Graphic Novels — Comics are for Kids of All Ages

Back in the day, we all read comic books. Today, graphic novels tackle bigger topics in the same visually pleasing way. “Mature” kids may be attracted to their highly visual, large print style.

This is the first graphic novel I read, which made me a fan. Photo by author.

When my friend discovered I was a Reader, she asked if I read graphic novels.

I never took them seriously after giving up “Archie and Friends” as a teenager.

A comic book is a comic book, I thought.

She gave me “Run” the first book in the March trilogy written by John Lewis (and team) as a memoir about his life as an activist and Congressman.

If his name sounds familiar, it may be because he has been quoted often lately, especially at protests. Many signs read “Make Good Trouble,” one of his famous lines.

The beauty and power of a graphic novel, especially this one, is the visual. The illustrators explain the research process they undertook to draw the sights and settings as they appeared at the time.

Was it a sunny day? What buildings lined the streets during the march from Birmingham to Selma? Who was involved? What did they look like?