How many of you are “in the closet” when it comes to all things geeky? Do your parents, siblings, co-workers, and others know you read comics? Play D&D? Cosplay Doctor Who characters?
This is something that has plagued Jason since the very beginning, and we can see that Noel is hiding from her parents as well.
Similarly, it is amazing how many people still consider comics to be “kids stuff” even though there are endless books (Persepolis included) that can and should appeal to everyone. Most other countries don’t have these hangups about comics. The Japanese and Europeans embrace it, for the most part. Yet it is in the realm of “unwashed geekdom” here in the USA.
Any theories why? It’s ironic, given how popular comic-related characters are in film, on television, and on computer games right now. Why not the comics themselves?
Acceptance of comics in Germany is about the same as you portrayed here. Comics are for kids. There are some positiv newspaper revisions on stuff like Persepolis. But if people hear comics they think Disney/Asterix/Lucky Luke NOT Sandman.
My parents have known of my geekiness since I was in the early double digits and fostered it because its what led to my creative side. And I HATE IT when somebody instantly debases a comic regardless of its content as childish, just because its drawn and not typed out.
Well, i had no problem with my parents- mom’s a bit of an occassional reader since decades ago, so they’ve been always cool about it.
I’m spanish, and here comics are ignored or dismissed most of the times-it’s kind of connected to our industry’s eternal problems-, but there’s some hope here and there. It’s in france and italy where comics are seen a bit better.