Reading a comic is a deeply personal and solitary experience for a fan, but building the comic in the reader's hands is a collaborative process that takes a team of people -- editors, writers, artists, inkers, colorists, letterers, and more. None of it would be possible without the hard work and inventiveness of the comic creatives, but it's ultimately the reader who truly brings the experience to life.
It's the reader who determines what the letterer and writer's dialogue and captions sound like and how it's all delivered. It's the reader who brings the pages to life in their imagination and determines how long they want the experience to last as they examine panel after panel. It's the reader left reflecting on the story they read and letting their mind run wild with ideas about what may happen in the next issue. Add an awesome roster of eye-catching characters to the immersive experience, and it's no wonder that people talk so passionately about the comics and characters they love.
Comics speak to readers on a personal level, giving them a much-needed escape from their everyday lives and presenting the opportunity to delve into a different world full of excitement, inspiration, terror, romance, and so much more. Comics go beyond good people in capes punching bad people -- the medium can embrace any genre! Because of this, it's understandable that people feel such a strong connection to the medium and its often larger-than-life characters. But if the medium offers readers so much joy, why are the conversations among fans and creators often filled with so much anger? Why is there so much animosity between people who love comics when the experience should allow them to bond over that shared passion?
First and foremost, let's get one thing out of the way: There's a massive difference between being passionate and being mean-spirited. There is absolutely nothing wrong with strongly disagreeing with a creative's choices or a piece of work. Being vocal with constructive criticism, especially if it's dealing with a subject matter that resonates with a reader personally or speaks to issues that exist in the real world, is healthy and totally fair. But do you feel that most of the discourse about comics is actually done constructively, or is there a little too much hate going around? For most readers, it's likely the latter.
Many of the biggest heroes and stories from the world of comics shine a spotlight on characters meant to inspire readers. Superman may be an alien, but he's supposed to represent humanity's ability to help each other, even when it may be the hardest choice to make. Spider-Man often stands against seemingly overwhelming and impossible odds yet refuses to quit. There are so many passionate fans of Spidey and the Man of Steel, but disagreements about these heroes seem to regularly pull inspiration from iconic villains like Green Goblin or Lex Luthor instead of the uplifting protagonists. Characters that are meant to give readers hope and happiness find themselves being defended by vitriolic remarks and even threats. If Spider-Man or Superman knew fans were defending them like that, do you think they'd be supportive of that path or maybe encourage them to take a different approach? If the knee-jerk reaction to disagreement, especially regarding something subjective, is hatred, then the wrong lessons are being taken from the most popular characters in the industry.
Look, the goal here isn't to preach. Please just consider this a humble request to remember that we're all human, we're all trying our best, and we're all pushing to see more of the things we love and remind us why comics can be such a magical and meaningful experience for readers. If we can apply that when chatting with other people, especially people we may disagree with, maybe we can all make the world of comics a little more positive and welcoming. Whether you love or loathe the current comics from your favorite creators and characters, comics should always be an environment that welcomes new people with open arms --especially younger readers -- to a vast library of great stories. There are decades upon decades of adventures that can fill their minds with astonishment and creativity, and they should be able to have engaging, insightful, and fun conversations with other fans about the work, even if they disagree with each other. Comics are for everyone, and it's perfectly okay if we don't all like the same things. We all love comics, and that's what should matter and allow us to connect, not divide.