the chairs just down from me, who I overheard whispering "I can't believe anyone his age would still read comics". Now I know this kind of thinking has really slowed lately, but it isn't gone. Yeah, there are millions of people reading comics, but there are (I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way) millions of black people, and that doesn't stop stereotyping there. I have ran into people stereotyping me for reading comics numerous times. A lot of my best friends do it. "You know you can sit with us and read that. We won't make fun of you for reading comics, I think it's cool that you still like that kind of stuff" "Thanks" But actually, I'm not sitting with you, because I'm kind of upset at you right now, not because I read comics.

Any of you guys get this for enjoying comics much?

In order to retain my sanity at work I bring a couple of trades and try to read them during breaks and lunch and on ocassion when I need to clear my head. I get the dumbfounded looks when they pass by and what not but I don't care. On ocassion I'll get a question here or there but that's about it. I need to keep my sanity somehow don't I?

I was in Borders earlier and I was reading some stuff and after I was done reading Kingdom Come one of the sales people was like "did you just finish it?" I said yeah. and he asked me what I thought and I said I liked Marvels better. I love Alex Ross but his Wonder Woman is somewhat disappointing.. We were talking for a bit and apparently he went to comic con and had a booth. New found friend I guess.

[labor_days]

Ross totally draws Wonder Woman too old and severe. He did a nice job with her on the recent JLA though.

[acomicbookgirl]

Ross totally draws Wonder Woman too old and severe. He did a nice job with her on the recent JLA though.

He has his moments but the majority of the time, i'm disappointed.

[briangilmore]

He has his moments but the majority of the time, i'm disappointed.

Hell yeah. Nice.

Also, Conor, you get the endearing thing b/c you're ****in adorable!

Now for a real post:

Comics have the same stigma they always have. Sure, it skews more towards the geek than towards the child nowadays, but the comic geek is generally seen as "guy who loves and knows way too much about kid's stories".

To most people, comic books are basically what they see in saturday morning cartoons in paper form.

It's the Ghost Rider movie, The FF movies, Spidey 3, Daredevil movie, all just in paper form. I think this is what people see when they think "comics"...only worse. Most people probably think of golden age style dialogue too. "You'll never get away with this, fiend!"

It gets worse. Who's gotten this?:

"Oh, you like comics? Yeah, I read Archie when I was little. Do you like Marmaduke?"

When people talk about the sunday funnies, I kind of go...alright...I'm not even trying here. (deal breaker with girls?...maybe?...)

That's my two cents.

[esophagus]

It gets worse. Who's gotten this?:

"Oh, you like comics? Yeah, I read Archie when I was little. Do you like Marmaduke?"

When people talk about the sunday funnies, I kind of go...alright...I'm not even trying here. (deal breaker with girls?...maybe?...)

That's my two cents.
Agreed. I absolutely hate that people have these perceptions of what a comic actually is. "I used to like peanuts" will earn you a kick to the face, if you expect that to be your comic reading experience.

As for being a deal breaker with girls, I don't really think so. I think this came up on the forums before. Anyways, yeah I really don't care. If a girl can accept the fact that I read them, I'm good. I don't expect her to even take a shot at reading them. But once a girl thinks its stupid, makes fun of it, or wants me to stop, it's probably going to be done. My sister is 13. Everytime I buy a comic she says "Guh. What a waste of money". But everytime she gets paid she goes to some retarded store and buys another expensive item of clothing. It's all perception, and people need to be willing to look at it that way.

[briangilmore]

Agreed. I absolutely hate that people have these perceptions of what a comic actually is. "I used to like peanuts" will earn you a kick to the face, if you expect that to be your comic reading experience.

As for being a deal breaker with girls, I don't really think so. I think this came up on the forums before. Anyways, yeah I really don't care. If a girl can accept the fact that I read them, I'm good. I don't expect her to even take a shot at reading them. But once a girl thinks its stupid, makes fun of it, or wants me to stop, it's probably going to be done. My sister is 13. Everytime I buy a comic she says "Guh. What a waste of money". But everytime she gets paid she goes to some retarded store and buys another expensive item of clothing. It's all perception, and people need to be willing to look at it that way.


See, maybe I'm just more severe than that, but I don't like it when someone can't be open minded enough to EXPLORE and respect the medium for what it is: the best medium out there with which to produce storytelling art.

I think comics are better than film, television or any other visual medium (maaaybe not literature, i suppose...let's go with VISUAL art) for expressing a writer's vision.

- You don't depend on actors to portray what you are trying to emote, just a competent artist that can run everything by you and you can work closely with.

- You really put your own voice, your ownperception and your own tone to it without depending on the work and assumed solidarity of a crew of hundreds or dozens.

- It is direct. Your head to the page, like literature, only it leaves less to the imagination...in a good way. It gives you an exact vision of a world and/or character that may never exist in a television show or a film (at least not well) due to tone alone.

