Illustrating Interests: Exploring Comic Reading Preferences Among University Students

This study examines the ways in which student's consume comics at universities and compares these preferences in traditional print and digital formats, in order to learn about what motivates their choices in terms of media format and how these forms can influence their reading experiences. Participants, who were randomly selected from the Bachelor of Arts (BAL) and Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) programs, explained their reading. Results show a slight preference towards digital comics for their convenience whereas print comics still get some interest due to their tangible nature and their potential for artwork appreciation. Further, it also reveals the factors that affect their choice which include accessibility, reading comfort and art quality. It is concluded that as the number of people reading comics increases, publishers and educators have to make necessary adjustments to meet needs for general readership such as making comics available in educational settings, making them more accessible, while preserving their art quality. Additionally, constant effort of reaching out to readers to understand their tastes and preferences will help the industry survive.