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Comics For Extra Credit
Last week, I was one of the first to see Ironman, the first
summer blockbuster movie and the next hero in the Marvel Comics
universe to come to the silver screen. I like the movie so much
I went to see it again in an early morning
matinee.
Last week, I was one of the first to see Ironman, the first
summer blockbuster movie and the next hero in the Marvel Comics
universe to come to the silver screen. I like the movie so much
I went to see it again in an early morning matinee.
Although I loved the movie, I must admit that Ironman was not
one of the heroes I followed regularly when I was into comics.
I can't explain my nine-ten year old tastes, as it's been
nearly 40 years, but I would guess that I was drawn more to the
art and dialogue in the DC comics: Superman, Batman, Green
Lantern, and the rest of the Justice League of America.
If I were ten today, and I'd seen the more recent comic movies,
I'd be comparing Ironman to Batman. Both have wealthy alter
egos with consciences to clear and bones to pick with their
enemies, both had weapons in the family business-we learned
that for Bruce Wayne in 2005's Batman Begins-and both have a
loyal, trustworthy confidential assistant. Then again, the
Marvel and DC universes have heroes created through accidents
(Spiderman and the Hulk versus Green Lantern and the Flash) as
well as heroes who live underwater (Namor and Aquaman) and
heroes who come from other worlds (Thor and Wonder Woman).
If I had taken my 11 year old nephew to see Ironman, I would
have hoped that he paid some attention to Tony Stark's basement
workshop. I know when I was 11, I would have drooled over the
possibility of having my own personal sanctum with robots,
computers, virtual reality, stereo and sports cars to play
with. And that would have been one of the lessons that I would
hope my nephew learned from the movie: that smart people can do
great things if they apply themselves. My nephew will not
become a super hero, but he could work with robotics or virtual
reality-considered "cool jobs" by young people today-or he
could design my next car. I know that some parents may dismiss
Ironman as a violent movie, but Tony Stark has made science
cool for kids.
There are more advanced lessons we learn from comics too. The
original Ironman was penned in 1963, and it was a reaction to
America's growing involvement in Vietnam. While the 2008 movie
shows Tony Stark captured by Afghan guerillas, the 1963 comic
has him captured by the North Vietnamese-after he's seen that
his weapons have fallen into their hands. Until then, Tony had
thought of himself and his father as heroes. Their weapons were
used to defend American interests, and now they were being used
to arm less responsible dictators. There are a lot of ethical,
political and psychological lessons to learn from Ironman. The
artists and writers who pen comics know this well. That's why,
at four bucks a pop, you see auto ads in comics; they're
reaching the adults as well as the kids. It's also why noted
fiction authors such as Brad Meltzer and Jodi Picoult have
moved into the medium, penning graphic novels of the Justice
League and Wonder Woman.
If I taught language arts, social studies or science, I would
use comics to illustrate points in the textbooks or classical
literature. Comic heroes face very similar conflicts and the
younger audiences have some familiarity with the characters.
The best comic writers have, in fact, based their work on more
"sophisticated" literature; they have made it easier to
understand. It just takes the right teacher to know that.
I know this will draw chuckles, but don't underestimate the
power of the comics. Superman, in print and radio, was a symbol
for America as we fought the Nazis during World War II and so
was Captain America. Captain America comics sold over 1 million
copies a month during the war, outselling national news
magazines such as Time.
And c'mon, admit it, you go to the comics in your local paper
before you check out the news.
(Originally published at Educated Quest blog and reprinted with
permission of the author, Stuart
Nachbar).
by Stuart Nachbar - 1st June 2008
Back to Top
Contact Stuart Nachbar at http://www.EducatedQuest.com, a blog
on education politics, policy and technology or read about his
first book, The Sex Ed Chronicle, a novel on education and
politics in 1980 New Jersey, at http://www.SexEdChronicles.com
Source: http://creativewriter.me.uk
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