The document is an essay arguing that comic books have educational and social value and should not be dismissed as entertainment only for children. It discusses how comic book heroes can teach positive values to children through their examples of morality, dedication, and perseverance. It also notes that comic books can inspire children to pursue careers in art, writing, and other fields by sparking their interest in reading and drawing. The essay uses the author's own experience being inspired by comic books to pursue a career in art as an example.

1. HOW SUPERHEROES SAVED ME FROM A LIFE OF CRIME 1
Thank God I Didn't Listen to My Parents
- Or -
“How the Legion of Superheroes Saved Me from a Life of Crime”
by Carl Mahlmann
Have you ever seen a kid reading a Spider-Man or Hulk comic book and wondered why
publishers are allowed to foist such mindless trash upon helpless, impressionable
youngsters who don't know any better? You probably figured it's O.K. because sooner or
later the kid'll grow out of it and turn his attention to more acceptable forms of reading
material such as Sports Illustrated and T.V. Guide. But what happens when you notice a
full-grown adult reading Daredevil on the subway on your way to work? Don't you feel a
bit insecure knowing it might be you wasting your time had you not received parental
guidance to steer you away from those senseless, non-redeeming picture books and into
the real world of Reader's Digest and Valley of the Dolls?
Well, if you believe -- as many others do -- that comic books are worthless entertainment
with little or no social value, and belong strictly to the domain of pre-adolescents, then
you are ignorant of a valuable educational tool and a most unique art form.
The comic book of today is not merely the Good-Guy-Beats-Up-Bad-Guy-Saves-The-
World-And-Lois-Lane-Along-The-Way type which you may remember having read when
you were growing up. As Jay Maeder has pointed out in the Feb. 23 issue of the Daily
News: "Once upon a time comics may have been produced by dollar-a-page hack
cartoonists who knew good and well they were churning out perishable pulp for easily
wowed subadolescents... but for some years now comics have relentlessly been moving
toward 'respectability' and 'legitimacy.' (It's) been a while since comic books were strictly
for kids, and these days the racks are full of books that warrant adult perusal."

2. HOW SUPERHEROES SAVED ME FROM A LIFE OF CRIME 2
It's true. Today's tales dare to deal with adult themes and significant social issues, and
even contain intricately detailed plots which might be considered worthy of a Dicken's
novel or a Hitchcock film. As a matter of fact, some of the most avid fans -- and many
times writers -- of comics are accomplished, renowned authors of novels and movie
scripts. It's not unusual to find names like Harlan Ellison, Stephen King, Fritz Leiber or
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. appearing on a fan letters page or listed in the credits section.
Now, I don't mean to say that comics are meant to be accepted as high literature -- the
majority of them are still intended for the eight to fourteen year-old age group -- but
they do deserve to be taken more seriously than they generally are. Here's why:
People -- especially children -- learn from example. They emulate their bosses, their
fathers, their mothers, their heroes. And they tend -- more often than not -- to identify
with and pick up on the virtuous qualities in those. For instance, who among us (when
we were children) wanted to play the Indian or the robber when we could be the cowboy
or the cop? (Only those of us who grew up to be Nogoodniks, I'm sure.) And what child
didn't respect and admire the morality of Superman? Or the dedication of the Batman?
Or the Never-Give-Up-Even-In-The-Face-Of-Insurmountable-Odds confidence of Captain
America? Children learn from example. And many values are learned from the examples
set by the heroes in comics.
Not only do children aspire to be like their superheroes, but they become admirers of the
writers and illustrators of these tales as well. Many children that are inspired by comic
artists go on to pursue related careers. They begin to draw or write. They go to Art
School. They go to Art College. They become writers or illustrators or typographers or art
directors. I know. I happen to be one of them.
Now, suppose a particular kid isn't born with the innate artistic ability which inspirational
comic art can tap. He has no desire to become involved with art whatsoever. He wants
to become a policeman or a fireman or an engineer or a politician. He just likes reading
comic books. And, just like some of us (unfortunately) who started to enjoy using drugs
and alcohol on occasion, he becomes addicted. He goes on to harder stuff. He begins

3. HOW SUPERHEROES SAVED ME FROM A LIFE OF CRIME 3
dosing on Dickens or Hitchcock. And as a result of comic books starting him on the reading
path, he becomes learned.
So, for all you “adult" Harold Robbins and Jaqueline Susanne readers who happen to see
us kids reading Daredevil on the subway, and wonder when we're going to "grow up" --
the answer is, "Never! We'd rather stay young and literary!"
Student: Carl Mahlmann
School: Adelphi University
Class: Writing & Rhetoric
Instructor: Stuart Kaufman
Assignment for July 29, 1986:
Write an essay in which you explore some
"myth" in contemporary life and thought.
RELATED LINKS
http://www.comicsbulletin.com/
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,308303,00.html
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2007/06/23/reading_comics/
http://books.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/03/10/1347239&from=rss
http://www.comicbookresources.com
http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/showthread.php?p=812147