Enlightened by Comics

     The definition of "real" literature is seemingly limitless. Never before had I considered art to be on the same level as novels in the realm of literature, but, after reading the first few chapters of McCloud's Understanding Comics, I can now see that art is as much of a form of literature as the written word. My knowledge about comics and graphic novels prior to opening this book was considerably nonexistent. I've never been interested in comics, and I'll be the first to admit that I've never given them a chance. I always associated comics with a male audience and, honestly, thought comics to be childish. I now realize just how wrong my preconceptions were. While reading this book, I felt as though I was being hit with a million epiphanies simultaneously. Reading a few chapters of this book opened up my eyes to a new realm of possibility for literature. It took me a few pages to become comfortable with reading and interpreting the images; however, once I became oriented with the style, I found it to be enriching and full of a depth that cannot be achieved with just words.