As a longtime comic book reader, I have been bombarded with a slew of offensive and simple-minded questions about why I devote so much time and money to such a "juvenile" medium. Other comic book fans have shared in my frustration as well; constantly having to deal with dirty looks and impolite snickers as we enjoy our hobby on subway trains, buses, and park benches. Comic books have existed in the nimbus of pop culture since their conception. There have been hundreds of successful movies, television shows, and songs directly influenced by comic art but the common public still chooses to shun them.

There appears to be a bias against anything animated or drawn in this country. Because of Walt Disney, animated features and comic books are generally thought to be pointless, silly, and melodramatic fiascos with threadbare plots and one-dimensional characterizations. Since our society is one that places an inordinate amount of importance on "maturity", anyone who openly admits to being a comic book reader will be forever condemned to the purgatory of literary adolescence.

The Batman TV series of the 60's did very little to change the public's perception of super-hero comics. That show is the personal bane of my comic book life. Overrun with tongue-in-cheek sexual innuendos, inferior dialogue, and disgraceful acting, Batman did to comic books what that iceberg did to the Titanic. Every time that I have opened a comic in the presence of a non-believer they say insipid things like, "POW! BIFF! WHAMM-O!" or "I remember watching that Batman show, da-da-da-da-da-da...BATMAN!", and my favorite, "How much do those things cost?! It's just a comic book, why don't you grow up?"

It's funny how these people are incapable of understanding that I find their hobbies mystifying and reckless as well. I don't understand why some guys spend so much money on clothes just to go to sweaty, smoke-filled nightclubs only to return home to an empty bed, or why some women buy expensive shoes that hurt their ankles and feet just to get the attention of some arrogant jerk. How can wasting time and money at nightclubs and engaging in narcissistic pageantry be deemed cool while reading something that is challenging and captivating is deemed silly? It's frustrating. But despite the endless annoyance I receive, I have never once considered giving up my favorite pastime.

This misconception has caused the general public to miss out on some serious literature. As a man who is well-versed in the history of comics, I could never mention comics milestones without highlighting the creation of Marvel Comics in 1961 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Marvel Comics is the hallmark of the modern age of comicdom. What made Marvel stand out from other, more popular companies was the type of hero they created.

Unlike Superman and Wonder Woman, Marvel heroes were not Earthbound gods who would save the world from danger in a split-second and then fly off into a crimson sunset. These characters were people whose powers did not bring good fortune. The most popular of these were the Fantastic Four and the Amazing Spider-Man; each of whom received their powers through an accident of science and had to deal with horrible consequences afterwards. For the FF, they had to deal with random mutations and a prying public, while Spider-Man's sudden fame resulted in crass behavior. Which ironically culminated in the death of his beloved Uncle Ben; because he felt that he was too good to stop a crook--a crook who would eventually shoot his Uncle in a botched burglary attempt. Both comics dealt with severe issues and a timeless theme: with great power there must come great responsibility. Needless to say, these are not the stuff of children's bedtime stories.

What self-respecting comic book fan could forget the heavily censored drug abuse storylines of the mid-70's in Amazing Spider-Man and the brilliant Green Arrow/Green Lantern series? Or what about the classic epic "Dark Phoenix Saga" in the pages of X-men(which caused an uproar because of the tragic death of a major character)? Then came the unprecedented phone-in-vote on whether or not the new Robin should die -- and we all were in shock as the Joker brutally murdered him right before our eyes (I can't lie, I voted to kill that guy; I never thought that they would really do it).

