Text - Rhodes University

existence ... until food gets short. Then, instead of just quietly starving to
death, they start to move ... all in the same direction ... The cells in front
produce a substance that stimulates others to follow and join. Repulsion is
replaced by the herd instinct, until, finally, a great migration occurs and the
cells meet and swarm. Then there are no more individual cells; the slime
mold has become a single shape that moves and looks exactly like a
slug .... Now the slug begins to change ... until it explodes spores into the soil,
each becoming a single-celled amoeba-like thing that manages very well on
its own, thank you.
The life-cycle of the slime mold takes place within 20 hours. Longevity is
not a characteristic of this species.
All this may seem purposeful.. .. But there's not a whit of intention about
any of it. Scientists are quite clear that the whole devious business comes
about because the single cells produce a substance called adenosine
monophosphate. An enzyme, I think. It's got nothing to do with wanting
anything.
Like slime molds, comics are often, or have been until now, ignored because they are
small and apparently simplistic. Similarly, referring to some respectable comics as graphic
novels has much the same effect as calling slime mold protista. It does not clarify the
ambiguity,nor does it answer the question; the term in itself perpetuates the question. Are
comics art or literature? The answer is also in the terminology, because they are neither
and both, and a separate thing entirely, and no doubt it is upsetting.
Clearly the stage in the life-cycle of comics that I am concerned with is that in which
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