I grew up on graphic novels and mangas, however, I never read a book about the theories behind the conventions of the art form. I knew about the phenomenon of having a detailed background in mangas with simplified characters, but I had no idea that artists had named that concept “masking.” Thus I enjoyed Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art,” because it allowed me to develop a deeper appreciation and respect for a genre that I love – a genre that for far too long had suffered from self-esteem issues.
I do disagree with McCloud on one point, however, namely the one where he tries to define comics as juxtaposed pictorial and other images in a deliberate sequence intended to convey information and to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer. McCloud should have used this definition to define a different word. One that encompasses everything from scroll paintings and mangas to graphic novels and comics.
Yes, I believe that the word “comics” should only designate a genre and be part of that word – whatever that word may be. Why, because of the connotation that the word “comics” had developed over the years. When you say the word “comics,” 90% of the people will be thinking of the same thing: one of Marvel’s or D.C.’s comic books. Not of Frank Miller’s graphic novel and certainly not of Kentaro Miura’s manga, and if you dare to compare it to one of Gu Kaizhi scroll paintings, then you are bound to fail. Trying to alter a preconception that had developed about comics in the past four decades is almost impossible.
When artists, like Frank Miller, feels offended when someone does not refer to him as graphic novelists, and when Barns&Nobles and Borders barely sells any Marvel or D.C. comic books, but is filled with hundreds of mangas – under the title of “manga” – it’s time to declare comics a separate genre. Let’s leave Spiderman and Batman to their own devices, and see if they can help the world of comic books to become as respected as their film adaptations – or enjoy the prestige of graphic novels and mangas.