A 'Prose Guy' Explores the Comics Boom

Bob Thompson is a self-professed “prose guy,” but still can’t ignore the biggest trend in publishing: graphic novels. Thompson sets out for the Washington Post to discover how literature that uses word balloons can be book world's sole growing sector. He discovers that many “little see-saws” tipped at once to start the revolution—most notably, in comic theoretician Scott McCloud’s words, “Comics. Got. Better.”

But cutting-edge, undeniably literary works like Maus and Jimmy Corrigan didn't propel comics alone. Comic publishers had to rework their distribution system to get wares into bookstores, and stores had to drum up a sales plan. Mainstream publishers then took note, offering their own graphic novels. In the end, Thompson admits he still prefers prose. McCloud says some guys will never get it: “And it’s okay. They’ll die.” (More graphic novel stories.)