One of the prevailing myths I often hear from academics/educators who study comics is that teachers need to be careful not to co-opt this form of literature from their students. The assumption is that comics reading is the domain of youth culture rather than pop culture, that comics "belong" to kids rather than to everyone.
The truth is that for a few decades now, the average age of the comics reader has been rising. Many feel that 40 year old men have made up the bulk of comics readership for the last twenty years. And, of course, there's that fact that in comics' heyday, almost everyone read comics. In other cultures, sequential art is enjoyed by multiple segments of the population as well.
To further attempt halting the concept of comics as youth culture, consider that Simba Publishing just releases a report stating that 1 in 4 comics readers is over 65 years old.
As the press release reads, "Despite notable efforts from many in the industry, comics and graphic novels continue to be repeatedly mislabeled as just another children’s book category,” said Warren Pawlowski, online publishing manager for Simba Information and an analyst within the company’s Trade Books Group. “With nearly a quarter of the comic reading audience beyond the age of retirement, there is a misconception that needs to be corrected.”
Yep. Or should I say, Yessiree! Also see here for a broader overview of the comics and GN market. If you have the Benjamins, that is! (You'll see what I mean)
2 comments:
Wow, Bucky. I knew a lot of us in our forties and fifties have been reading graphic novels, because I see them every Wednesday in my local comic shop. But that TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT of readers are over the age of sixty blows my mind! How cool!
John Weaver
Assuming the study is correct (I'm not paying the 1200 smackaroonies to read the report and analize its methods), this is an interesting development. I suppose it means that in 20 years or so, 1 in every 4 comics readers will be dead....
THAT must be why there's such a resurgence in the popularity of zombie titles!!!! ;)
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