Summary

• In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, DC writer Tom King praised the simplicity of comics like Dog Man, citing them as vital for their accessibility to the widest possible audience.
• King's iration for Dog Man also serves as a subtle critique of gatekeeping culture, emphasizing every comic's importance; while King readily its that he writes for a specific type of comic book reader, he is quick to point out that he is "jealous" of creators whose work has more universal appeal.
• Like any artistic medium, comic books are strengthened by having a multiplicity of creative voices, and styles, and in turn, by seeking to engage as many different types of readers as possible.

Award-winning relaunch of the Wonder Woman series. However, despite his success with DC, there's one shocking graphic novel that King has revealed he wished he'd written more than anything.

In most successful superhero, Dog Man.

This series from the creator of Captain Underpants, which follows the adventures of a hero with the head of a dog and the body of a police officer, has broken records nationwide as one of the most popular comics for young readers.

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Tom King ires The Simplicity Of "Dog Man's" All Ages Story

Dog Man Is As Important As Batman

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While there's a place in comics for hardcore fans that "are looking to dissect them and looking for huge themes," the all-ages approach of Dav Pilkey's superheroes is just as important.

Speaking with Screen Rant, Tom King covered a range of topics in detail, including hisWonder Woman and his successful tenure writing Batman for DC. King acknowledged that his own writing style isn't for everybody – while at the same time itting how much he values stories that do strive to reach a universal audience. As King explained:

We always say comics are for everybody, but then I write these comics that are, you know— they're really for people who love comics but are looking to dissect them and looking for huge themes. But I also want to write comics that you can pick off the shelf, like [Diary of a] Wimpy Kid. I think it's important.

I'm jealous of everyone who works in comics. This is me being jealous of Dog Man, basically.

What's fascinating about King's iration for Dog Man is how it encapsulates his overall view of the medium. To him, the simplicity of Dog Man is its greatest strength.

While there's a place in comics for hardcore fans that "are looking to dissect them and looking for huge themes," the all-ages approach of Dav Pilkey's superheroes is just as important. It provides a great entry point for young readers to develop a fascination for comics, giving new readers a chance to find a new favorite without needing to fully understand the nuance of comic creation. At the same time, people of any age can read Dog Man or Captain Underpants and find themselves engaged, laughing even if it is in spite of their more mature tastes.

Tom King's Respect for Dog Man Low-Key Criticizes Gatekeeping Culture

There's No Wrong Way To Enjoy Comics

Whether it's superheroes, slice-of-life stories, or the silly tale of a half-dog half-police officer, every type of comic is crucial to the medium's success, even if some are not quite as "deep" as others.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Tom King's praise for Dog Man, and its importance to the medium, is how his words subtly point toward a critique of gatekeeping culture. Some of the most toxic parts of fandom can come from people who claim that someone's favorite story shouldn't be considered a "real" comic, either because it's too simple, not well-liked, or not well-known enough. The truth is, every comic is important, according to Tom King, regardless of what it is. The medium has created some of the most profound dramatic stories in recent years, but books like Dog Man are just as vital.

According to Tom King, he is "jealous of everyone who works in comics" because of how malleable their stories can be. Whether it's superheroes, slice-of-life stories, or the silly tale of a half-dog half-police officer, every type of comic is crucial to the medium's success, even if some are not quite as "deep" as others. Tom King has become a superstar among Batman fans and comic readers in general; having him extoll a comic like Dog Man is absolutely inspirational for those that have a love for simple stories and want to tell their own.

Check Out Tom King's full interview with Screen Rant Here!