Quite often in the creating comics workshops that I teach, my students will hear me proclaim, “An artist reflects what they experience, see, or learn in life.” In other words, our views and feelings are what we bring to the table on any project.

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Just for the record: I first approached this blog for Graphic Novel Reporter with the philosophical stance that I would not use it as my private billboard. In fact, a few weeks back, I even passed up trumpeting my appearance at the Brooklyn Book Fair.

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It was late afternoon in another city. It might have been the second or third day of the comic convention, I can’t really remember that. I was standing in my booth about 20 feet from the signing area, staring at a line of fans that easily trailed a half block or more. (No, they were not there for me. Sigh.)

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Believe it or not, we’re talking about the same basic storytelling format—panel-to-panel, sequential art—a choreographed waltz of words and pictures.

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Question: Can “non-educational” comics and graphic novels actually teach anything?

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Since I’m not a comic-book historian, or someone who religiously follows every industry trend and title, you could not consider me an authority. I have been referred to as an advocate for kids and comics, as well as comics in the classrooms. Yes, I do what I can, but I am not the expert in the business—though I know my way around both the comics and educational arenas.

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As a child, raised under what we politely call “underprivileged” circumstances, I was remarkably blessed. Infused with artistic goals and dreams, I was repeatedly introduced to talented actors, illustrators, cartoonists, musicians, and dancers. At first, they came to me via films in neighborhood movie theaters, and on a 13" black-and-white TV screen.

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