reading can save even a comic book!

Alison Bechdel – yes, yes! YES! and it's not only because "Fun Home" is a story about a lesbian.
it is an open world.
not like the fantasy stuff, all the Tolkiens and the ludo board games his people play. not one of the enclosed worlds that you can stuff yourself with to forget about what you lack, forget about your fears and the work you fall behind with. not a pack of sweets for the inhibited boys [no matter what's their gender] with a tendency of fixation – for them to hear the white hum that will let them survive a couple of hours in the state of muted consciousness. an open, spacious world – which can be seen even in the broad, movie-like perspective.
I think literature is the key here; Bechdel is a reader, she reads physically and intellectually and what she came up with is a novel itself – I have no problems imagining the story as a fine piece of fiction, there's a narrative spirit to it and the drawings add a whole lot to the expression, instead of enclosing it in a tiny little chest, where the fantasy fans can have their imaginary wank as much as they wish.
besides
the main character is so like MTV's Daria that I just must love her.