When most people think about comic books, the image of a stereotypical nerd pops into their heads and instantly dismiss them as “not their thing.” Although recently, with the massive success of comic book movies, comic book culture is becoming more popular than ever, but is also getting some major backlash.
Though superheroes have been gracing TV and movie screens since the 1960’s, and have even been fairly successful, it wasn’t until Christopher Nolan’s second installment in his Batman trilogy, “The Dark Knight,” won an Oscar in 2009 in Best Supporting Actor for Heath Ledger’s role as The Joker, that people began to take comic book movies seriously.
With renewed interest in this niche genre, Marvel Studios, a branch of Marvel Comics began “phase one” of their epic takeover of the genre. On May 4th, 2012 the Disney-owned studio released their Joss Whedon written and directed magnum opus, Avengers. The film has become the third highest grossing movie of all time, earning over $612M domestically, and over $1.5B internationally. The only films that have grossed higher were “Avatar,” coming in at first place and “Titanic” following in second.
Movies aren’t the only place comic book culture is taking over. San Diego’s Comic-Con international is a geek mecca for more than just your local comic book collector. When it was first held in 1970, it was all about comics, but now it boasts everything from comic books to movies to video games.
The general turn out to Comic-Con International has been clocked by the organizers at around 130,000 people annually. Geeks from around the country go to meet their heroes and other fans, and sometimes they go to try to hit it big. The 2012 Morgan Spurlock-directed  documentary, “Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan’s Hope” sheds light on this holy place of nerdity showing that it can spawn everything from intense competition to marriages to job offers for independent artists.
Nowadays it’s hard to not see a “vintage” batman logo shirt, or someone with a Superman crest tattoo, but besides ironic fashion statements, comic books have supposedly had more negative impacts. A 2006 study published by Brad J. Bushman and L. Rowell Huesmann in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine reported that constant exposure to violent and graphic materials led to increased aggression in children and teens.
At a midnight screening of 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” James Holmes allegedly opened gun fire on the packed theater, killing ten people and wounding seventy. It’s also alleged that Holmes said, “I am The Joker.” The Joker is one of the most sinister and monstrous Batman villains. When police searched his apartment they were faced with disarming elaborate bombs and booby traps. Despite the suspect’s myriad of mental health issues, some are claiming violent comic books and movies are to blame.
Whether the influence of comics is good or bad, it’s undeniably here to stay. With big-name actors taking roles in increasingly high-budget comic book-inspired films, they are going to keep gaining traction. Marvel has announced their “Phase Two” plans that include five (possibly more) movies by mid-2015 and DC has wrapped up “Batman” in favor of “Superman.” Comic-Con International gets bigger and more open to the general public every year. Turn on Netflix, and hit up your local comic book store or e-reader website and get reading or you’re going to be very behind.