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Stephen E Andrews

Stephen E Andrews is the co-author of 100 Must-Read Books For Men (A & C Black). He has worked in bookselling since 1983, for seven different companies, in 13 bookshops scattered over five cities.

Bringing boys to books

08.10.08

Thanks to my mum, I was always a keen reader, fully literate before I started school. I loved wildlife and adored dinosaurs, devouring books about both.

I also discovered imported American comic books at age six, enjoying superheroes such as the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk and so on. These fantasy masterpieces were reprinted in Britain continually throughout the seventies and I read them alongside sci fi, children's novels, my dad's old classics and magazines such as All About Science.

When I became a bookseller, I discovered it was hard to get kids to read anything except Roald Dahl. As inspired as Dahl was, there was often a hint of desperation in the eyes of parents, who looked almost tearful as they said of their offspring: "They won't try anything else". Between the death of Dahl and the rise of Rowling, there were a few years where the playing field was level. It was bliss. Children had to try something different.

One of the major concerns of educators is getting boys to read. Many librarians have told me what they really need is a reading guide for teenage boys. But I know the problem begins long before adolescence. I know whom to blame and how to solve the issue.

One answer is graphic novels. What young boys want is colour, excitement and melodrama, heroes and villains, and lashings of action.  How often have I seen sniffy parents stop their sons from buying comics? What matters is that comics encourage kids to read. They can pick up Shakespeare later.

Stan Lee, "Chairman Emeritus" at Marvel, is for me one of the great authors. He taught me to love language, understand alliteration, and acquire a diverse vocabulary. America realised the value of comics in encouraging readers decades ago. "Give the gift of literacy" became a legend printed on the covers of US comics.

I owe my enthusiasm for reading everything from classics to pulp almost entirely to publishers Marvel and DC. Parents, let your kids have that Batman trade paperback. It may actually be too "old" for them, but they'll want to read it and, if they desire something ardently enough, they'll persevere. I did: I'm a writer now because I read things that were considered rubbish for illiterates by people ignorant of their worth as catalysts. Classic superheroes are the modern equivalents of Jason and Odysseus—and their adventures are in Penguin Classics. Say no more!

 

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By JimmyP

After having just attended the Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS) this weekend, I am glad to say that comicbook culture is alive and thriving in the UK. There seems to be more and more domestic comics with each passing year. Unfortunately, comics have always been considered the poor literary cousin to the novel, however, take time and dig a little. You will find that some of the most innovative and crazy ideas floating around are hidden within those panelled pages...As well as some of the most subversive material. Read a copy of "Watchmen" or "Maus" and tell me I am wrong.

09 Oct 08 07:59

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By WanderingVaguely

Agreed 100%!! With both Stephen and Jimmy. Here's to the comic and graphic novel! It makes me dispair to see people cast disdainful eyes at a medium that bridges the gap between the big screen and the book. Let's not burn these bridges but build more of them. Sarah x

09 Oct 08 09:11

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By John

The central issue is that, in the UK, children are taught that if you are still reading books with pictures after a certain age then you are stupid. Graphic narative is seen as something for toddlers (i.e. picturebooks and board books) and not sophisticated or capable of being credible or literary. Booksellers are snobby about comics, and don't know anything beyond Chris Ware. Teachers teach aging prose and plays instead of comics as the syllabus doesn't recognise or prescribe them. Parents tell kids to pick a 'proper book' instead of comics (or even stop then reading Captain Underpants as it's 'too comic-y' - I have seen this happen several times on the shop floor!). Publishers don't understand comics and think they're being 'innovative' or 'cool' by forcing chunks of poorly-drawn comic panels into prose novels. No-one is really producing comics for children either based on the superhero characters they love! Aside from original reprints and collections of earlier, more innocent Marvel and DC titles, most mainstream comics are of an adult sensibility - characters marry, have kids, have sexual relations, domesic violence etc. The X-Men grew up, Spider-Man is a grown man, and Robin sucks anyway. Even attempts to rejuvenate franchises like Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man and associated series quickly got back to these themes. The potential of adult graphic novels is incredible and discussed over half the internet, but Maus and Watchmen are the wrong examples here. The danger of discussing comics is that people can get too 'geek evangelical' as I often do, and converting adults is hard enough... fine, but this is about kids and these books are emphaticaly not for kids. Still, the article is right, kids want to read comics! As a kid I read Doctor Who comic strips in annuals, early Marvel stuff, 60s Batman and 70s Superman collections. These were what I needed to keep my interest in reading - these and the old Target Doctor Who novelisations are the only reason I'm reading and doing the job I'm doing today. Anything that keeps boys reading is good, whether it be a comic or a magazine or a book. My younger brother is dyslexic and hated reading as a result, yet he adored graphic novels and comics and still reads them to this day. I just don't think there are enough comics out there aimed squarely at kids. The racks in Smiths are full of American reprints (but again they're often of the wrong tone or bogged down in years of continuity) or cash-in TV show tie-ins that reeeally aren't very good quality in terms of art or writing. Kids don't want dumbed down comics for adults, they want stuff built for them from the ground up. It's a tough one - when publishers have adapted bestselling novels for children like Stormbreaker the graphic novel version has been modest at best in sales terms, probably for the reasons above. Manga is not the answer here - kids watch penty of managinspired shows but don't want the original manga itself, as is bourne out by all sales figures (it's selling to twenty-somethings who are fans of the medium already). The big comics companies are responding again with new, younger superhero series harking back to good, simple action and adventure, but are comics accessible/available to kids when they're generally under-published, teachers and parents don't see them as 'real books' and neither do booksellers who don't understand, stock or promote them?

09 Oct 08 09:20

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By Paul S

You say "One answer is graphic novels. What young boys want is colour, excitement and melodrama, heroes and villains, and lashings of action. How often have I seen sniffy parents stop their sons from buying comics? What matters is that comics encourage kids to read. They can pick up Shakespeare later." Actually, they can pick up Shakespeare in Graphic Novel form too - Can of Worms do excellent non-abridged versions of at least for Shakespeare plays.

09 Oct 08 11:38

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By Jonathan Ruppin

"Booksellers are snobby about comics, and don't know anything beyond Chris Ware", says John. Well, you're guilty of your own ignorant prejudice there or would you care to provide some evidence? Plenty of booksellers are highly informed about graphic novels, hence many shops' expanding their sections severalfold and having them run by people who are both passionate and knowledgeable. Bookshops spend considerable time sourcing graphic novels, often at poor margin, often firm sale and too often from distributors who stock strong-selling items erratically, but we do so because it's what our customers want. Blanket statements like yours are ignorant and offensive.

09 Oct 08 17:17

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By John

Sorry, several sentences should have probably have had 'generally' in them Jonathan. My comments were based on ten years of experience at several levels of the trade in different companies so are not in the slightest ignorant or prejudiced. Naturally there are good booksellers but the majority don't know and don't care, at head offices or on the shop floor. I used to be one of the booksellers you mention who lovingly maintained a profitable section, but no-one in the store was interested or thought the bay worthy of space. Read the comments and please don't think they're all aimed at you - I was deliberately making generalised remarks. Also, the article is about books for boys not adult graphic novels which I'd reckon is the bulk of the sections you mention. Graphic novels generally ARE misunderstood by parents, teachers and retailers, and under-published for chlidren. The best child/teen-friendly graphic novel section I've ever seen was at Durham City library, with a carefully selected, child-friendly range displayed next to the computers and regualrly refreshed with only the latest stuff. Really great work and rate of loans for these titles was apparently fantastic.

10 Oct 08 08:42

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By Colonel Gravy

Boys need regular beatings, thats what learns 'em!

10 Oct 08 18:49

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