In the forward to The Jewish Graphic Novel: Critical Approaches edited by Samantha Baskind and Ranen Omer-Sherman, J.T. Waldman asks, “Why are so many Jewish imaginations attracted to the medium of comix? Is there something particularly Jewish about comix? Does this outsider art form embody the essence of an outsider culture? (Baskind and Omer-Sherman, xii) While Jews may have been present in large numbers at the birth of the comic book and continue to be influential presence in the world of comic books and graphic novels, comix are no longer the outsider art form they used to be.
Comix, comic books and graphic novels are popping up everywhere. So many art forms are influenced by comic art. Many comic book superheroes have appeared on the silver screen and Saturday morning’s TV screen. Comic books have also been made into live action TV shows for the adult television audience. AMC, home of Mad Men, will be premiering Walking Dead, based on the comic book by Robert Kirkman, on Halloween night. Another underappreciated example is the live action version of The Tick. Comic books have influence literary works such as Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. The New York Times even has a best-sellers list made up of only graphic novels. Comic book artists have returned the favor by turning novels into graphic novels. One example of this is the novel I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. And lest we forget, even famous artists, such as Roy Lichtenstein, have been influenced by comic books.
While not everyone spends their weekends at comic book shops, a person would hard pressed to escape comix influence on our day to day culture.
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