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Article: Ker-Splat!(social influence of comic books)
- Article from:
- The Washington Monthly
- Article date:
- June 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Washington Monthly Company. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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How comic books lost their edge
COMIC BOOKS MADE ME A SNOB. AS A child, I was riveted by Spider-Man and went on to become meticulous about my comics' condition and completing series numbers. Now they lie entombed in acid-free boxes and Mylar bags in my house, waiting for divestment.
Occasionally, I even buy one for old times' sake. Spider-Man, like me, appears to have grown up, but his marriage seems to be on the rocks. Still, it's getting harder and harder to find comics because a big cultural shift has taken place: Kids don't read them anymore.
Comic books, like paper routes and small drugstores, have become an endangered species. A series of ...