Indy Comics Writer

I’m fortunate as a comics writer to have a 9-year-old son. He can fill me in quickly on what comics are supposed to be like.

For instance, he loved Iron West, a graphic novel by writer Doug TenNapel, which I’ve written about before on this blog. The reason? It had tons of action and lots of jokes. He also liked the fact that one of TenNapel’s evil robots pooped nuts and bolts when it was scared. He also liked Earthboy Jacobus, another of TenNapel’s stories, this one about a horde of aliens chasing after a little boy. The reasons were the same: Lots of actions, lots of jokes.

His reaction wasn’t as strong when I showed him Abadazad: The Road to Inconceivable, a fantasy graphic novel by J.M. DeMatteis and artist Mike Ploog. He read the entire thing. But it didn’t inspire the same joy that TenNapel’s works did. I’ve read Abadazad, too, and I liked it. I thought it was skillfully written and drawn.

But there was one thing it wasn’t: much fun.

Sure, the comic delves into mysterious fantasy worlds full of odd creatures. The art is colorful. The heroine likeable. But there aren’t many jokes. There isn’t much to laugh about.

And maybe that’s what so many comics today are missing:They don’t make you smile.

Now, I’m not saying every comic has to be a gigglefest. But there’s a reason people consider Carl Barks’ Scrooge McDuck comics classics, and it’s not because of the gravitas of the title character. No, it’s because the comics are funny, and stuffed with implausible adventures.

As you work on your own comics, remember this. I know everyone wants to create the next great, intellectual graphic novel. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be funny, too.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS