KAPOW

While many teachers (usually of an older generation) might look down their noses at the prospect of bringing comic books into the classroom, comics and graphic novels are a deceptively clever way to get reluctant readers to engage in literature. The themes present in Marvel superheroes are every bit as valid as classics. Why should Peter Parker's Hero's Journey be scoffed at while Beowulf's is placed on a pedestal? Why should Jughead be ill-favored while "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is praised? What's the real difference between "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and classic myth? While the use of graphic novels and comics may seem counterintuitive, it's definitely a way to teach literary concepts in ways that can reach more learning styles than simple reading and note-taking. The images engage readers and the reading doesn't feel like a chore, anymore.



I can imagine tasking students with a graphic novel about Batman. Some story that deals with the Joker in a fundamental, classic way. Then I can give an assignment that asks the students to analyze the relationship between Batman and the Joker and how they are a classic example of a diametrically opposed dichotomy. According to an article published by the National Council of Teachers of English, manga "are very popular with our students, so much so that many students are actually learning Japanese so that they can read the newest manga straight off the press, instead of waiting for translations.” The article mentions how graphic novels can be used to teach grammar, punctuation, and appreciation for the visual arts. Rachael Sawyer Perkins of Dolores Street Elementary School in Carson, California had this to say on the subject: “For students who lack the ability to visualize as they read, it provides a graphic sense that approximates what good readers do as they read. Moreover, it provides an excellent way for reluctant writers to communicate a story that has a beginning, middle, and end. I think comics and graphic novels are an excellent vehicle for teaching writing, as a story has to be pared down to its most basic elements. It is easy for the students to look at a short comic strip and identify story elements.” How any forward-thinking teacher could discount comics as a learning tool is beyond me.