Hey everyone, Cody Medrano here with a special something this time. See very soon Vegas will be holding its third annual Comic Book Festival, as part of the Vegas Valley Book Festival itself. The event will hold a number things for attendee's to enjoy. Such as veiwings of movies and anime's and many others.
One of the viewings is a documentary that has been getting numerous awards and good reviews throughout the country's comic scene, "Comic Book Literacy" a documentary by the film maker Todd Kent. I actually had the privilege of interviewing the documenter himself and here's what I got:
Starting off with the basics can you give me and the people who haven't been to your site an overview about what Comic Book Literacy is about?
Comic Book Literacy is a documentary film that explores the many uses of comic books for educational purposes. I found that so many people learned to love reading from comic books that I thought the topic could be expanded upon.
Yes, comics can help improve reading skills but film covers topics like visual literacy and the role that comics play in helping to develop stronger sense of how we take in visual information. Language, science, history and several other topics are covered as well and I hope to give an overall sense of what the medium is capable of.
In Comic Book Literacy you say comic books are what's called a "misunderstood medium", can you elaborate on that a bit?
The general public tends to have a negative view of comics. At best, they are often seen as disposable, lightweight entertainment. At worst, they are thought of as having little to no redeeming qualities. One of my goals with the film is to help legitimize the comic book medium in the eyes of non-comic readers and comic fans alike.
In C.B.L. you spoke with a lot of veterans in the field, can you name them for us?
I was very fortunate to interview many comic book, book writers and artists for the film. They include former Marvel Editor (and current Papercutz EIC) Jim Salicrup, Pulitzer Prize winner Art Spiegelman (Maus), Emmy Award winner Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series), Antarctic Press founder Ben Dunn (known as the “godfather” of American Manga), comics historian and theorist Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics) and current Marvel Comics Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada just to name a few.
These comic book representatives really serve to flesh out the mechanics of how and why comics work.
Can you tell us one of your favorites from all those interviews?
There’s an interesting sequence where Art Spiegelman breaks down some of his work (Jack in the Box - TOON Books) panel by panel and explains his thought process in creating it and how he hoped kids would take in the information. It’s a great introduction to the role comics play in helping to develop visual literacy in kids and is then expanded upon by Scott McCloud.
Given you put in all the work for Comic Book literacy it just show you have a huge interest in comics and the like am I right?
Yes, I’ve been reading comics for years. Making this film helped me to better appreciate comics and made me really start exploring all the different things the medium has to offer.
Can you talk about one of your favorite comics, and why it's your favorite?
When I was younger I was into the “classics” like Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, etc. I was probably about 12 when the Burton/Keaton Batman film was released and that definitely solidified my position as a crazed Bat-fan.
These days though, I’m enjoying many titles from DC’s Vertigo imprint: Fables, Scalped, Unwritten, etc. I also try as many independent titles as I can find just to try something different. There’s a lot of great stuff out there. So I guess my “favorite” changes from week to week.
Comic Book Literacy has won a number of awards this year, are you glad that all of your work is being given such high praise?
It’s always nice to be recognized for your efforts. What is even better is when people tell me that the film taught them something or made them reconsider their preconceptions.
Your documentary is actually going to be shown at the Vegas Valley Comic Book convention am I correct?
It’s screening Saturday November 6 at 11:30 A.M. at the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival, which itself is a part of the Vegas Valley Book Festival.
In your documentary you see comic books as a way to get children reading and use them as a gateway to other forms of literature right?
In the film many people state that comic book are responsible for developing a love of reading. This led to an enjoyment of reading material of all kinds. However, I think it’s also important to note that while they can help get kids interested in prose work, comics are a legitimate form of art and literature in their own right and need not be “left behind” when someone moves on to prose.
Most people would argue that reading comics would keep children and others from picking up "real" books, what do you say to that?
I think the two formats (comics and prose) are unfairly compared to each other. They are two very different mediums and can be appreciated in very different ways. It’s almost like saying you shouldn’t appreciate sculpture because that will keep you away from paintings.
That being said, reading is supposed to be a fun, enjoyable activity but kids often view it as a chore. If comics help them to associate “fun” with “reading” then they’d be more inclined to have a better overall attitude toward reading and that will translate to all kinds of literature.
Okay last question and one I have to ask; who is your favorite superhero, or comic character and why?
Jughead. Because that kid knows how to have a good time.
Well guys, I hope that this was helpful to you and will prehaps urge you too see his film and come on down to the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival This november at 11 A.M.-4 P.M. I'm going, the guy's a bat-fan and we all gotta stick together.
To get a better idea about the documentary take a look at the documentary's trailer.
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