Reading woman dishes about Japanese comics' appeal

So, Robin Brenner, expert on all things comics-related, answer the big question: Who was the most popular superhero of the 20th century?

“Ooh, that’s a hard one,” the former Reading resident and full-time teen librarian answered. “That depends on who you’re talking to.”

Brenner, 29, was in town last week at the Reading Public Library for a presentation on the very popular Japanese graphic novels, known as manga, that are very popular in this country.

Brenner attended Reading schools up to high school, and now resides in Arlington. Her parents still live in their Colonial Drive home, she said.

As an advocate for teen library patrons in Brookline, Brenner wants to assure parents that there is nothing wrong with their youngsters gravitating towards manga titles such as “Morito” or “Fruit Basket,” rather than, let’s say, “Moby Dick” or “Huckleberry Finn.” In fact, Brenner said, graphic novels, with their intricate plots and story arcs, are a great way to entice reluctant readers to pick up a book.

“If a boy, and it is usually a boy, is not catching on to reading, start with a comic book,” Brenner advised. “He will feel that he is accomplishing something by finishing it, and the images will give him a scaffolding for what he isn’t understanding in the prose.”

Additionally, the vocabulary in a graphic novel is typically at a higher level than that found in a children’s book, or even in conversation with an adult, Brenner said.

“He will be able to read at a higher level because of the images,” she said.

While American comic books are typically limited in popularity to a cult audience, in Japan, everyone reads manga, Brenner said. Because of the wide range of manga titles and topics, reaching across social and class lines and age groups, they appeal to adults as well as children, women as well as men. In the past five to 10 years, they have become increasingly popular with American readers as well, Brenner said.

Manga themes span sports, romance, comedy, soap operas, fantasy, history, mystery, sexuality and horror. One popular series tells workers how to improve their performance at work, another follows the invention of the popular ramen soup Cup o’ Noodles. Because of their wide range of topics, American teen girls in particular have latched onto them, Brenner said.

She compares the best of them to a complicated TV show such as “Lost” or “24.”

For parents who are concerned about their children reading manga or other graphic novels, as opposed to “real reading,” Brenner says not to worry.

“It’s just another way to tell a story,” she said. “And it requires a certain amount of mental work to put the pictures and language together to make the story.”

Brenner speaks to parents and educators across the country, encouraging them to include comics in their reading curricula.

“As librarians, we think anything that gets people reading and enjoying it is a plus,” she said.

For beginning readers, Brenner recommends works such as “Bone,” by Jeff Smith, suitable for age six and up.

 “I’ve seen so many kids get excited about this one,” she said, “and a lot of adults read it and like it too.”

She also recommends “Morito,” which tells the story of a ninja in training, and is “very well done,” For kids who love superheroes, Brenner recommends “Ultimate Spiderman,” a reinvention of the traditional Spiderman story, which is “very well written with good art,” she said.

“It touches on themes of responsibility and of what it means to be a hero,” she said. “Spiderman really had to balance his geekiness with being a superhero; that was his trademark,” she said.

Which brings us back to subject A — who was the top superhero of the 20th century?

“Most people think of Superman or Batman,” she said. “Batman is more popular at the moment, mostly because of the movies. He is a more interesting character, darker, and intriguing. He’s not superhuman. He’s a regular guy who is good with gadgets. Being smart makes him a hero.”

But, Brenner adds, she considers Spiderman to hold the title of most popular.

“He’s just an ordinary guy. He wasn’t predestined to be a hero. He’s got problems, girl trouble, he’s not too swift, but he’s sweet at heart and wants to do the right thing.”