The comic book medium is a narrative art form growing in critical respectability and commercial status. The superhero genre no longer dominates the public's perception of comics as being just power-fantasies for young boys. It's literature with the same expressive potential as any art form. European and Japanese comics are coming to America, making a huge impact in bookstores -- gaining new readership with an increasingly diverse audience. Comic books combine both old and new media. Pictorial storytelling predates most forms of print narration, whether found on the Bayeux Tapestry, Egyptian hieroglyphics, or cave wall drawings. Modern comic creators use computer programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create their work. Many have found success by sidestepping the traditional book market to publish their work online.