How Batman and Comic Books have Influenced the Tech in Your Life
CHATTANOOGA, TN – In May of 1939, Bob Kane and Bill Finger would introduce the world to what we would come to know as the worlds greatest detective. If you’re fortunate to own Detective Comics No. 27 that features the first appearance of Batman, then you’re probably a comic aficionado.
Every year on the first Saturday of May, the North American Comic Book Industry tries to attract new readers to independent comic book shops with the promise of new and exciting stories for free. For 14 years, Henry Flood has run Epikos Comics and games. “Part of our goal here at Epikos is to get more people reading. Free Comic Book Day encourages people to read and let’s authors try out stories to see how audiences respond and react,” says Flood. “For most of my time here at Epikos, Marvel has helped free comic day with a new movie release. We’re doing a giveaway this year for people that participate with us by giving away two tickets to see Marvels Thunderbolts.” Fun facts about comics are that they do help with literacy. People with dyslexia or reading disorders are more engaged when they can follow along visually and see the story develop. Comics also tend to have more difficult words to read than your summer reading requirements so they can help increase your vocabulary as well as keep you following a good story.
Growing up, every kid wanted to be a superhero of some sort and I tend to believe that the fantasies and gadgets we saw in comics have influenced technology in our lives. Batman has had his own influence on tech as Henry and I would both like to try out some of the Batmobiles from any one of the movies we’ve seen. “First thing I think of is the grappling hook,” says Flood. “It’s attached to his belt and to the Batmobile and it would be hard to make that 90 degree turn without it. It’s also influencing things you see in modern cars like Tesla and other manufacturers.” Flood would argue that comics and science fiction have shaped the technology for our generation in many ways. The grappling hook we talked about is also featured on Detective Comics No. 27 with Batman flying thru the air holding a villain in a headlock.
It wouldn’t be tech byte if we just talked about comics and reading so I invited my sister Robin to join us. She is very rarely defeated at trivia nights and while working at Epikos this past week she found herself in an interesting situation. “We got a call and it was a wrong number,” says Robin. “I told the guy I couldn’t help him with his extended car warranty but I could offer him some comic books. The man went silent and said that would be great but he couldn’t read comic books because he’d lost his eyesight years ago.” Thinking outside the box, and wanting to save the day as any superheroine would, she told the caller she’d call him right back. “We found a site called Graphic Audio that has more than two thousand adaptations with full cinematic effects and music. So, you can listen to the comic and it will come to life in your mind.” She also found Minds Eye Radio to help with the visually impaired and they will read a variety of things to you from the funny papers to stock quotes and it’s a free service brought to you by the United Way.
