Do you think people think comics are 'funny' or 'kids stuff' because of the name?

[Shwicaz]

Think about it.

Lots of people dismiss comics as 'funny books for kids'.

We all know that isn't true, but I wonder if the term 'comics' is what makes them think that.

I mean, after all, most people's exposure to 'comics' is the 'sunday funnies' in the paper, which aren't all that cerebral, and skew towards humor.

The word itself, 'comic' brings to mind something funny and immature (a la stand up 'comic').

this struck me as I was reading the Sunday paper, and I wondered what anyone else thought.

[HeroForHire]

Yeah, I get that a lot...I work at a local YMCA, I have many different jobs there, but my one at the front desk always gets me odd looks.

When there is downtime (like yesterday, noone really came) I would just read a trade of AXM or Outsiders and despite some hardcore action, without looking some people would make a 80-90's cartoon reference...then I show them pages and they change their minds.

...fun stuff, I think that the name comics needs to be changed to death-books...then we'll get a much different response...in light of watching Dethklock recently I might say it'd be more...METAL!

[XSaraXPoeX]

Everyone I know that doesn't read them call them comic books. Don't know if that makes a diff.

IMO it's not the name but rather the super-hero genre. Tights and corny names like Superman, Captain America, Fantastic Four, tho cool to us readers, make comics look like they're meant solely for kids.

And that "Who wants to be a super-hero" show is helping to enforce the idea, too.

IMO.

[HeroForHire]

Everyone I know that doesn't read them call them comic books. Don't know if that makes a diff.

IMO it's not the name but rather the super-hero genre. Tights and corny names like Superman, Captain America, Fantastic Four, tho cool to us readers, make comics look like they're meant solely for kids.

And that "Who wants to be a super-hero" show is helping to enforce the idea, too.

IMO.

Aye, I find the show silly, but I can see the satire in it...but to the naked eye its just a negative reinforcement of the idea that stereotypes are all that fill comics...sucky!!:surrend:

[Eric Williams]

Yeah, I've noticed that too. People are starting to make the distinction between comics and the "graphic novel" (Persepolis, Fantagraphics stuff). It's great to see that medium getting some legitimacy.

[XSaraXPoeX]

Aye, I find the show silly, but I can see the satire in it...but to the naked eye its just a negative reinforcement of the idea that stereotypes are all that fill comics...sucky!!:surrend:I watched the last two episodes and, like you said, saw the satire that to we comic readers can laugh at, but to Joe Average it just says "comics are still for kids."

And I actually liked the eps I saw.

[St.-]

there was this guy at a anitque store that noticed that I was picking up comics once so he said he had some comics but they weren't funny books. I thought that was kind of amusing. they turned out to be a bunch of 90's fluff and one good thor comic.:D

[anThONY_s]

There's this weird thing going on because of adult cartoons on the Cartoon Network.

They're watching "Adult Swim", not "cartoons".

[justjeffery]

I watched the last two episodes and, like you said, saw the satire that to we comic readers can laugh at, but to Joe Average it just says "comics are still for kids."

And I actually liked the eps I saw.

My customers keep asking me if I'm watching this and I keep telling them that not only am I NOT watching it, but I'm ashamed of Stan for having any part of this garbage. We're just starting to get some respect in the outside world and they have to come and give people another reason to look at us like we're idiots.

[Ben]

Do people think comics (comedians) are 'funny' or 'kid's stuff' because of the name?

[Ben Rosen]

The Stan Lee superhero show is on the Sci Fi channel. It's far, far, far from a channel most of America would watch on a regular basis. There are things holding comics back, but I'd say this show is pretty far down on the list.

I think most people don't necessarily think comics are funny, but I would say most think they're superhero books for kids.

But with more coverage in mainstream publications and the fact that there is a page devoted to a serialized comic every week in the New York Times magazine section featuring Chris Ware, now Jaime Hernandez and Seth in September, I'd say comics are getting much more acceptance.

[Natty P]

Yeah but "Graphic literature" sounds so pretentious.