Those who read comic books are sometimes scrutinized for being nerds, but the truth is that this is nothing to be ashamed of. Comics encompass both fact and fiction to share stories of extraordinary heroes as well as true events that are easy to digest, even for those who may be struggling to read or comprehend certain types of material.
The Stories Benefit Your Brain
When you read stories, the brain function will actually change. When an individual reads a compelling story in their comic book, their neuron activity will change while they are reading as well as for a few days after the reading has finished. Even when incorporating historical information, comic books are great stories that pull the reader in, thanks to their illustrations.
You Will Learn to Love Reading
There are so many people in the world that have a hard time improving their reading skills, young and old alike. The visual format of graphic novels and comics can benefit these individuals greatly. When reading material appears to be boring or challenging, comic books are a great solution. The visuals along with the characters and plots can be easier to engage with for those that are struggling to read. Reading comic books allow readers to process information a little differently than other forms of media like novels. The illustrations can help readers to comprehend information that would otherwise be hard to digest, like educational information including history.
You Will Begin to Think Differently
Comic book readers are made to create meaning from the text using “multiple modalities”. This means that all of the components of a comic book are integrated in order to form one solid understanding of the story. The text, space, and images all make up these modalities that the reader will incorporate. Many times, comic book readers also love television and video games for the same reason that they like comic books, but comic books actually require a more complex neurological process. Critics will say that comic books are as simple as picture books, but they are much more than that.
Comic Books Are Cool
All of the most watched television and movies are based on comic books—Superman, Batman, Wolverine, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are all obvious options, but did you know that The Walking Dead and Men in Black are also based on comic books? The adaptations of these types of stories capture the box office because people love superheroes, and superheroes originate from comic books. The culture that surrounds comic books is vast, and what is more interesting than exploring the origins of something that you love? Comic conventions and TV/movie adaptations of comics will only fuel this still growing niche society.
There Are More Than Just Superhero Stories
Even if superheroes aren’t your thing, comic books are still a winner. There are so many more stories in comics like previously mentioned The Walking Dead, The Sandman, and Scott Pilgrim. On the flip side, comics or graphic novels that include nonfiction themes like Persepolis allow the reader to explore themes that are a bit heavier. The variety of comic books that are available on the market ensures that there is something for everyone, even those who have never picked up a comic in their life.
The Language Used is Quite Advanced
It is a myth that comic books hold language that is not advanced, and nothing is farther from the truth. A study done by Cunningham and Stanovich uncovered that the language used in comic book often times exceeds that of oral communication of college graduates. All individuals should be provided with reading materials regardless of their own achievement levels, and it is no secret that those who are spending a lot of time reading will have a higher verbal intelligence and it will also make them smarter all around. The idea that comic books are only for those who have a lower reading level is completely false, and conversely, comic books can actually help those who do have a lower reading level to practice with material that will actually interest them.
