The mythological traditions that ended with the collapse of the Greek system resumed with the publication of the first American comic books. Superman caused the first real explosion in 1938. The last son of a dying alien world, Superman came to Earth (and to America, of course) to show us all just how noble and perfect a person can be. Editors worried Action Comics #1, Supermans first appearance, would not sell because on the now-iconic cover, Superman is seen lifting a car over his head. Preposterous, they thought, no one will buy it. I wish we could see the egg on their faces now. Every culture has its share of outstanding literature, but the grandest tales of civilizations battling civilizations, super-powered human beings tangling with gods and Shakespearean tragedies with crushing cadence and cascading found a comfortable new home in the pages of superhero comic books. The stories provide a great deal of shared cultural experience, mimicking the oral traditions of civilizations past. Not everybody reads comic books, but almost anyone could tell you about Batman's parents or that Spider-Man is really awkward high school student Peter Parker who lives with his Aunt May. There is something rich and fruitful in these stories, even if they seem cliché now. In many cases, comics were the first to explore this kind of ground. Following a cliché may be bad, but establishing one is something to be proud of. Comics can showcase remarkable storytelling and artwork and are lasting testaments to a nation brimming with imagination. They give us all something to aspire to. Tales of galactic conquests and the overcoming of incredible odds will endure forever.
Kyle Schmidlin is a writer and musician living in Austin, TX. He manages the news blog at thirdrailnews.wordpress.com. Follow him at facebook.com/kyleschmidlin or twitter.com/kyleschmidlin1.
