Comics Is as Comics Does

Benjamin Woo begins this chapter by stating that comics should be understood through their effects and functions rather than formal definitions. He argues that what matters most is how comics bring people, institutions, and experiences together—whether as hobbies, educational tools, or sources of identity. Harriet Earle responds by expanding on Woo’s pragmatic view, highlighting the roles of comics in literacy, therapy, and community building. They discuss comics workshops, educational applications, and the affective power of comics to foster empathy and reflection. Woo’s reply, “What’s the Matter with Comics?”, reframes the debate from questions of value to questions of mattering. Drawing on concepts of care and contingency, Woo proposes that comics studies should focus on how and why comics come to matter to people. He advocates for a sociological and anthropological approach that treats comics as part of a “whole way of life,” emphasizing relationships, communities, and the unpredictable ways comics become meaningful.