So, how come most American comic books I do read aren't of the superhero fights supervillain(s) mold? Why is it that the only superhero comics I've ever read were Watchmen and a Batman comic based off the animated tv series from the '90's? (It came with a listening tape, complete with Mark Hamill as the Joker, which was sweet.)
Well, the truth is, I don't dislike superheroes. Certainly not. I love the Superman movies, I love some of the Batman movies, I love Spider-Man 1 and 2, Iron Man was pretty good, and so were the X-Men movies. And although not based off any license, The Incredibles is one of the best Pixar movies ever, certainly Brad Bird's best film to date. So why my reluctance of the graphic novels from where these heroes originated?
Well, the truth is . . . I don't know where to start. Since many long-running American comic series are always either starting over from scrap, and/or trying to tie in long-forgotten plot threads, I don't know where to begin. I remember trying to read summaries of the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series many years ago, but its canon is so twisted, so convoluted, it gave me a major headache, and scared me away from ever reading them.
And unlike with long-running Japanese comic series, all these big name franchises are hard to own in their entirety. Hence why I'm more familiar with manga; because I feel I can enjoy them more properly. Perhaps this is why most comics being sold in bookstores right now are of the Japanese variety; because they are easier to market, to collect, and easier to digest, less "nerdy", ironically enough.
I can say this about the comics I have read from my home country that I enjoy: Watchmen I already talked about earlier this year, Road to Perdition is a fantastic read, Sam & Max: Surfin' the Highway is the funniest comic book ever, and the best collection of Futurama comics is Futurama: The Time Bender Trilogy. And that Batman comic from way back in my childhood was pretty good, too. (Batman triumphed over the Joker, and two other villains. I forgot who they were, though.)
