The Four Color Media Monitor

A writer for Central Michigan Life, the university's newspaper, tells everybody why he thinks you should be reading the medium. But as could possibly be expected at a college that's surely far-left, they approach this from an awfully superficial, naive viewpoint, that doesn't do justice for the topic:

Comics are far from the most popular medium, but their importance, influence and creativity are not to be denied.

The drawn page brings visual wonder that you can only find in live-action or animated movies and combines it with the long-form storytelling that you can only find in novels.

I'd beg to differ based on how overstuffed modern sci-fi cinema's become with special effects, and acting talent - not to mention actors speaking with grace in public - has been marginalized in favor of all these vapid popcorn fare concepts that ultimately don't add up to the best experience.

Actually being able to see the characters and hear their thoughts at the same time – to watch fantastical action contrasted by character development during small, emotional moments – it's all things the big screen may not have time for.

That's the problem - major filmmakers could if they wanted to, but they choose to water it all down to a superficial path for how to make a blockbuster, and then in the end, it's anything but. Yet this too misses how modern mainstream comicdom's thrown out plausible character drama along with continuity for the sake of Mary Sue storytelling, and when they do present dramatic moments, it's in ways that take away from the core concepts.

When someone asks me what my favorite story of all time is, nothing compares to the incredible storytelling of comics like All-Star Superman. Sure, you've heard of Superman but probably not this particular story unless you've read comics.

Imagine the story of one of the greatest heroes in the world being told he has a terminal illness.

Imagine the emotional toll this titan goes through and the character development happening all around him. It's the most emotional story I've ever been told. I'd put it up against any movie, show, novel or article I've ever seen.

I'd appreciate this a lot more than I do if it weren't for the fact ultra-leftist Grant Morrison penned it. Such a pretentious writer indeed, and one can only wonder why he seemingly gets to do things USA writers with better visions may have been denied. The best is answer is, absurd favoratism via the editors and publishers, to say nothing of how this so happens to be an alternate reality take on the Man of Steel. But that's nothing compared to the following:

There's a reason why so many movies and shows of today are adapted from comic books - comics allow for expression and risk-taking in ways that most forms of media just don't.

If we're talking mainstream, that's not true by a long shot. "Risks" could include writing stories about combatting Islamic terrorism, and such a topic's been banned for years since September 11, 2001 in the mainstream. Yet somebody at the college campus hasn't considered doing the required research to know that, nor will he actually say so, in all his doubtless leftism.

There's also a pattern of properties that began as movies but transitioned into comic books. Think of your favorite action movie franchise, TV show or novel – chances are there's a comic book version of it somewhere.

Game of Thrones, Alien vs Predator, Godzilla, and Doctor Who are just a few.

And why must I care about the former example, for starters? I'm not a fan of the ultra-violent elements seen in the TV show based on George R.R. Martin's novel series, which included sexual brutality. That's not saying I don't think the subject should be addressed in fiction, but it doesn't make a series like this any less heavy handed. And Dr. Who's long succumbed to political correctness by changing the title time traveler from man to woman, in example, even though this does not ensure the stories to follow will be meritous.

The reality is, creating a comic page is much cheaper than filming a scene. There's no need to organize dozens of actors and crew or expensive camera equipment. Meaning, the creators now have a chance to tell the smaller, self-contained stories that can't fit in the blockbuster movie.

Comics give creators freedom of expression in a way that nothing else can.

In fairness, the former makes sense. But to say the latter does in every way is missing the boat, when today, you have only so many corporate owned creations and other products whose ownerships literally won't allow it...unless it suits their now-woke agenda machine.

History defines these characters, enhances them, and allows for the kind of creativity that wouldn't work in any other medium.

It can also see the characters ruined and embarrassed, and the following recommendations the writer makes give a clue what's wrong:

If you're looking for somewhere to start your comics journey, head to your local comic shop (try Hall of Heroes, right here in Mount Pleasant) and try some of my personal favorites like "All-Star Superman," "Spider-Man Blue," "Captain America Marvel Knights."

That last one is what disturbs me, effectively turning me off from this puff piece. That Marvel Knights series, initially written by Jon Ney Reiber, was one of the most repellent forms of apologia for Islamic terrorism ever possible, coming as it did soon after 9-11. Even today, the Star-Spangled Avenger remains one of the biggest victims of ultra-leftism, and no one makes any effort to stop this terrible situation and abuse of Simon/Kirby's creation. If this is what's being recommended, it's clear you can't trust a college columnist to offer anything worthwhile. No wonder universities are such ideological catastrophes today.

Labels: dc comics, marvel comics, msm propaganda, politics