A Valentines Letter To Comics

Today is Valentine’s Day, and since I don’t have a girlfriend, I figured there’s no better time to talk about my love of comic books. In a lot of ways comics are similar to relationships, with moments when your heart will be broken, as well as times where you never want to be separated. However, the relationship between people and comics will always come back to what it once was. No matter what happens, at the end of the day Krypton will still explode, Uncle Ben will still be shot, but the heroes will always save the day. That’s why comic books are so special to so many people, myself included, because no matter what happens, they’ll always be there for you.

Now, if things will always end up the same, why would someone read comics? Well, it’s because while things will end up becoming the same, the stories are always different and unique. One of the best things about comics is that it takes a team of people to create a comic, and while you’ve got the writer and penciller who are best known, there’s also the inker, letterer, colorist, cover artist, and editor. Every part of the creative team puts in their effort, and the book is stronger than ever that way. This also helps each series feel different, even if it’s using the same characters.

So far I’ve been talking about what makes a comic book, but I haven’t really gotten to the heart of why I love comics. On the most basic level it’s because comics are entertaining. They’re the only medium that has been able to tell connecting stories for over 80 years, and are still going strong. But further than that, superheroes are down right inspiring. Even when there’s no hope of things turning out okay, the heroes will still be there. If a planet is about to explode, you know Superman will be there to save the people, if not the planet itself. And when a couple is getting mugged in Hell’s Kitchen, they’ll have Daredevil to protect them. The heroes always try to save everyone, and even if they can’t, they’ll save as many people as they can, even if it kills them. The Death of Superman movie does this well, as Superman sacrificed his own life to stop Doomsday from destroying the world. And yes, I did cry after he died and at the funeral, but that’s beside the point.

If you can’t tell, I love comics, and if you’ve read this far, there’s a good chance you love comics too. So today, whether you have a significant other or not, I want everyone to share their favorite comics, and to read both their favorite and a new one. Comics are a great thing, and while there are bad fans, we can all be united under a love of comics. Some of my favorites: Superman Rebirth #39, which is a touching issue about Superman bringing kids with cancer up to the Justice League Watchtower, Champions #15, which has young Cyclops talking about his fears of the adult version of him, Justice League International #8, a fun story about the Justice League moving into their international headquarters, and Daredevil #612, which is an inspiring ending to the Death of Daredevil arc.

That’s nowhere near all of my favorite comics, just a few I wanted to highlight today. Today I just want everyone to spread their love of comics, and to help people find some new series or issues that they might enjoy. Valentine’s Day is a day of sharing love, so make sure to send love to your favorite creators, and spread some love for comics in general. Excelsior!