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[LOLtron]

If comic book imagery is so pervasive among kids, why are comic books not? Comics for Kids is a new bi-weekly column examining the issues surrounding introducing a new generation to reading comics -- looking at content and distribution of comics from a parent's point of view.


Comics are a dying art form.

I don't think this is a big secret to anyone. Looking around the internet it's very clear that both fans and professionals are worried about the shrinking size of the market. In September, Erik Larson noted in his twitter feed [1]:

So--in August--no comic book topped 100,000 in sales? That can't be a good sign. That's happened what--ONCE in the history of comics? The sky isn't falling--we're not all doomed--but it is a sobering reminder that this market is not healthy.

A number of theories exist why we're seeing a shrinking marketplace: electronic piracy; creators "destroying" characters with long histories; rising prices; event fatigue; monthly titles written for trades rather than serialization. In this comedy of errors, all of these factors, and more, have been moving the industry slowly towards these lower numbers. But as a parent, the one item which troubles me the most is the challenges in locating age-appropriate content for kids.  Without instilling a love for the comic medium in the next generation, the art form, whether in digital or print media will go the way of the dinosaur.

In a September blog [2] posting Scottie Young commented:

My nephew is 5. For the last 3 years he refused to wear anything that didn't have either Spider-Man or Batman on it. From his shirt to his shoes, he was sporting comic book gear. But my sister didn't know where to get him comic books. For all she knows, Spider-Man was created to be on a shirt, not in a book. Now, I know, that's an extreme case. But it's just an example.

Comic book characters are pervasive in our culture at the moment: top selling toy lines for both DC and Marvel; apparel (I just bought a pair of Spiderman underwear from Target); movies; even home goods like cups and plates for kids feature Iron Man and Batman. On Halloween night, there will be a parade of superheroes on my doorstep. So if kids are into superheroes, why aren't they into comics? Over the course of this series I hope to examine in detail some of the problems which limit the introduction of comics to kids and look at strategies publishers, retailers and parents can adopt to encourage children to find the same love we have for the form.

Coming in part two: Availability of appropriate content.

[1] http://www.comicon.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=577758&page=1 [2] http://www.skottieyoung.com/2010/09/kids-comics-and-saving-world.html



Written or Contributed by: DonnaMoore


http://173.199.169.70/index.php/features/miscellaneous-features/11967-comics-for-my-kid-part-i-introduction.html/

[nietoperz]

Nice work - I'm very much looking forward to part two.

[S.F. Jude Terror]

An interesting article and good start to a column. I'd like to get my kids into comics, and they're certainly interested in them when I get mine, but I have no idea where to start.

[Punchy]

Comics are not dying, they are just changing, and kids are not the future. The future is 20 and 30-somethings.

I honestly couldn't give a monkeys about whether there are any age-appropriate comics for kids, as most 'all-ages' comics are deliberately unintelligent, and underestimate and insult children. Children should be reading upwards, not having comics written down to them. In the 80s, you had 8 year-olds reading Kraven's Last Hunt or Sin-Eater, which were dark as hell, and that was the way it should be, if you compare those stories to Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, there is a clear gap in quality.

Make good comics and stop worrying about if children read them.

[nietoperz]

Comics are not dying, they are just changing, and kids are not the future. The future is 20 and 30-somethings.

I honestly couldn't give a monkeys about whether there are any age-appropriate comics for kids, as most 'all-ages' comics are deliberately unintelligent, and underestimate and insult children. Children should be reading upwards, not having comics written down to them. In the 80s, you had 8 year-olds reading Kraven's Last Hunt or Sin-Eater, which were dark as hell, and that was the way it should be, if you compare those stories to Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, there is a clear gap in quality.

Make good comics and stop worrying about if children read them.

The thing is though that kids have to be seen as the future if the medium is to continue, as 20-and-30-somethings do grow older to be replaced by new generations. And while I agree that kids can and should read more challenging fare some current mainstream books can take that too far.

Also, parents should be allowed to set the benchmark for what they show to their children and when. If they want to start their four-year-olds with Super Hero Squad as opposed to Blackest Night then it's entirely their prerogative to do so.

[Punchy]

The thing is though that kids have to be seen as the future if the medium is to continue, as 20-and-30-somethings do grow older to be replaced by new generations. And while I agree that kids can and should read more challenging fare some current mainstream books can take that too far.

