So, this last Thursday (March the 5th 2020) was World Book Day. Now, as is tradition with schools in the U.K and probably throughout the world (I don't know for certain and so any confirmation would be nice), children would be allowed to attend their schools dressed up as their favourite literary character.
This is something I've never been a stranger to as both of my cousins kids have been part of this tradition for years and two of my nieces have also been taking part in the last few years. However, this year my son and my youngest niece were able to take part and while my niece's first WBD had little trouble, my son's brought up and interesting query for me.
You see, his pre-school decreed that there were to be no superheroes costumes allowed on world Book Day. Of course, while my children have been extensively conditioned to love superheroes (because, you know, it's me), this decision didn't have us majorly concerned because my eldest choose to go as a completely different character (the frog from 'Oi Dog'. Why not 'Oi Frog', I have no idea but there you go)
However, this did have me questioning in my head why my son's ore-school made this decision. I wasn't the one informed and so I couldn't ask right there and then (and nor have I submitted this question later because I fear my wife would consider me going too far over a non-important query), but I optimistically presume that this is due to the ease and apparent popularity of parents to put their kids in superhero costumes (I mean, you can pick them up from three different supermarkets within 20 minutes of my house, and that's the minimal effort options).
But, while I hope that's the reason, I can't help but wonder if my son's pre-school simply believes that comic books are not real books. If this is the case, as my co-workers will attest, I'm not overly happy with this (surprise surprise). Maybe I'm biased because I've been reading them for nearly 20 years, but I genuinely believe that comics books are as much books as Shakespeare, the Brontes' and the Harry Potter series (just to lowbrow it).
I mean (just to argue the point) like books, comics have text in them to read, they (most of the time) use these words to tell a compelling story and they cover a multitude of genres. In fact, the only notable difference between books and comics is that the latter includes sequential art which assists in telling the story, but I don't believe this is exclusive to comics given that there are many books which also utilise artwork to compliment the writing. Examples of these in any book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Schaffer so if superheroes are being banned then the Gruffalo and Stick-Man needs to go right up there with them as costumes which cant be worn.
Also, it should be pointed out that, throughout the internet, there are sites which state how comic books help with literacy and reading skills. Therefore, I think that consider them anything but books is just ignorant.
Of course, this long rant simply comes from a place of conjecture because the pre-school probably didn't think this when the decision was made. However, it just gets my back up because, at the end of the day, comics are often giving short shrift by people, despite their influencing pop culture to a heavy degree in the 21st century.
In the end, I simply feel that Comic books are books and they deserve just as much respect.
But who am I to say that they currently don't?
But who am I to say that they currently don't?
What I read - March 2020: Week 1
So, like I said at the beginning, I'm trying something a little different and that's by consolidating my thoughts in general and my thoughts on the comics I read.
It probably helps to do this by breaking my reading list down to weeks, as the January 'review' and both the first and second halves of the February edition were fairly substantial in length. As such, this is now a little bit smaller and compressed, although not at all diminished in quality in my opinion.
Woodland Creatures Vol. 1: Wild Souls - The first review of the month for Pipedream Comics, Woodland Creatures was really enjoyable as it was a well told story and looked really gorgeous. However, the thing that got me (and maybe this is me seeing more than there is) is this sense of ethnic/racial/cultural stereotyping that's put on display, as though the characters are part of a religion of which some zealots have hurt people and therefore all must be punished. I think its this which the entire story is built around, even the relationship between characters, which I thought was very deep. Anyway, I've probably waffled a bit and I apologise for that but, in short, I found this a really interesting comic and would be tempted to come back for more.
Black Bolt Vol. 1: Hard Time - A re-read of the first volume in anticipation for the second of Ahmed Saladin and Christian Ward's assume series. This first volume saw Black Bolt, without his powers, attempting to break out of a deadly, intergalactic prison. I remember when I first read this volume that i found it to be a breathtakingly gorgeous and engrossing read. However, as I got underway this second time, I found it a bit of a struggle to get as engrossed in. Fortunately, time was the cure for this as I remembered what I loved about this series with each passing page. Still as poignant and beautiful as the first time I read it, Black Bolt volume 1 is still a tremendous read and makes me eager to get onto volume 2.
