Comic books: escapist fantasy or also a sophisticated social critique?

Maybe some of both. Lil’ Lucy or Heavy Metal.

Something like Watchmen is a sophisticated social critique, something like The Dark Knight Returns is a little of both and something like Kingdom Come is escapist fantasy.

Sometimes both, like my favorite “Pooch Cafe”. This one appeared in the newspaper on the anniversary of 9/11

http://www.expressnightout.com/comics/images/poc110911.gif

Both, and if I may add, great art. : )

Sophisticated social critique

They have the capacity to be either. The Dark Knight Returns was full of commentary, as was Watchmen. The Captain America series from a few years ago, where he was assassinated, is a good example of commentary.
I prefer that to the escapist fantasy many mete out.

b o t h

I agree with @filmfann—comics can be both escapist fantasy and social critique. If the social commentary goes over a reader’s head, does that mean it is merely escapist fantasy? Certainly not. One of the most fascinating things about literature (and I tentatively include comics in the mass known as literature) is that it can be used and interpreted in so many manners.

I’m going to go with a) escapist fantasy.

Is there a prize if I get this right?

Comic Books are simply a vehicle to tell a variety of different types of stories in a variety of genres.

There have been (and continue to be) romance comics, western comics, political intrigue comics, horror comics (and more) – alongside the typical super hero comics.

These types of stories are told as both escapist fantasy and/or social critique.

No different than novels, movies, or television.

They’re simply a storytelling vehicle.

They can, like most books, be both. In my mind, Calvin & Hobbes is on the same level as Watchmen.

Well what’s the hell is wrong with escapist fantasy? Take this quote:

“I never fully understood [the label of ‘escapist’] till my friend Professor Tolkien asked me the very simple question, ‘What class of men would you expect to be most preoccupied with, and most hostile to, the idea of escape?’ and gave the obvious answer: jailers.”
—C. S. Lewis, “On Science Fiction”

Escapist fantasy is sophisticated social critique. Think about it.

I recommend Tolkien’s essay On Fairy-Stories or Ursula Le Guin’s essays in The Language of the Night.