Why It Matters That Marvel Comics Are Becoming Penguin Classics.

The article focuses on Penguin Classics’ recent publication of Marvel Comics collections, highlighting the significance of recognizing comics as part of the literary canon. It features insights from series editor Ben Saunders and authors Leigh Bardugo, Jerry Craft, and Rainbow Rowell, who discuss their personal connections to comics, the cultural impact of Marvel titles like The Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men, and the challenges comics face amid contemporary book bans. The contributors emphasize that comics combine visual and verbal storytelling in ways that influence culture and literature, arguing for their inclusion as classics alongside traditional literary works. They also address the medium’s unique power to evoke emotional responses and its role in representing diverse voices, noting that resistance to comics often stems from misunderstandings about their artistic and cultural value.