I spent four years in college completing a variety of English courses to earn my bachelor’s degree in English. I read an abundance of various books, most of which I can’t even remember now. But it was reading an Incredible Hulk comic in one of my classes that stuck out the most, and it still does to this day.
Yes, I read a comic in college. Honestly, I don’t recall which issue or series it was, and I had only rented the book at the time. As a result, I can’t look through my comic book collection to see which one it was. However, I do recall some of its plot, and some of the images are still visible in my mind.
Why did my professor assign a comic in a college-level course? Well, first of all, it wasn’t the only book we read in that class. We also read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Paradise Lost, and Frankenstein. We discussed each book, including The Incredible Hulk comic, just like any other English class in college. Then we compared the themes. See, that was the thing, themes.
Just think about it for a moment. Is there a common theme in any of these works of literature? What about the concept of monsters? What about the concept of science? Are the creators playing god? What about the creator’s accountability for making these monsters? Are these monsters really monsters in the first place? Are the creatures to blame for the actions they take in these books? Or perhaps, their creators are at fault?
Bruce Banner is a scientist who transforms into The Hulk after an accident. The Hulk’s mental capacity is limited, and he enjoys smashing things. In a way, Banner becomes a monster. Or, at the very least, he feels he does, and he struggles with that for the rest of his life. He wants to avoid causing harm, but he can’t always keep The Hulk under control.
If you’ve read the other stories, you can probably figure out how an English course could tie them together. It also had to do with the specific series, and I can’t remember enough to go into further detail. However, I didn’t start writing to talk about this comic book anyway. I believe that adding this comic to the reading list of this class was a brilliant idea. I think that comics (manga, webtoons, etc. included) should be part of education, including grade school.
Why Should Comics and Manga be in Education?
When it comes to reading comics, there is always this notion that reading a comic isn’t truly reading at all. Read an actual book, right? I can assure you that comic books are books. Read comics. Read as many comics as you like. Comics are just as amazing as novels. They are just as in-depth as any novel.
Comics and manga have well-developed characters and well-written stories. They have much deeper themes than most even realize. They can be analyzed in the same way any novel can be. I’ve read several manga with such profound concepts that I couldn’t stop thinking about them for days. They’ve even taught me a few things.
Comics and manga rely heavily on images, but this is not a shortcoming at all. It simply provides you with more to discuss and debate. Do the pictures alter your point of view in any way? In that college class, we compared how it felt to have a visual representation already in front of us versus having to imagine the novels on our own.
The Incredible Hulk showed us what “the monster” looked like. It gave us more to discuss. A simple illustration of a character’s expression can completely change the meaning of a dialogue. There could even be subtle hints in the background that alter your perspective. And, to be honest, some of the artwork is simply stunning.
Reading isn’t everyone’s favorite pastime. I might like to read a book all day. You might like to read a book all day. However, not everyone on this planet wants to read a book. A comic or manga may offer new avenues for those who aren’t big readers. It’s not as tedious to read and may be more interesting to someone who does not enjoy reading.
The images might pique people’s interest more. It may help students feel less intimidated by reading. It’s also faster to read, so it doesn’t take as much time out of their day. Younger readers might also find more interest in comics and manga. They will still be learning to read. They will still be able to delve deeper into the themes and lessons written into the stories.
Not every comic and manga is appropriate for all audiences, but the beauty of these pieces of art is that there is something for everyone. There are series for all ages and all interests, with a wide range of topics. They have done so much for me personally that I believe many others can benefit from them as I have. I have learned from them. I have been inspired by them. Isn’t that a large part of the purpose of reading, particularly in education?
Conclusion
I enjoy learning, but it isn’t always enjoyable in school. I would have enjoyed learning more if I had read more comics and manga during my education. Education doesn’t have to be boring. Education doesn’t need to be forced. Manga and comics provide a plethora of possibilities, far more than I even mentioned. In another post, I listed many of the benefits of watching anime. Many of those can also apply to comics and manga.
I believe that comics and manga have the potential to have a constructive impact on education. After all, the use of The Incredible Hulk in my English course still sticks with me years later. I still remember some of the things we talked about. It had a significant impact on my college experience. I believe that adding comics and manga to other people’s education would do the same for many others.
What do you think about incorporating comics and manga in education? Leave a comment below.