What in the world is wrong with us ? I can accept that The Simpson's are one of the world's most successful TV franchises. I can also accept that knuckleheads line up to watch - comic book gruel - movies like Batman versus Superman. I do - however - draw the line at buying and "reading graphic novels. This hybrid of bastardized story telling is casting an ugly shadow over the world of traditional publishing. It is as though the world is being pushed towards stupidity and being told that it is cool to be a D student. Graphic novels are everywhere. The massive trend towards graphic novels cannot be ignored. It seems that millennials who live their lives on Snapchat can't be counted on to read a page of text without losing complete interest. This infographic from 2015 speaks volumes. The market for graphic novels was estimated to be worth $1.03 Billion USD. Seems strange that I am bashing image driven communication like graphic novels by using an infographic - but I figured if you can't beat them, join them.
The world of political mud slinging is not immune to the disturbing move towards graphic novels. Peter Schweizer - the author of Clinton Cash - drank the graphic novel koolaid and teamed up with artists from Marvel and DC comics to bring this political bash piece to life in comic book form. I tend to agree with the content at the heart of Clinton Cash. It just makes me squirm that it needs to be turned into an adult cartoon so that people will give a crap. The juiced up "comic book" has hit the shelves a week ago - just in time for all the Trump lemmings to get a copy and commit it to memory before election day.
If a comic book version Clinton charade has you throwing up in your mouth just a little bit - check out the graphic novel from United States Representative John Lewis. Entitled - The March - John Lewis' graphic novel addresses the fight for civil rights in the US. Sadly, this icon of the civil rights struggle was talked into turning one of the United States' most important social movement into pablum for the illiterate. The only question is - why did he do it? Did he do it for the money or because people are stupid? His graphic novel hit the shelves a few days ago. Unlike the Clinton Cash - graphic novel - this one will not be picked up by the fringe elements of the Republican party. This one is going to need a push in the back and that is exactly why Lewis hit the left wing media circuit with recent appearances on nightly talk shows like The Daily Show.
I grew up in an age when change mean't we changed to (or for) something better. Graphic novels are a change with a capital C for the world of publishing. This irreversible trend towards graphic novels seems - to me - like a step backwards. It seems like we are giving up on the best parts of the written word. Words were mean't to transport us, tantalize us and make us dream and wonder. We have given up on our own ability to imagine and we have chosen to let cartoons dictate where we go in our minds In my opinion graphic novels are just another glaring example of a progress trap. The world needs people who can think on their own - independent of some guy with sketch pad. I am not holding out hope but I will continue to do my part by encouraging others to read and enjoy a great book. Someone has to carry the flag ! Do your part and maybe we can slow down this free fall into ignorance.
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