Afterlift #1 - 5 - My second review of the month (and 199th review/article overall) for Pipedream Comics, I was a little surprised to find that I really enjoyed Afterlift. Now, I should have expected that would given that this was a Chip Zdarsky book and he's got good stock with me after what he did on Marvel 2-in-1, but still I was hesitant. However, I'm glad I was proven wrong as Afterlift is such a well written title, which came across to me as having this real heartfelt message about both finding your place in the world and letting go of the past (which, of the latter, the finale actually states). I thought the story was incredibly well paced too, never feeling boring, and it had great art to match this, both in the feeling of speed and the brightness of Hell/look of the various parts of the Afterlife. After getting through all five issues, I have to confess that I'm kind of sad that it's all over, a testament to how good I found it (although, maybe they'll be a sequel).
Total Reading Count - 12
So, a good start to what will be my final bus travelling (and, as such, extensive comic reading) month of the 2019/20 winter. Hopefully, the next three (ish) weeks can keep up this top notch (well, I think so anyway beginning) and with my 200th review due as well as the completion of the Black Bolt series and beyond, I'm confident that this can happen.
But, we'll have to wait and see.
So, like I said at the beginning, I'm trying something a little different and that's by consolidating my thoughts in general and my thoughts on the comics I read.
It probably helps to do this by breaking my reading list down to weeks, as the January 'review' and both the first and second halves of the February edition were fairly substantial in length. As such, this is now a little bit smaller and compressed, although not at all diminished in quality in my opinion.
Woodland Creatures Vol. 1: Wild Souls - The first review of the month for Pipedream Comics, Woodland Creatures was really enjoyable as it was a well told story and looked really gorgeous. However, the thing that got me (and maybe this is me seeing more than there is) is this sense of ethnic/racial/cultural stereotyping that's put on display, as though the characters are part of a religion of which some zealots have hurt people and therefore all must be punished. I think its this which the entire story is built around, even the relationship between characters, which I thought was very deep. Anyway, I've probably waffled a bit and I apologise for that but, in short, I found this a really interesting comic and would be tempted to come back for more.
Black Bolt Vol. 1: Hard Time - A re-read of the first volume in anticipation for the second of Ahmed Saladin and Christian Ward's assume series. This first volume saw Black Bolt, without his powers, attempting to break out of a deadly, intergalactic prison. I remember when I first read this volume that i found it to be a breathtakingly gorgeous and engrossing read. However, as I got underway this second time, I found it a bit of a struggle to get as engrossed in. Fortunately, time was the cure for this as I remembered what I loved about this series with each passing page. Still as poignant and beautiful as the first time I read it, Black Bolt volume 1 is still a tremendous read and makes me eager to get onto volume 2.
Afterlift #1 - 5 - My second review of the month (and 199th review/article overall) for Pipedream Comics, I was a little surprised to find that I really enjoyed Afterlift. Now, I should have expected that would given that this was a Chip Zdarsky book and he's got good stock with me after what he did on Marvel 2-in-1, but still I was hesitant. However, I'm glad I was proven wrong as Afterlift is such a well written title, which came across to me as having this real heartfelt message about both finding your place in the world and letting go of the past (which, of the latter, the finale actually states). I thought the story was incredibly well paced too, never feeling boring, and it had great art to match this, both in the feeling of speed and the brightness of Hell/look of the various parts of the Afterlife. After getting through all five issues, I have to confess that I'm kind of sad that it's all over, a testament to how good I found it (although, maybe they'll be a sequel).Total Reading Count - 12
So, a good start to what will be my final bus travelling (and, as such, extensive comic reading) month of the 2019/20 winter. Hopefully, the next three (ish) weeks can keep up this top notch (well, I think so anyway beginning) and with my 200th review due as well as the completion of the Black Bolt series and beyond, I'm confident that this can happen.
But, we'll have to wait and see.
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