We all have weaknesses and strengths, times of happiness and sadness. Life is a constant balance, a rollercoaster of emotions and situations, and this is, in my opinion, one of the reasons people of all ages are interested in comic books.
For both the young and the old, superheroes can serve not only as a form of entertainment but also as guidance in life. Comics can be a distraction from our problems, a form of getting council, an escape from reality and so much more.
I saw, in comic books, a way to stay away from my problems. I remember being in Boston, walking along Newbury Street, when I noticed a big logo that said “Newbury Comics”.
I felt the need to go inside, and so I did. I asked for a comic book featuring The Flash, I don’t really know why I liked him I just knew my first comic book had to be a story that portrayed the Scarlet Speedster.
The kind guy from the store helped me find a story that would allow me to jump into the world of comics. So, he gave me “The Flash: Move Forward” the first volume of Francis Manapul’s run on The Flash. Although it may not be one of the scarlet speedster’s best stories, I remember reading it fascinated. Time stopped as I read it and I pictured myself as Barry Allen himself.
As I continued reading, I noticed superheroes had problems themselves and that’s when it all hit me. I realized that if I really wanted to be like my favorite superhero then I had to be able to overcome my crises and fears in order to keep moving forward.
In that moment, when I most needed help and advice, I found it in the newest friend I had. Since then I’ve read comics for fun, guidance and as a way of re-discovering different ways of living represented not only in every superhero, but also in villains and non-protagonic characters, from whom we can also learn a lot.
Comic books are so much more than just comic books. For the more experienced reader, it may be easy to notice this, and this article will have just wasted their time. But if it helps anyone, experienced or inexperienced, get another perspective when reading comic books, it will have been worth writing.