The mid-80's brought the rise of the Avant-Garde storytellers who offered dark, gritty, relentless, and postmodern interpretations of major characters. Writers like Frank Miller, Alan Moore, Howard Chaykin, Neil Gaiman, and Grant Morrison shattered every set standard for the superhero genre. They told stories that not only redefined what a hero was, but forever altered what a hero could be. These guys set new limits on a spectrum that had been previously undiscovered. The two most famous works to rise from this period were The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, and Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

The Dark Knight Returns was a landmark work of art that presented Batman as a psychopathic vigilante spurred on by a violent schizoid streak caused by the murder of his parents. Not only was his version of Batman unique, but his style of storytelling was groundbreaking as well. Miller drew and wrote a comic like he was directing a big budget action film: full of dynamic angles, intricate and intense battle scenes, strong dialogue, and a hero who must overcome seemingly impossible odds to complete his journey. Not many writers can claim to be so influential that a company would allow them to revamp an established character into a dark soldier of the night. Every other writer's vision of Batman has been a pale shadow of Miller's version.

The other graphic novel, Watchmen is extremely difficult to describe. The basic story is about a group of heroes who are being murdered one by one. One of them, a vigilante named Rorschach, is on the trail of the assassin, but what he finds is the unexpected--a force that could destroy reality itself. What makes Watchmen so complicated is its multi-layered composition. Alan Moore utilizes the dramatic structure of an epic novel to tell his story of idealism gone awry. Moore intercuts his narrative with detailed flashbacks, text-only chapters from books written by main characters in the story, complex foreshadowing, and perhaps the most ingenious of all, a comic book story read by a character in the story that we are reading. Watchmen has to be the most gripping, insidious, profound, profane, and intellectual graphic novel ever written in the history of literature. But because it's in the form of a comic, millions of potential readers will never get to experience the brilliance of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.

Although I personally believe that many people shortchange themselves because of comic book prejudice, I admit that the artform is not for everyone. However, if you would like to try something a little different and start a rewarding hobby, then I have some suggestions for you. These are comics that I personally endorse as being imaginative, clever, and entertaining. Some may require that you purchase earlier issues to grasp the current storylines, while others are perfect for "jumping aboard" immediately. In any case, most decent comic book stores should carry inexpensive recent back issues or trade paperbacks that collect pivotal and important storylines for easy reading.

X-Men/Uncanny X-Men(Marvel): If you ask the older comic book fans about these titles, they'll tell you that these are unfocused, illogical, and meandering books that should have been put to sleep years ago. However, the truth is that the X-titles have been the only comics to consistently take major chances with established continuity. The writers of the X-titles have always shook the status-quo of the Marvel Universe with mixed results. The books are somewhat hard to follow because of the fluid nature of the plot, but once you understand the basics, these books can take you on one heck of a ride.(Suggested reading: Dark Phoenix Saga, Mutant Massacre, Fall of the Mutants, Inferno, Fatal Attractions, Age of Apocalypse, Classic X-Men #1-#100, Uncanny X-men #94-#350, X-men(2nd series) #1-#70)

Green Lantern(DC): This book has had a major overhaul in the last five years. Fans were outraged when the creative staff turned the original GL(Hal Jordan) into a sociopathic killer and replaced him with a young nobody named Kyle Rayner. Despite the overwhelming disapproval of the comic industry, writer Ron Marz made Kyle into a likeable character; a young untested warrior on the road to becoming a hero. The last two years have seen this new GL become a fan-favorite.(Suggested reading: Emerald Dawn, Emerald Twilight, Final Night #1-#4, and Green Lantern #50-#93)

Flash(DC): The Flash is a good comic book with an awesome character whose powers have gotten cool. I never thought that I would like a book with a character whose main power is to just run really fast. But Mark Waid, and current writer Grant Morrison have spun fantastic yarns about Wally West and his rouge's gallery. What distinguishes the Flash from other run-of-the-mill speed guys is the construction of his personality. Waid and Morrison have really thought about the effects that super-speed would have on a human being. Would this guy be patient? Does the rest of the world seem like it's moving backwards even when he's standing still? Wally is fully fleshed out rather than being a one-dimensional speed freak. This type of care is what should be expected on a good series.(Suggested reading: Flash #75-#136, Terminal Velocity, Life of Barry Allen)

