Life in panels

Comic books have always been popular objects of interest among the young. Who in their right mind can say that they’ve never heard of the charmingly teeny-bopper Archie Comics, or the adrenaline-pumped X-Men or the Fantastic Four? Whether you’re a kid or kid at heart, you’ll definitely be equipped with your own take as to who is better, Betty or Veronica? Or who between Cyclops and Wolverine is more suited for Jean Grey?

The world of comic books has indeed etched its mark on pop culture and taken the world by storm. With its industry generating millions of fans from all over the globe, the demand for such comic books has even spurred comic book moguls such as Marvel and DC to expand their line to the videogames and the silver screen.

Being a comic aficionado myself, I have often thought that comic books maintain a certain edge precisely because they strike just the right note for a regular chap, such as myself, to identify with and relate to. With its well-loved characters and classic stories, young and old find themselves constantly dragged into the fold.

From the testosterone-packed superhero to the carefree teenager from Riverdale High, the characters that these comic books showcase are arguably the most fascinating characters you’ll ever read about. Some may be more powerful than the others, just like fan-favorite Superman donned in his red cape and larger-than-life personality. Some may be extremely witty and seductive, personified by the X-Men’s resident baddie-turned-goodie Emma Frost. But more importantly, these individuals seem to possess a judicious amount of humanity despite their ability to lift buildings or control minds, to connect with a fan who is far less powerful and witty than his esteemed idol.

Aside from the astounding characters that these comic works showcase, their very mystique lies in the way writers are able to modify the existing elements of a said comic books to pave a new direction for a superhero team. You know what they say, the best stories in the world are not written but rewritten – and this seems to be a key factor in the industry’s sustainability throughout the years.

Take for example back in ‘90s, X-Men scribe Grant Morrison defied the status quo of the X-Men’s clandestine operations as a mutant-superhero team by exposing their identities to the public. He also aggravated mutant-human relations due to the rise of haute mutant culture by a million-fold increase in their population. However, in the most recent House of M saga that tied in with most of Marvel’s comic ventures, writer Brian Bendis obliterated mutantdom into a symbolic count of 198, and de-powered most of them, including fan-favorites Iceman, Jubilee, and Magneto. This twist leads to more interesting stories of how mutants have now to deal with the loss of their own powers and becoming the very people who have ostracized them throughout the years. With constantly evolving plot threads, no wonder superhero teams such as the X-Men and the perpetually young Archie and his merry gang have been around since the ‘50s.

Browsing through my brother’s GI Joe collection as a kid to my pre-teenage addiction with Archie comics, to my current obsession with the X-Men, it seems that comic books have always been part of my life. Not only do they incorporate stunning visuals to their stories but for a few minutes or so, I am also absorbed into a world that is far from reality – flying alongside Superman or pigging out like Jughead but unfortunately getting fat. At a normal P120 to P180 price range, the quality of stories you get is definitely worth every peso.

But more than the stunning art and ingenious storylines, these comic books are about connecting with the audience, jerking a tear or two with each death of a well-written teammate, and seeing their vulnerability amidst colossal perceptions. Every swash-buckling feat, saving the world one alien invasion at a time, or simply dining at Pop’s while catching up with the gang, become the soul of these comic books – and in some way, the very stories that we live.