Getting Graphic

 "Here's one about the Beatles," Mr. Ginley intoned.

©1985 by Matt Groening

We were standing in the Rocky River library as he perused the latest graphic novel titles. It's a genre he's enjoyed over the course of the last year or two, observing that the breadth of subjects has expanded significantly in recent times.

"It used to be that comic books were outlawed in the library," Mr. said. Apparently, the librarian would point to the door if you brought one the offending publications into that hallowed space.

Today, graphic novels, the offshoot of comic books, cover a variety of topics and, as in the case of the Beatles book, are not confined to works of fiction. There are bios of Bowie, Elvis and a whole host of other celebrities. Science is now graphically explained. And some authors/illustrators have found a home for their memoirs. All this is in addition to traditional comic panels, mainstream and subversive.

Back in the day, I was a fan of Matt Groening's Binky and Bongo. And Lynda Barry. This was years after my childhood interest in Archie and Betty. 

More recently, I haven't paid much attention to the graphic novel section. But Mr. has been working on me, reading passages from the books he's checked out. So, for the first time, I selected three items from the stacks, and I'm looking forward to digging in.

Two are memoirs, one about NYC, penned by Roz Chast (of The New Yorker), the other, by Tyler Feder, is a tribute to the author's mom. The third is a collection of more classic comics, created by Reza Ferezmand, who has a wicked sense of humor. (Just my style.)

Time will tell if my newfound interest will last. Or if the genre will continue to expand or will die out. Given our society and its obsession with instant visual gratification, I suspect they are here to stay. 

Somewhere, I can hear the age-old argument as to the value of graphic novels to young minds.

"At least the kids are reading," it was argued.

True enough.