Posted on 11/17/2018 10:36:59 AM PST by Simon Green
Television personality Bill Maher penned an op-ed on his blog railing against the comic book industry in the wake of the passing of former Marvel Comics publisher Stan Lee. Maher dropped lines like "I don’t think it’s a huge stretch to suggest that Donald Trump could only get elected in a country that thinks comic books are important," along with mocking fans who were mourning the loss of the beloved comic creator.
"But then twenty years or so ago, something happened – adults decided they didn’t have to give up kid stuff," Maher ranted. "And so they pretended comic books were actually sophisticated literature. And because America has over 4,500 colleges – which means we need more professors than we have smart people – some dumb people got to be professors by writing theses with titles like Otherness and Heterodoxy in the Silver Surfer."
Naturally, several individuals in the comic book industry took to social media to share their response to Maher's post.
Keep scrolling to see the response from various comic creators.
(Excerpt) Read more at comicbook.com ...
Maher is just an angry hateful creature. Best to ignore him.
What kind of NY (fill in the blank) am I, my wife, my mother and our president?
You southern/midwestern (fill in the blank) :)
Yep
A country that would elect Barack Obama to anything belongs in a comic book.
Are 90% of them crap? Sure....but 90% of everything is crap.
Get back to me after you’ve read “Sandman”, “Maus”, “Watchmen” , and “Persepolis”.
Uh oh. I must have put a finger on something here...
Many of the movies in the theaters today are video interpretations of the original comic books. Marvel Comics even has a movie studio operation.
Another indication of the fall of Hollywood writers. Seems like there are no original scripts any more.
I was never a big fan of comics much except Superman and Classics Illustrated. Did many a book report in school reading CI.
Worship of comics, really? I used to really like comics, my collection is worth $50K+, in college there were a lot of people who read them, but I’ve never known anyone to worship them. Clearlly, Evil One, you have no idea what you’re talking about. As does everyone on this thread who insinuates too much about what comic books are (or were) and why people like(d) to read them. If you’re so delusional about them, then I see no reason why I give you credibility for any position you take.
I think Bill is wrong about comic books.
The industry had 2 major changes. It went from all ages to children only in the 50s when the whole comics code authority thing happened following some lefty claiming it was harming our youth.
Then it went from children back to all ages around the 80s with the CCA being tossed out on it’s ear.
It’s another form of literature. There is a range of products just like any other type of literature or art or film. Yes there are still funny animal and superhero comics for kids. There are horror and war comics and fantasy and science fiction. There are also pieces like Neil Gaiman’s sandman that are thought provoking.
I would argue there are fewer thought provoking films and plays now that people are willing to invest time in than there are thought provoking comics.
Maus won a pulitzer for a sad tale of the holocaust where the jewish were depicted as mice. It was definitely not for kids.
Some of the best comics I’ve ever read were the war comics - from the 50s through recently. They still portray the sacrifice of our service men in both fiction and true stories.
The visual art is in many cases better than you’ll see in any studio. Especially with all the modern and post-modern crap that is out there.
In many other countries the form is just considered another media and doesn’t have the remaining stigma it has here in the States. In some, like Japan, it’s used to teach subjects to adults ranging from cooking to gardening to stock trading to sales techniques.
Maher’s wrong on many levels - including this one.
exactly
It would be nice if they put "Monna Vanna" into a short movie.
I read non fiction, basically.
I think Stan Lee was a hard core Democrat, but at least he had Pres. Reagan (Ronald Maximmus) pardoning the Incredible Hulk. Does anyone remember that series?
Bill Maher is the ugliest man on earth, inside and out. One of my first exposures to him, and I hate using that word, was when he told jay Leno he pleasured himself right before every time he went on stage. How I wish I had missed that bit of info.
Wow, one sardonic word (”worship”) really triggered you. I’m sorry that your comic collecting is such a sensitive topic.
Maus. OMG. I own the books and they really get under my skin. I learned more about the details of the Holocaust from them than my holocaust surviving parents and grandparents. The existence of Maus is evidence of how the next generation is still forever affected. I know I still am. I don’t trust any government and never will, even on this continent. It’s why I love our founding documents so very much. It’s the best the world has got.
Bill Mahar IS A FRIKKIN' COMIC STRIP
Apology accepted.
Only comics I ever read were Sgt Rock and the Haunted Tank. And only at summer camp. Due to my education, i always thought comic books were declasse.
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