Mark Dudley, Illustrator and Sequential Artist, has been following the replies to his two previous Talk Backs and writes in again to clarify his position on mature comic book content:

I recently wrote, what I was sure, would be my last reply on the subject of comics content for a while (at least).  Since then I have had some replies to my post that give me a bit of pause.

I would like to clarify my position by saying.  If there is a segment of comic book readers who want to see heroes portrayed in a "traditional" light then I am sure that the majority of comics out there will continue to exist to service such a market.  I am not saying that I condone any book that smears our perceptions of how our favorite comic book heroes would behave.  Heck, I am not even saying that think such writing is good for the characters.  I am, however, saying like it or not, comics is a business.  Businesses keep an eye on emerging markets and trends, as well as competitive products.  So if anyone who has posted earlier can tell me how comics can compete with Halo, Gears of War or Grand Theft Auto for the hearts and minds of the youth, without growing to absorb some or the excitement of what kids find attractive in these games, then please I am all ears.

Heck, videogames are giving the movies a good run for their money, and all that I hear from most these posts is how we should keep the hero concept as static as possible.  Fine then, lets do that.  However, I warn you all that your refusal to expand your literary views as far as comics is concerned holds a grave danger.  That danger is that we, as an industry, will continue to alienate potential new readers, readers that will spend their time reading manga and playing videogames.

Most of the people that I see who have replied to my posts have been dealers.  It has been my experience that comic book dealers are, with some exceptions of course, risk averse.  Maintenance of the status quo is in their benefit because they really don't have to work to keep customers who are already hooked.  Well dealers, diversity is the only way to grow the market.  After talking to a cross section of people since this debate started, it is my view that people are getting tired of the constant yet never changing roller coaster that is comics.

I liken the modern comic book industry to hip hop music.  Noted hip hop artist Jay-Z was once asked why he never made use of his considerable rapping skills set in his recorded material.  His response was simply, "I rap at a 3rd grade level so most of my audience can understand what I am talking about."  Comic books seem to operate on these same principles.  I mean no one who dies EVER STAYS DEAD, and huge events end for the most part in maintaining the status quo.  This my friends is an insult to the intelligence of any fan.  Yet there are those of us, people who want to maintain their never changing view of what comics can be who just can't let go and will except anything put before them because of it.  If this isn't a "3rd grade" way of looking at producing comics for the masses then I don't know what is.

What comic book dealers don't seem to understand is that comics are becoming a global market, with the Asian produced materials is at the forefront.  If you want to figure out how to bring more kids to comics just look at what they are watching on TV or playing on their gaming consoles.  It is stuff created by Asian producers.  This isn't to say we should all start doing manga, but we could learn a thing or two about how manga works and try to find ways to create that type or energy in our own works.  We can accomplish this without smearing what it is that older comics fans love about their favorite books.

Finally, I want to put the concept of the comic book "Hero" to the test by asking this question.  If comic book heroes are about "fairness" and doing "what's right" then how does this model explain The Punisher, Wolverine and sometime "hero" Deathstoke?  Heck, Wolverine is a killer and easily the most popular character at Marvel.  I don't think the standard hero model can explain these types of characters.  Though you might call them "anti-heroes," I think people's views of what is "heroic" may change and can grow to encompass other things.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.