Vine.  YouTube. Facebook. Snapchat.  All common names of social media that provide a dose of humor for many of us, I honestly feel comics are the way to roll.

When I was younger, I would watch my grandfather read the newspaper and every now and then I would see colorful strips line the pages.  As I have grown, I have started to read more and more comics, especially my favorites Dilbert and Speed Bump.   One I remember vividly is a Speed Bump funny where two ancient Egyptian scribes were reading a largely printed hieroglyphic.  Then one said to the other, “I hate it when they write in all caps.”  I love that this one square comic can contain a joke that will give you a quick laugh.  It is always so simple and witty that you get to start wondering how you never thought of it.

Dilbert, on the other hand,  is a multi-frame strip that features a group of dysfunctional co-workers in an office building setting.  There are re-occurring characters like Dilbert, Dogbert, Dilbert’s boss, and then there are some other angry or ignorant co-workers.  It’s easy to relate to because the characters aren’t perfect and the others know it.

If comics interest you and you want to get your hands on one, don’t worry! There are a lot of options. The newspaper is one. You can also buy a comic book, go online and subscribe to a daily comic feed, or discover them inside the DVD cases for movies you watch.   If you happen to get the movie The Maze Runner, look inside and there will be a pocket-sized comic of extra scenes from the trilogy.  Comic books exist for Percy Jackson:The Sea of Monsters and Super Girl (available at Chuck’s).

Comics aren’t just for humor–they helped me read outside of school more and increased my interest in different book and genre selections.  If you’re looking for a fresh reading experience or to smile more, give comics a try.