Are Comics a Universal Medium?

In Discussion by Edward Nawotka

By Edward Nawotka

Today’s lead story looks at the emergence of comics and graphic novels in the Middle East. Different cultures have different relationships to graphic novels: the French and Belgians are passionate about their bande dessinée, the Japanese are mad for manga, while Americans are still best known for their superhero comics.

Word pictures date back to the cave paintings of our earliest ancestors. So to what extent are comics (and by extension other forms of pictorial art) a truly universal medium?

Let us know what you think in the comments.

About the Author

Edward Nawotka

A widely published critic and essayist, Edward Nawotka serves as a speaker, educator and consultant for institutions and businesses involved in the global publishing and content industries. He was also editor-in-chief of Publishing Perspectives since the launch of the publication in 2009 until January 2016.