Anyway, I hate when people look down on comics instead of wanting to hear more...even after a year and a half of dating me. hahaha.

Seriously, though. Comics are a great medium, I just think people need to be exposed for them for greater respect.

[jo11ypenguin]

When I started my new job in May my boss asked what days i would like off.
I told him Wednesday. He looked at me a little puzzed and asked why. I told him wednesday was new comic day. So now i have wednesdays and thursdays off, and he always talks about the new comic movies with me when he sees them. I always take a trade with me to work to read at lunch. It is either looked over buy most, because i am the "kid" at work, but often people will ask what i am reading, and that the "cover looks cool". One of my supervisors sometimes asks me on tuesdays what Im getting on wednesday so I give her a quick run down so as not to bore her. The only person who has given me any greif about it is that one rich snob girl that every work place has (yeah that girl) and she said "why would you read a comic about a preacher?" I just smiled and walked away.

[esophagus]

See, maybe I'm just more severe than that, but I don't like it when someone can't be open minded enough to EXPLORE and respect the medium for what it is: the best medium out there with which to produce storytelling art.

I think comics are better than film, television or any other visual medium (maaaybe not literature, i suppose...let's go with VISUAL art) for expressing a writer's vision.

- You don't depend on actors to portray what you are trying to emote, just a competent artist that can run everything by you and you can work closely with.

- You really put your own voice, your ownperception and your own tone to it without depending on the work and assumed solidarity of a crew of hundreds or dozens.

- It is direct. Your head to the page, like literature, only it leaves less to the imagination...in a good way. It gives you an exact vision of a world and/or character that may never exist in a television show or a film (at least not well) due to tone alone.

Anyway, I hate when people look down on comics instead of wanting to hear more...even after a year and a half of dating me. hahaha.

Seriously, though. Comics are a great medium, I just think people need to be exposed for them for greater respect.I understand and agree completely. I wouldn't call it better, but I think it is definitely at least par (I say this merely because most visual arts have had a showcase to keep them up with the rest). Anyways, I think the fact that they acknowledge it is good enough. If a person says "Yeah you read comic books, fine, they're just a bit childish for me" I dont consider that proper acknowledgment. But if a person just isn't into it, but understands theres a lot of good stories there, fine, whatever. There are great films, not everyone likes film.

[acomicbookgirl]

The lines I got were either "I used to collect them when I was in High School" or "That's for kids".. Things didn't work out with them..

[esophagus]

The lines I got were either "I used to collect them when I was in High School" or "That's for kids".. Things didn't work out with them..
I once got a "Dont be ashamed, I used to like that old Spiderman cartoon". People seem to assume I'm ashamed when I read at school, because I don't do it with friends. I'm not ashamed, I just findit rude to sit with someone else, and completely ignore them in favor of a book.

[acomicbookgirl]

I once got a "Dont be ashamed, I used to like that old Spiderman cartoon". People seem to assume I'm ashamed when I read at school, because I don't do it with friends. I'm not ashamed, I just findit rude to sit with someone else, and completely ignore them in favor of a book.

I had a friend who does that.. Made it fair game for me to bring out the trades and read them.

[jo11ypenguin]

I wear my ear phones (with ipod turned off) when i read in the break room at work, and people dont bother me and suck me out of the story because they assume I cant hear them, its kind of nice.

[mikegraham6]

I understand and agree completely. I wouldn't call it better, but I think it is definitely at least par (I say this merely because most visual arts have had a showcase to keep them up with the rest). Anyways, I think the fact that they acknowledge it is good enough. If a person says "Yeah you read comic books, fine, they're just a bit childish for me" I dont consider that proper acknowledgment. But if a person just isn't into it, but understands theres a lot of good stories there, fine, whatever. There are great films, not everyone likes film.

As much as i hate the childish argument, you have to admit that superhero comics, with their tights and good guy VS bad guy battles, have a bit of a childish element to them. sure they are written more mature now, but the original concept is pretty simplistic.
That being said, i still don't approve of discounting them solely on that basis, once you get over that initial suspension of disbelief, most people will find some really good stories and deep character development (for the most part). Of course there are always people who can't get over that first hump, so in those cases i usually give them an indy book (Blankets is one of my GO TO books for girls, Preacher for guys).
I agree that it's moved more into the realm of geek rather than child. Whenever an ad for a superhero movie comes on TV my roommates start asking me superhero questions, and when i know its a long-winded and convoluted answer, i'll reply with "do you really want to know? because i'll tell you..." and sure when i go over something like the Galactus/Silver Surfer storyline it sounds kind of goofy, but it's just a story that i know well, i see it more as a lovable quirk than anything else:D
Comics are just another form of storytelling really, one of the few serialized forms of entertainment left outside of TV but I'll be the first to admit that the idea of superhero comics is somewhat juvenile in nature.

