Batman Saves More than Gotham

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What does it take to transcend your medium into the stuff of literary value? Batman.

1986, the year both The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen were first published, can be seen as a turning point for the comic book in America. Both titles defended the concept of comics as something more than low-brow entertainment. They promoted the notion that carefully paced illustration, strong dialogue and, most importantly, intricate storytelling can be something greater than the stuff of children’s books.

Lyz's writing has been published in the New York Times Motherlode, Jezebel, Aeon, Pacific Standard, and others. Her book on midwestern churches is forthcoming from Indiana University Press. She has her MFA from Lesley and skulks about on Twitter @lyzl. Lyz is a member of The Rumpus Advisory Board and a full-time staff writer for the Columbia Journalism Review. More from this author →