Where I live, outside the city a lot of untouched nature. While there I was too scared to dig in the ground. And not because of the pollution. Even after 74 years (end - 2.02.1943) after the war in our city, you can still find dangerous things in the ground.
In fact, the history of my city is very interesting. Still learn something new (we have the longest street in Russia! length is greater than 50 km)
And a kilometer-long traffic jams
I think so too about comics.
To write good and interesting book, it is very difficult.