Confessions of a Comic Book Guy is a weekly column by Steve Bennett of Super-Fly Comics and Games in Yellow Springs, Ohio.  This week Bennett tackles the subject of the adult coloring book fad.

Earlier this week I made an unannounced appearance at Super-Fly Comics & Games.  I usually try to plan my visits for Wednesdays so I can get the full comic book shop experience: to see the brand new comics sitting on the shelves, chat with long-time customers and old friends, etc.  But I've found that I can get quite a bit out of a trip there on a fairly lazy Sunday afternoon.

For instance, on this trip, I learned that Super-Fly's top-selling comic right now is Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.  I really couldn't tell you why.  There is an MMPR movie in the pipeline, but it's not coming out until July.  But it's more likely it has to do with the fact that it's been 20 years since the first MMPR movie came out and the generation that saw it as kids are just the right age to rediscover the franchise.  It's entirely possible that it has something to do with our customer and its customer base; after all, Super-Fly is the comic shop where Strawberry Shortcake was outselling Wolverine for a while there (see "Confessions of a Comic Book Guy--Strawberry Shortcake Vs. Wolverine").

I also got a chance to see examples of DC's latest variant cover theme, Adult Coloring Books.  For those who might unaware adults coloring in books is an "international craze;" at least, that's what several pieces on the subject I read online called it.  But I can offer anecdotal evidence that it is in fact "a thing."  While at my day job I couldn't help but notice how the walls of many of the cubicles were decorated with finished coloring book pages.  But given the subject matter, as well as the overall quality of the coloring, I naturally assumed them to the work of employees' children.  That is, until the day I passed a desk and saw a middle aged woman unashamedly spending her afternoon break coloring in a book.  And I quickly discovered she wasn't the only one at the company doing this.

Supposedly there are even health benefits connected to the activity.  According to "Coloring Isn't Just for Kids.  It Can Actually Help Adults Combat Stress" a piece by Elena Santos which appeared on The Huffington Post website, "it turns out coloring can be beneficial for adults--namely for its de-stressing power.  The practice generates wellness, quietness and also stimulates brain areas related to motor skills, the senses and creativity."

Of course, you could, and I would argue that you would receive the same benefits from reading.  To quote from the Center for Spirituality & Healing section of the University of Minnesota website, "Reading can relax your body by lowering your heart rate and easing the tensions in your muscles.  A 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that reading can reduce stress by up to 68%.  It works better and faster than other relaxation methods, such as listening to music or drinking a hot cup of tea."

Even though I'm fairly certain there are adults out there happily coloring because science who wouldn't be caught dead reading a comic book, I won't be making fun of someone else's hobbies.  That would difficult to do, given how much of my life has been devoted to other supposedly childish things.  And while I've never been exactly what you'd call crazy about variant covers and the collector’s mentality that drives them, I've got to admit that these sure are pretty.  It helps that I've always liked looking at original comic book art uncolored but there's something about the black and white art here that's particularly appealing.

DC definitely has a talented lineup of artists doing these covers.  They include Batman #48 by Dave Johnson, Teen Titans #16 by Timothy Green. JLA #8 by Cully Hamner. Lois and Clark #4 by Aaron Lopresti, Green Arrow #48 by Cully Hamner, Action Comics #48 by Scott Kollins, Aquaman #48 by Andy Kuhn, Batman/Superman #28 by Freddie Williams. Cyborg #7 by Derec Donovan. Deathstroke #14 by Emanuella Luppicino, Detective Comics #48 by Timothy Green, Flash #48 by Derec Donovan. Grayson #16 by Aaron Lopresti, Green Lantern #48 by Michael Allred, Justice League #48 by Scott Kollins, Martian Manhunter #8 by Andy Kuhn,  Red Hood/Arsenal #8 by Scott McDaniel, Robin Son of Batman #8 by Sanford Greene, Sinestro #19 by Derec Donovan, Starfire #8 by Dave Taylor, Superman #48 by Andy Smith, Superman/ Wonder Woman #25 by Aaron Lopresti, Titans Hunt #4 Scott McDaniel, We Are Robin #8 by Freddie Williams and Wonder Woman #48 by Emanuella Luppicino.

I only wish that DC had gone just a little further with this project.  What I'd really like to see is an entire issue of a current comic done as an adult coloring book.  Along with being extremely pretty it would be a handy way of getting comic books into the hands of people who wouldn't ordinarily even think about reading one.

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