{"id":111503,"date":"2025-11-04T10:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T10:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uitac.com\/inthenewsblog\/?p=111503"},"modified":"2025-11-04T21:29:13","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T21:29:13","slug":"comics-an-unlikely-vehicle-for-autistic-representation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uitac.com\/inthenewsblog\/comics-an-unlikely-vehicle-for-autistic-representation\/","title":{"rendered":"Comics: An Unlikely Vehicle for Autistic Representation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Comics can be easier to access than dry text alone<\/span><\/a>. The use of visuals and humor can help get an idea across more effectively than content without visuals. Comics can also be a source of <\/span>inspiration<\/span><\/a>. It can be empowering for someone to see characters who struggle with the same issues as they do. One example is Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four. <\/span>His official recognition as autistic<\/span><\/a> by Ryan North, the current writer of the series, has helped people on the spectrum feel seen and validated.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Origins of Visual Representation of Autistic Experiences<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Carol Gray<\/span><\/a> is an educational consultant who developed the concept of social stories in <\/span>1990<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> According to Undivided, an organization that supports families of children with disabilities, \u201cA <\/span>social story<\/span><\/a> is a simple book individually created for a particular child that addresses a social convention that they may find challenging.\u201d<\/span> Gray says, \u201cA social story is defined as both a process and a product.\u201d Examples of social story topics include going to school or making friends. When creating these stories, it is important that those creating the stories practice \u201csocial humility\u201d\u2014 a term created by Gray to describe the empathy needed on both sides, between the neurodivergent child and the neurotypical writer of the story. It is also important that stories focus on celebrating strengths, with a maximum of one coaching sentence per book. Social stories lay the groundwork for those with autism to express their lived experiences through visuals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLily Spectrum\u201d: Giving Autism an Organic Voice<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Lily Spectrum<\/span><\/a> is a Canadian account that provides humorous representations of everyday life as an autistic person.<\/span> The account gained popularity as Aspigurl but changed its name in 2021 to distance itself from the now-defunct and controversial term \u201cAsperger\u2019s.\u201d Comic\u00a0 <\/span>#191<\/span><\/a> explains that the reason for changing the name of the account was to move away from the syndrome\u2019s morally ambiguous namesake <\/span>Dr. Hans Asperger<\/span><\/a>, who was complicit in sending disabled children to their deaths during World War II.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Lily\u2019s humorous comics help people on the spectrum feel heard and represented, even cool. Lily shows that being autistic is just a fact of life, with its own unique set of challenges and triumphs, nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to make a huge deal about. To her, this is not just content; it is her everyday life, and posting these comics shows people with autism that their experiences are just as valid and valued as those of their neurotypical peers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A couple of examples highlight the spirit of Lily\u2019s comics. For example, <\/span>#236<\/span><\/a>, titled \u201cLiterally!?\u201d shows Lily Spectrum hearing a friend say she can write a book on the side, and Lily envisions the friend writing the book while positioned on her side. This example highlights the fact that many people with autism <\/span>think literally<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> In <\/span>#105<\/span><\/a>, \u201cAt the Cinema,\u201d Aspigurl (this was created before the account\u2019s name change) sits behind someone at the movies who is loudly slurping a drink.\u00a0 She gets so angry that the visual shows her with fire behind her and coming out of her eyes as she yells at the loud movie-goer. Lily\u2019s aim in this comic is to highlight the fact that many people with autism are <\/span>sensitive to noise<\/span><\/a>. These comics truly give representation to the daily experience of those with autism in a fun and relatable way.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Using Comics to Address Social Issues<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Short comic strips are not the only way that people with autism express their experiences. Longer graphic novels are important media as well.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Speak Up!<\/span><\/i> by Rebecca Burgess is a graphic novel that portrays the story of one autistic middle schooler, Mia. Mia has trouble connecting with her peers and faces bullying at school, yet online, she shines as the bold and charismatic performer Elle-Q. Elle-Q wears a wig and retro makeup and is, therefore, unrecognizable as Mia. Elle-Q writes and sings inspirational songs and is such a hit that her videos regularly garner tens of thousands of views. Mia\u2019s classmates are obsessed with Elle-Q and envy her fierce personality.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In contrast, Mia is a girl who struggles to express herself. The graphic novel is interesting in that it provides a realistic portrait of what it is like to live with autism. Mia stims, which according to the UK\u2019s <\/span>National Autistic Society<\/span><\/a>, refers to \u201crepetitive movements and behavior\u201d used to regulate emotions. For Mia, this behavior is chewing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mia also struggles with sensory issues. For example, <\/span>when her mother tries to brush her hair, she bristles and explains how painful that process is for someone with sensory issues<\/span>. At school, her peers call her \u201cRobot Girl\u201d and assume she does not understand emotions or have the capability for empathy. In comparison, Mia talks fast and gets absorbed in her work when she is passionate about something, in this case, music.