Philosophy Comics: A New Genre
At a recent comics convention, a reader asked me to recommend a comic book “like” my philosophical graphic novel The Labyrinth. I was clueless about what to answer and wondered: what exactly did they mean by “like”? What elements of my thought-provoking comic resonated with them so much that they’re seeking something similar?
Typically, when looking for similar books or movies, we start with genre. Genre is a category of creative works characterized by a particular style, form, or content. It’s a way of classifying creative works based on shared characteristics. Mystery novels feature crime-solving. Science fiction explores futuristic concepts. Genre helps people find works they might enjoy.
But when we look at established comic genres The Labyrinth doesn’t quite fit into any category like superhero stories, manga, science fiction, fantasy, horror, slice of life, historical, non-fiction, crime noir, or comedy. While each work is unique in its own way, I’ve found there isn’t really anything quite like The Labyrinth.
This is because philosophical cartoons represent something different. They transcend the boundaries between traditional genre in comics. And as sequential art, they occupy a distinctive creative space through their combination of elements that other formats simply cannot replicate.
Comics can make abstract concepts concrete, show rather than tell, and create multiple layers of meaning.
This unique space makes comics particularly powerful for making complex ideas accessible. By combining text and art, comics convey abstract and serious concepts in a powerful yet entertaining way. They can make abstract concepts concrete, show rather than tell, create multiple layers of meaning, engage both abstract and visual thinking, and allow for both linear and non-linear exploration of ideas. It’s this intersection between comics and big ideas that fascinates me as an author. More broadly, I’m drawn to smart cartoons that make us think – it’s what motivates my creative process.
In this blog, I will share my exploration on how comics transform complex ideas into accessible visual adventures, reviews and recommendations of comics that will make you think, and behind-the-scenes insights from the studio. I hope you’ll find something here to think and smile.
If you are curious, follow this blog, visit benargon.com and download my free philosophy comic ‘What Is Life All About?’
Written by Ben Argon, philosophy comics author, 1 December 2024
