The Comprehension of Understanding Comics

Understanding Comics, by Scott McCloud, has put all of my comic book-related concerns to rest. Growing up, I prided myself on the countless classic books I read – something to which McCloud confesses in the beginning of his book – and never delved into the world of comics. I loved the comic book stories and characters, in addition to much of the art, but was both skeptical and hesitant when it came to the medium itself. When asked why I did not read comics, my excuse was always that they left “too little up to the imagination.” I saw comics as a way for artists and writers to strong-arm their readers into experiencing exactly what they wanted them to experience; if both words and pictures were supplied, where did the individuality of the reader come into play? As I grew up I became more open to the idea – as I just couldn’t seem to avoid comics altogether – but I transitioned from a kid who didn’t “approve” of comics (but believed I knew exactly what purpose they served) to an adult who looked longingly at the colorful covers yet had missed those formative years in which it was acceptable to appreciate them. McCloud, in a few strokes of his pen, laid Understanding Comics before me in a way that even a comic book rookie like myself could understand. While addressing lofty theories regarding the human psyche’s relationship with symbols and arguing for and against what makes a comic exactly, McCloud has elevated my stunted comprehension of this medium in the span of a couple hundred pages, all the while laying to rest my misgivings. The attention he gives to the “gutter” between panels, more than anything else, completely changed my perception of comics. In that “ribbon of paper” is where the opportunity for imagination and individuality lies. McCloud likens the use of the gutter to a trapeze artist, swinging from one panel to the next, but flying between the two absolutely unhindered by anything but his or her own creativity. "To kill a man between panels is to condemn him to a thousand deaths." The possibilities are restricted only by the number of people who read it. Understanding Comics has helped me do exactly what the title promises, and it is with great excitement and a solid foundation that I now venture further into this medium.