To the Haters,

This post is not so much a reaction to literature as it is a reaction to a reaction to literature.
Let me explain. Recently, I have gotten into several debates with some of my peers (both inside and outside of this classroom) on the merit of the medium of comic books. My fellow classmates seem to be convinced that they are practically without literary merit when compared to regular books and generally look upon them with a certain amount of disdain and, if I may say so myself, arrogance. Their uneducated attitude has inspired me to defend a medium that I have become quite a fan of in the last several years.
For starters, several of my classmates (well, one really. But I won't single him out) are convinced that comic books are not even literature. I take extreme offense to that statement, especially considering the rather broad definition of literature. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of literature is as follows:
(1): Writings in prose or verse; especially; writings having excellence in form or expression of ideas of permanent or universal interest (2): an example of such writings
A comic book tells a story through prose, so already it's in. Beyond that, many comic books have excellence of form or expression and quite a few express ideas of permanent or universal interest. If you really want to continue arguing about whether comic books as a whole are literature, I can simply roll out the example of "Twilight" to "prove" that books as a whole aren't literature.
Once it's been proved that it is literature, they fall back on another argument: "Well then they have less literary merit than books."
Really? Now let me ask you, how many comic books have you read? Now I'm not talking about some Spiderman comic you read in the newspaper as a kid because those are basically like reading the book of any Hollywood action movie (yes, those do exist), I'm talking something with depth and meaning, something like Sandman by Neil Gaiman or Watchmen by Alan Moore. You've read none? And yet you want to comment on their literary merit, something that is, for the most part, pretty darn subjective? Even Mr. Tallman admits that what he sees in a book is not always the only correct answer, that it is possible to view things in an entirely different way than him and still be right but you, without even reading any of them, are able to judge them in their entirety? If that doesn't SCREAM arrogance, I really don't know what does. 
If you don't believe that these comic books actually have depth, go read them. In them you will find some of the most interesting characters I've ever encountered, some of the most interesting plot twists I've ever experienced, and some of the most well-used tropes, themes and symbols I've ever found. The 8th volume of Sandman features an introduction by Stephen King that reads in part, "So these are smart stories, and cunningly crafted stories. Fortunately for us, they are also good stories, little wonders of economy and surprise." 
No offense to all you students, but I'm pretty sure Stephen King knows a thing or two about writing that you might not. So when he recommends something so strongly, I suggest you take a listen. 
After all that, they fall back on another easily contested argument: "Well, comic books don't need descriptions so they don't have as much merit."
Ohh where to start. In fairness, there is a certain amount of truth to this. The authors don't have to describe what everything looks like. However, this often leads them into an even more difficult description: what someone is like, what that person's essence, what their being is like. Beyond that, the visuals of a comic allow the author (who has a more significant process in the drawing than you'd think) another place to put symbols, to emphasize themes, adding another dimension to the important parts of literature that hide just beneath the story, adding to it in subtle but important ways. Finally, the art actually helps lead the story along, helps push the reader's assumptions and views in a certain direction, and add meaning to the story in a way that the author really has to be in firm control of if they want to have control over their story.

If this was too long for you, basically what I'm saying is that you should just shut your mouth about comic books until you've actually read some.