Do you feel that being an adult and reading comics...

[TonySiegel]

...holds a certain stigma? Arn't you to old to be reading comics? Why are comic books seen as a juvenile hobby?

[Just some thoughts...]

[joe-eyeball]

They are seen as juvenile because they were really initially created and marketed towards children. Also there is an association with cartoons, toys, and other things. I, personally do not feel comics are juvenile. In fact I would say that comics today are really geared towards adult readers.

[Jester]

Readers who grew up as kids reading comics.

Less and less is there that taboo of adults reading funny books, as the fan base grows up themselves. But it's a lot like animation. How many people assume just because it's a "cartoon" it's for kids?

[joe-eyeball]

Originally Posted by Jester

Readers who grew up as kids reading comics.

Less and less is there that taboo of adults reading funny books, as the fan base grows up themselves. But it's a lot like animation. How many people assume just because it's a "cartoon" it's for kids?

Exactly, most just kind of grow out of these things and most kids today are more interested in gadgets rather than comics. Also your right most people today only think of cartoons as being for kids, other than a few FOX aired exceptions.

[Redeemer]

Originally Posted by TonySiegel

...holds a certain stigma? Arn't you to old to be reading comics? Why are comic books seen as a juvenile hobby?

[Just some thoughts...]

only by people who r ignorant enough to not accept that a story is being told

[Logan]

I think there is more of a stigma with regards to animation than to comics. I certainly have a hard time dealing with people's views stuck in the "animation ghetto".

But comics, not so much anymore. Especially with the number of adult-geared comics being brought to the big screen, i.e. Watchmen, 300, etc. It's become more legitimized in the eyes of the public.

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

Comics and cartoons weren't all meant for kids even in the past. Look at some from decades ago such as Popeye and Bugs Bunny or even Mickey Mouse and you'll see what I mean. (Think I'm kidding? The original Mickey Mouse animated film had him bring Minnie Mouse aboard ship by using a crane to pick Minnie up by her panties.)

[Candy Kappa]

I pity those poor sobs that thinks Comics a juvenile.

And I feel bad for those who are ashamed to read comics books and calls it "Graphic Novels"

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Kiwamu The Kappa

And I feel bad for those who are ashamed to read comics books and calls it "Graphic Novels"

You could argue that there's a distinction. Graphic novels usually refer to a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end that doesn't continue on the following month. At least that's how I've always heard it defined.

[clanmalkav]

I use comics for advanced literature classes in high school. I understand the stigma, but I appreciate the merits of the genre.

[Mayhem]

I think the points I was going to make have already been said. Both animation and comics did suffer from a "they are for kids" stereotype in the past, but hopefully given more modern releases that are for adults only has knocked that on the head somewhat.

[Coola Yagami]

It will still take a while, and while the movies are seen as awesome and 'for serious' by adults.... that is just the movie. Not many of the random pop culture fans are gonna watch the Avengers movie this summer and suddenly decide to pick up the latest issue of Captain America.

I still hear the stigma and I just really don't give a damn. And I know better than to bring up the subject unless I'm hangin with similar fans.

[Falconhood]

in this sick and sad generation, I don't even care anymore.
my colleagues watch some crappy filth on tv and i'd rather do something less impure. I've been reading the OLD comics. you can get the first 50 years of Fantastic Four on DVD for dirt cheap at your local Big Lots, and they are PDF and ...it's just great! I am increasing my reading skills and speed, and expanding my vocabulary and lexile rating, instead of bouncing my eyes over half naked women which doesn't improve me as a person, and actually makes me less content for real women.
I don't really read MODERN comics, so if that disqualifies my answer, lmk.

[UsagiYojimbo]

The way I see it, reading is reading. If you introduce reading to a kid who hates to read, but loves comics, I think it's all-around a win win.

[The Stryker]

Reading comics as an adult is bad and you should feel bad.

Adults should concern themselves with real activities like Jai-Alai and child slavery.

[UsagiYojimbo]

Originally Posted by Stryker

Reading comics as an adult is bad and you should feel bad.

You're absolutely right, how silly of me!

[Samhain]

Originally Posted by Stryker

Reading comics as an adult is bad and you should feel bad.

If reading comics is bad I don't ever wanna be good.

[Jester]

Originally Posted by Stryker

Reading comics as an adult is bad and you should feel bad.

[ToTheNines]

Hm, I think it carries a stigma of being weird, but not necessarily juvenile. It's become more acceptable to be into superheroes as of late, and a lot more acceptable to be a video game nut, but people who aren't in to comics are just weirded out by it.

My Dad, for some reason, was surprised when I told him that the top 100 selling books are all DC and Marvel superheroes (sprinkled with TMNT, Walking Dead and Buffy ofcourse). He thought the best selling books were pervert/fetish comics for some reason. As far as I know, there's nothing really like that in the top 300.

And try is it might to do the opposite, the comic book industry really alienates the mass majority of people. It's darn near impossible to go in and just grab a book with a cool looking cover for 3-4 bucks and be happy with it. And if you like something enough to want every issue, that can be very overwhelming even with a smaller/younger property like TMNT... let alone Batman.

[Logan]

I attribute that partially to the fact that comics are frequently on-going stories and not self-contained. Newcomers easily get lost in the references to past issues from two years past and throw their hands up in defeat. Which is why we've had all these re-launches as of late.

The nice thing about the earlier Turtles issues was how self-contained they were. It's also what I like about Archie's Sonic issues.