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A central theme in the novel is that Mia\u2019s mother wants to \u201cfix\u201d her autism. Every day, she reminds Mia of the social conventions she has taught her and hopes for Mia to make friends. She believes Mia is not capable of independence and autonomy. In essence, she believes the false idea that being autistic means being unhappy.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the end, though, Mia surprises her mother and her classmates when she performs at the local talent show and throws off her mask. Her mother is shocked and proud that she could build such a following on her own.\u00a0 She sings, \u201cThey say my autism gives me chains, they say it hurts my family. But my autism sets me free. Cos this is me, and I\u2019m proud of that\u201d<\/span> (Burgess, 2022, p. 254). This ending conveys that autism is something to celebrate, not something to hide or \u201cfix,\u201d and that people with autism can lead happy, fulfilled lives. Speak Up! is important and inspiring in that it shows the very real challenges people with autism face, yet also how they overcome those challenges and thrive. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Black Manta and the Need for Better Representation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"However, although many visual representations of individuals on the spectrum are positive, not all representations are favorable. No comic book character exemplifies this more than the villain of DC Comics\u2019 Aquaman, Black Manta.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the comic, Black Manta\u2019s <\/span>origin story<\/span><\/a>\u00a0reveals that he is autistic.\u00a0 However, rather than portraying this trait in a positive light, Black Manta is sent to an asylum, where he is experimented on extensively. The experimentation eventually turns Black Manta into a being similar to a manta ray and unleashes villainous tendencies. It is these inclinations that lead him to kill his primary doctor, as well as Aquaman\u2019s child.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Later in the comic, Aquaman saves Black Manta\u2019s life, rewiring his brain to \u201ccure\u201d his autism. After Aquaman\u2019s intervention, Black Manta is no longer a villain, implying that it was his autism that caused his violent nature. The representation of this character erroneously suggests that autism needs to be \u201ccured\u201d and leads to evil character traits.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alex Jaffe<\/span><\/a>, a member of the DC Comics editorial team, even acknowledged that DC Comics made a mistake in representing Black Manta the way that they did. \u201cThe only prominent DC character who has ever explicitly been identified as autistic is actually Black Manta. Unfortunately, the stories which approach this subject at all do so in a particularly callous insensitivity,\u201d Jaffe responded to a fan.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is so much more that needs to be done to ensure characters with autism are positively represented in mainstream comics and society as a whole. It is a step in the right direction to identify Mr. Fantastic as autistic, but the Black Manta example shows how pervasive public perception is that autism is a curse to be \u201ccured,\u201d rather than celebrating the richness neurodivergent folks bring to the table. There are seeds of hope, but there is still much to be done. It is only once we embrace the beauty of all neurotypes that we will be able to create a brighter society, one in which all people are seen as positive contributors.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Hamilton is a guest blogger at <\/span><\/i><\/b>UITAC Publishing<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/a>. UITAC\u2019s mission is to provide high-quality, affordable, and socially responsible online course materials.\u202f\u202f\u202f\u202f<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Images used in this blog:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. “Woman in White Long Sleeve Shirt Holding White Book<\/a>” by cottonbro studio on <\/span><\/span>Pexels<\/span><\/span><\/a> licensed under <\/span><\/span>Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license<\/span><\/span><\/a>. This image has not been altered.<\/li>\n
  2. “Colorful Comic Covers<\/a>” by Erik Mclean on <\/span><\/span>Pexels<\/span><\/span><\/a> licensed under <\/span><\/span>Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license<\/span><\/span><\/a>. This image has not been altered.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Comics can be easier to access than dry text alone. The use of visuals and humor can help get an idea across more effectively than content without visuals. Comics can also be a source of inspiration. It can be empowering for someone to see characters who struggle with the same issues as they do. One […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1369,"featured_media":111504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[175,70,53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-111503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-illness-medicine","category-social-interactions","category-sociological-perspective"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nComics: An Unlikely Vehicle for Autistic Representation - In The NEWS Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uitac.com\/inthenewsblog\/comics-an-unlikely-vehicle-for-autistic-representation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Comics: An Unlikely Vehicle for Autistic Representation - In The NEWS Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Comics can be easier to access than dry text alone. 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