Just heard a parent at the grocery store tell their kid comic books are a waste of money

I was in line at the store yesterday, just grabbing some stuff for dinner, and this mom was talking to her son, maybe ten years old. He was holding a single issue, one of those new Spider-Man ones, and she said, 'Put that back, it's just pictures and words you'll read once.' It really got to me. That kid's face just fell. It's not just about the story, you know? It's about collecting, about the art, about finding a character you connect with. I have students who struggle with reading but will pore over a graphic novel for hours. That mom saw a five dollar comic, but she didn't see the door it could open. How do you even start to explain that value to someone who just doesn't get it? Have you ever had to defend your hobby in a simple, everyday moment like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

blake_kelly191d ago

Ugh, that makes me so mad. My own dad used to say the same thing about my X-Men comics. He called them trashy picture books, but those stories got me through some rough times in high school. It's way more than just a quick read.

hernandez.gavin1d ago

My mom still calls my graphic novels "those cartoon books," lol.

brian_hart1d ago

Honestly, that stuff never bothered me much. My grandma still asks if I'm reading my "funny books" and I just smile. It's a generational thing, not a put down. They grew up with different stuff, so the name just sticks. The important part is she buys them for me every birthday, so she gets it in her own way.