I was once just like you! Once, long ago, I was just as puzzled by the devoted fans of comics and graphic novels. Could they really be that good? I had read Maus in high school, but I didn't even connect that it was a graphic novel. Then, one fateful day, I read Pedro and Me. I was amazed. I had no idea a graphic novel could be that powerful, never mind that it made me both laugh out loud and cry (and I do not cry easily at books!) There is a preconception surrounding comics and graphic novels -- that comics are childish, simple, and not comparable to literature. Now, I won't get on a soapbox here, but comics and graphic novels are just as complex, evocative, and involving as any good book or film you might encounter. They tackle the same issues as books. They are equally as well written as books. They include first-class artwork. Comics and graphic novels and manga are simply another way to tell a story, like film or television or audiobooks or opera. They are not meant to replace or be better than any other format. They're just another way to get a story. Try not to think of the comics and graphic novels as only comics -- think of them instead as a story about something you find interesting.
I have recommended this site to my ESOL students and their families because of the translation feature.