the SANDMAN

I can remember my parents being thrilled when I began to show interest in reading the newspaper at a very young age, as I started reading the comics section. I can also remember continuing to show that interest at a very young age even after realizing I wasn't that interested at all in "the funnies." I decided I would much rather be reading the front page headline story, but I was always too afraid to admit that I didn't particularly love the comics as much as I let on. Now, as a young adult, I was not especially interested in analyzing or studying comics of any sort. However, I was pleasantly surprised as I began reading the comics, particularly The Sandman. Upon beginning this comic, the mysterious, dark, and somewhat revealing pictures freaked me out. I warned myself that I most likely would not enjoy the read, but after the first page I caught myself subconciously turning to the next page and then the next and then the next. It is shocking how much you can understand or grasp comics at an older age. As a kid, I thought it was all about the punch lines and funny pictures. Now, I can see there is much more to comics than that, from the detailed images to the underlying messages. I found myself continuing to read The Sandman for it's dark and make-me-cringe behavior and images, particularly the treatment of the women in the comic. What people now say about video games and their negative effects on this generation, I feel about comics.I think comics have a huge effect on the way people perceive society and other people, and in the story of Calliope found within The Sandman, the idea of negative and degrading treatment of women is planted into the minds of readers. The comic made me feel dirty and angry, rather than entertained. While justice is somewhat served and the comic is successful in investing my emotions, the provocative and unethical thoughts even put into the minds of readers is chilling. It is extremely interesting to see how much comics affect other social mediums, as well as behavior.