[smaktakula]

Sorry to jump in late, but this is a topic near & dear to my heart!

For many years I wrestled with the comics stigma. I've been reading comics regularly since I was about five years old. When I got to high school, there was a lot of pressure to keep my hobby under wraps, and so I did. It made things easier.

But in college, I found it not to be a problem at all. Most of my friends didn't read comics, but there was no stigma.

However (and this is another topic), I'd also been a secret RPGer since high school (haven't played in several years, but that's due more to circumstance than choice). That I kept close to the vest (in fact, I had a post-college job where being a gamer was roughly equivelent to rolling into work loaded). RPGs--now THERE's a stigma.

So as long as gamers are around, comic-nerds always have someone to look down on!

Gamers, in turn, have furries.

[xyzzy]

I would say that, yes, comic books are still perceived as somewhat childish. On the other hand, I would also say that there's less of a stigma now about enjoying something that's somewhat childish.

[kahunablair]

The funny thing for me is that I don't hide really hide my comic reading. It just never comes up in my workplace. After all I'm the youngest guy here. Most everyone else is 30-50 range, and spend their time discussing golf.
Most of the time my comic reading comes out in conversations in which someone sees my sketch pad or sees my doodles. The art convo usually turns into the Comic zone pretty quickly when they ask, "Shouldn't you be doing this for a living or something?" pretty quickly.

All in all I've been lucky with this, I'm a geek and proud of it.

Now as far as the other side of the Stigma, I think it was partly because of "us" that it became that way. Like any stereotype that didn't fit the status qou mold, we were set apart. Because of that, Comic people formed groups and cliques, and became inclusive. So the idea of the Comic Book Guy on the Simpsons became the stereotype of all readers. Which in turn made things a little more defensive and in turn, more inclusive.
Now with the dawning of the Geeks being cool, the walls are blurring and falling down. Sure some thinking from the past still lingers, but the majority of society has changed.

[esophagus]

As much as i hate the childish argument, you have to admit that superhero comics, with their tights and good guy VS bad guy battles, have a bit of a childish element to them. sure they are written more mature now, but the original concept is pretty simplistic.
That being said, i still don't approve of discounting them solely on that basis, once you get over that initial suspension of disbelief, most people will find some really good stories and deep character development (for the most part). Of course there are always people who can't get over that first hump, so in those cases i usually give them an indy book (Blankets is one of my GO TO books for girls, Preacher for guys).
I agree that it's moved more into the realm of geek rather than child. Whenever an ad for a superhero movie comes on TV my roommates start asking me superhero questions, and when i know its a long-winded and convoluted answer, i'll reply with "do you really want to know? because i'll tell you..." and sure when i go over something like the Galactus/Silver Surfer storyline it sounds kind of goofy, but it's just a story that i know well, i see it more as a lovable quirk than anything else:D
Comics are just another form of storytelling really, one of the few serialized forms of entertainment left outside of TV but I'll be the first to admit that the idea of superhero comics is somewhat juvenile in nature.It does sound childish, which is why the stigma kind of sticks. I think comic movies, especially the ones like 300 or V for Vendetta, have really helped to get rid of some of that stereotyping though.

[esophagus]

Today in english we were going over what we'll have to write for our diplomas, and how we really need to work on our strengths in writing. "People who read, can usually write. So if you read comic books, its time for you to pick up something to be taken seriously". Now I might have to only read comics for the year, and test this bogus theory.

[redlibertyx]

My roommate continually bashes my love of comic books. One day I will stab him with a blunt object for it. I mean he claims that comic books are written for 12 year olds, which granted many of them are, but I don't think Fables was written for a 12 year old audience, let alone Wanted, Punisher MAX, or a host of other books I read.

Sure I still pick up the 12-year old friendly titles, but that's mostly cuz I've been reading Ultimate Spider-Man since Free Comic Book Day and I ain't stopping now.

[esophagus]

My roommate continually bashes my love of comic books. One day I will stab him with a blunt object for it. I mean he claims that comic books are written for 12 year olds, which granted many of them are, but I don't think Fables was written for a 12 year old audience, let alone Wanted, Punisher MAX, or a host of other books I read.

Sure I still pick up the 12-year old friendly titles, but that's mostly cuz I've been reading Ultimate Spider-Man since Free Comic Book Day and I ain't stopping now.Is Ultimate Spidey even for 12 year olds? I can't actually really think of a title aimmed at children, that isn't really adult friendly.

[smaktakula]

I think a lot of comics are "all ages" rather than being aimed at adults or children. These comics have subjects and themes that interest adults, but are entertaining for kids. A lot of the more adult themes in these comics are missed by younger readers, which make them appropriate for all ages.

Of course, there are comics aimed specifically at older and younger audiences, but I see your average comic as an "all ages" book.