Alpha Flight(Marvel): This is a book that has gone through many changes. Originally debuting in the pages of X-men, Alpha Flight had the distinction of being Canada's first and only superhero team. The first series was groundbreaking for many reasons, the most notable was the killing of the team leader in the 12th issue as well as having the first openly gay superhero in its ranks(Northstar). The series has just recently began again with a new lineup. The first few issues have been full of action and intrigue. New writer Steven Seagle(Sandman Mystery Theatre) has infused this book with a clear, focused style that deals with the trials of authority and power; as well as the consequences. Definitely worth picking up!(Suggested reading: Alpha Flight(1st series) #1-#36, (2nd series) #1-#5).

Strangers in Paradise(Abstract Studios): This comic has no superheroes, no space battles, no monsters or flying headquarters. This is a simple but wonderful story about two women: Katchoo and Francine, who are deeply in love with each other but have to deal with so many other factors that won't allow them to have a life together. This book is not a lesbian manifesto, but a story about two people who happen to be women who are in love. I know it sounds ridiculous but when you read the comic you'll see what I mean. Writer/Artist Terry Moore is a guy who doesn't fall into the trap of depicting these women as busty Amazons whose bodies keep falling out of their clothing. Moore draws Katchoo and Francine the way most women look, not like broomhandles with basketballs in their shirts. The writing is fabulous, it does take a while to get used to the style of the book, but it's worth it in the end.(Suggested reading: I Dream of You, It's a Good Life, Molly & Poo Special, new series #1-#9)

DeadPool(Marvel): If you were to mix the personalities of Charles Manson, Charles Nelson Reilly, Charles Barkley, and Chuck Norris, you'd get someone kinda like Wade Wilson(Deadpool). This guy is a super-psychopathic assassin who is just as capable of killing you with taunts as he is with his hands. This comic is a delightful read if you're into homicidal lunatics with a pop-cultural awareness. Deadpool is an assassin-for-hire who has been disfigured by a strange chemical process that has not only increased his strength, but equipped him with a powerful healing factor. Writer Joe Kelley manages to balance Wilson's sense of humor with his inescapable dark side. This book is very disturbing at times because of violence, but if you've got a strong stomach and a sense of humor, Deadpool is the bomb!(Suggested reading: Deadpool limited series #1-#4, new series #1-#10)

Transmetropolitan(DC-Helix): A strange book with a twisted character. This is the story of Spider Jerusalem, a tabloid journalist of the future who has been forced to return to "The City" after spending years in recluse in the wilderness. Writer Warren Ellis supplies this book with a satire and wit that disguises his contempt for urban sprawl. Conversely, he also has a deep admiration for the depth of humanity available in a metropolis. Transmetropolitan is definitely not for the average comic reader. The first story arc dealt with the massacre of surgically-altered citizens who have been crowded into a run-down part of town. These people have been made into the new underclass and the elites want to wipe them out. Spider is a character who is full of bile, he hates his position in society, but has made a new promise to bring the truth to the masses even at the cost of his life, or worse, his sanity. This book is very critical of the power of the media, and the people who wield it.(Suggested reading: #1-#5)

Astro City(Homage Studios): One of the best comics on the market today! Astro City is a well constructed epic about the days and nights of the people who live in a city populated by super-beings. What makes this book stunning is the simplicity of the storylines. Instead of creating pretentious and needlessly esoteric characters and situations, writer Kurt Busiek tells basic stories with a very human twist. Memorable story arcs include the recent "Confessor" plot about a vigilante of the night with a chilling secret, a date between two major heroes, Samaritan and Winged Victory, and my favorite: a story about a young woman who lives in Shadow Hill, a horrific supernatural territory with dangerous creatures. Astro City is an extraordinary work of art that does not condescend to readers. It is a welcome blast of fresh air in the sometimes static atmosphere of the superhero genre.(Suggested reading: Life in the Big City, (2nd series) #1-#10)