For someone who travels the world spreading the love of reading, it’s all very well that Nancy Silberkleit is passionate about comic books. And that she’s the co-CEO of Archie Comic Publications, an added bonus.
From India to Uganda and the Philippines, Silberkleit has been spreading the word over the years, talking about the impact comic books can have on children’s development and on social change. Her latest destination: Dubai, at the Middle East Film & Comic Con.
“We can weave powerful messages in comic books because some great values are global values. They are relevant every where.”
Silberkleit, who is the daughter-in-law of Louis H. Silberkleit, one of the founders of Archie Comic Publications, said that very ethos of being socially relevant has been the driving force of her company, and one that has ensured the success of the series for the last 70 years. That, and dollops of humour.
“Laughter is a global language and Archie Comics have got people to laugh all these years, it just so happens to be about a wholesome all-American boy and his friends,” she said. “But the truth is, Riverdale can be Dubai or somewhere in India. That’s the appeal of it.”
The power of the visual image needs to be harnessed, she added.
“Kids feel the word when there are images. It invites them to expand on the story making them want to be involved. That’s why it’s so important as an academic resource.
“And that’s where we add the social messages, whether it’s messages about recycling, bullying and racial equality.”
When not being the poster girl for Archie comics, Silberkleit also runs her own organisation Rise Above Social Issues Foundation, which addresses social issues tackling everything from obesity to drunk driving and literacy. The foundation also releases free comic book series.
“If you think about it, the world is a compassionate place. And I wanted to encourage that in people, to act on that kindness and reach out to people who need help.”
Keeping the world of comic books relevant also means staying up-to-date with the digital world, which her company has successfully bridged, she said. Archie Comics and the producers of ‘Glee’ recently came together for a special issue, “Archie Meets Glee”, which saw characters of the TV series appear in the comic book.
“We also now have an app where people can download the latest issues on their devices. Technology is changing things so fast. It used to be trends of the decade, now it’s trends of the month,” she said.
“But the solution is having real people in real situation. Keeping them real is keeping them relevant.”
