Have Comics Forgotten How to Have Fun?

The other day I was looking through the latest comic solicitations and Kickstarter campaigns. There are some fantastic-looking books. Horror. Fantasy. Science fiction. Superheroes. Independent creators are producing incredible work.

But something struck me.

I wasn’t seeing nearly as many books that simply wanted me to laugh.

My favorite comic character has always been Spider-Man. I still remember opening the mailbox as a kid and finding those brown paper sleeves from Marvel waiting for me. Inside was another Spider-Man adventure, and I couldn’t wait to tear it open.

Spidey wasn’t my favorite because he was the strongest hero. It was in part because, even while getting thrown through walls or facing seemingly impossible odds, he kept cracking jokes. His humor wasn’t separate from the action—it was part of who he was, and I’ve always loved that. It taught me that humor and heroism don’t have to compete with each other—they can complement each other.

I don’t think comedy gets enough credit.

It’s relatively easy to shock someone. It’s easier to make something dark and make people mistake intensity for depth. Making someone genuinely laugh? That may be one of the hardest things a writer can do.

We’ve been watching The Righteous Gemstones recently, and while we’ve enjoyed it overall, it reminded me how a lot of modern comedy often leans on shock value. There’s certainly an audience for that style, but I’ve always appreciated humor that’s also driven by character, timing, and clever writing. The kind that makes you smile because it feels earned.

I’m not suggesting every comic should be a comedy. Some of my favorite books are deadly serious. But I do think comics are healthier when humor still has a seat at the table. And comedy is underrepresented in the genre.

Let’s face it: People love to laugh. It’s one of the most euphoric emotions we experience. For a few moments, laughter lets us forget about everything else, and that’s a pretty special thing.

One creator I think embraces the humor philosophy well is my friend Matt Schofield and his Steamroller Man series. His books prove superhero comics can be action-packed, absurd, and genuinely funny at the same time.

If you enjoy following the journey of indie creators, I also recommend Matt’s Substack, where he openly shares the highs, lows, and lessons of building his comic career. Matt also loves a good pun!

https://substack.com/@steamrollerman

The more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn't want to wait for someone else to make the kinds of funny comics I wanted to read.

After nearly twenty years creating more serious superhero comics, it felt only natural to explore the lighter side of the genre. That led to the creation of Irreverent Humor Publications (IHP!)—our House of Humor. It’s where we celebrate comics that aren’t afraid to be a little ridiculous, a little self-aware, and most importantly, a lot of fun.

Our next project is called Mega-Pals, and the easiest way I’ve found to describe it is Super Friends meets Adult Swim. It’s a wildly irreverent superhero crossover starring forgotten public-domain heroes who finally get their chance to save the world, and it’s become an absolute joy to build.

If full-on chaotic superhero fun sounds like your kind of comic, I’d love for you to follow along as we get closer to launch.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ihp/mega-pals

The world has enough reasons to be serious. Comics don’t always have to be one of them.

— Mark Z