As the clock ticks down to Comic-Con International, the San Diego Union-Tribune considers a new struggle comic books face: the tug of war between respectability and “that air of disrepute.” And what kicked off that struggle? The graphic novel, says staff writer Peter Rowe:

The trouble began 21 years ago. Between 1986 and ‘87, a trio of graphic novels carved deep cracks in the wall between comic books and mainstream culture. All Frank Miller did was take the old tale of Bruce Wayne’s alter ego, add despair and blend well. Miller’s Batman is a graying warrior, and it’s uncertain whether this superhero can stop crime – he can’t even stop his ego-driven clashes with Superman.

“Dark Knight” was largely ignored outside the comic cognoscenti. Not so “Maus,” published later in 1986. The first of two volumes, Art Spiegelman’s work was revolutionary for its subject – one family’s experience during and after the Holocaust, a harrowing account complete with murder, rape, suicide – and approach. Borrowing a page from George Orwell, Spiegelman transformed his characters into animals with human emotions.

In 1992, “Maus” won a special Pulitzer Prize.

That was the first and, to date, only graphic novel to ascend such official literary heights. But some argue “Maus” was followed by a greater work. In early 1987, “Watchmen” concluded its 12-issue run, delivering an epic murder mystery, Cold War melodrama and probing, skeptical examination of superhero-worship.

In 2005, when Time constructed a list of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923, Ayn Rand didn’t make the cut. Neither did John Irving. But Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons did, for “Watchmen.”

High culture’s battlements had been breached. …

In a sidebar, the newspaper provides a “graphic novel starter kit” for new readers that includes the likes of The Spirit, Buddha, Fun Home, American Born Chinese, David Daniel Boring and some of the usual suspects.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 23rd, 2007 at 10:19 am and is filed under Comic Books, Graphic Novels, Industry, Manga. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.