Also, parents should be allowed to set the benchmark for what they show to their children and when. If they want to start their four-year-olds with Super Hero Squad as opposed to Blackest Night then it's entirely their prerogative to do so.

I just think that most 'all-ages' comics are shit, and are more likely to turn kids off comics than make them readers for life.

[rdrsfn82]

Comics are not dying, they are just changing, and kids are not the future. The future is 20 and 30-somethings.

I honestly couldn't give a monkeys about whether there are any age-appropriate comics for kids, as most 'all-ages' comics are deliberately unintelligent, and underestimate and insult children. Children should be reading upwards, not having comics written down to them. In the 80s, you had 8 year-olds reading Kraven's Last Hunt or Sin-Eater, which were dark as hell, and that was the way it should be, if you compare those stories to Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, there is a clear gap in quality.

Make good comics and stop worrying about if children read them.

If kids don't read comics and gain an interest in them, why would they suddenly start caring about them when they are in their 20's?

[nietoperz]

I just think that most 'all-ages' comics are shit, and are more likely to turn kids off comics than make them readers for life.

Well that's why a column like this is such a good thing: to help separate the wheat from the chaff.

[rdrsfn82]

I just think that most 'all-ages' comics are shit, and are more likely to turn kids off comics than make them readers for life.

That's bullshit. The Marvel Adventure books are solid and have good art. They are a great way to get smaller kids (like my 6 year old daughter) interested in comics, because she can actually read the books herself and she doesn't have to worry about continuity or lead in to crossovers, plus they are usually done in one stories, and most smaller kids don't have the attention span for monthly waits between issues until they get a little older.

[S.F. Jude Terror]

If kids don't read comics and gain an interest in them, why would they suddenly start caring about them when they are in their 20's?

An excellent point!

[Victorian Squid]

Scottie Young couldn't send his own nephew some Spidey comix.

[Royal Nonesuch]

My 9-year-old nephew is into the Marvel Adventures books, but he also reads the mainline Marvel stuff with his father, which he's been doing since about Civil War I think. I was always surprised that my brother is willing to expose the kid to the older-skewing stuff, but the nephew seems to be doing ok with it.

[DonnaMoore]

Comics are not dying, they are just changing, and kids are not the future. The future is 20 and 30-somethings.

I honestly couldn't give a monkeys about whether there are any age-appropriate comics for kids, as most 'all-ages' comics are deliberately unintelligent, and underestimate and insult children. Children should be reading upwards, not having comics written down to them. In the 80s, you had 8 year-olds reading Kraven's Last Hunt or Sin-Eater, which were dark as hell, and that was the way it should be, if you compare those stories to Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, there is a clear gap in quality.

Make good comics and stop worrying about if children read them.

Wow... I was told this column would get a reaction, but I didn't expect so many so quick.

I *do* actually agree that "All-Ages" comics aren't the full answer. They're a great entry point but they can't be the full strategy -- I'll apologize for not going into detail here -- that's really the topic of Part II.

An interesting article and good start to a column. I'd like to get my kids into comics, and they're certainly interested in them when I get mine, but I have no idea where to start.

Initially with my daughter it was hit and miss. I tried things like Lions, Tigers and Bears and Franklin Richards but neither clicked. When she read her first issue of Power Pack, she became hooked because she related to the little girl, Katie who was near to her in age. The trick is to find what matches their taste. Now you just gave me a whole new avenue of topics to write on .

[rdrsfn82]

Wow... I was told this column would get a reaction, but I didn't expect so many so quick.

I *do* actually agree that "All-Ages" comics aren't the full answer. They're a great entry point but they can't be the full strategy -- I'll apologize for not going into detail here -- that's really the topic of Part II.



Initially with my daughter it was hit and miss. I tried things like Lions, Tigers and Bears and Franklin Richards but neither clicked. When she read her first issue of Power Pack, she became hooked because she related to the little girl, Katie who was near to her in age. The trick is to find what matches their taste. Now you just gave me a whole new avenue of topics to write on .

That's an excellent point as well. Different kids will react to different things in different ways. Some kids might not care about anything but the main 616 and DCU stuff, while others may get into things like Super Hero Squad, and others might be into Marvel Adventures or Power Pack or Franklin Richards, and others might only enjoy stuff like Bone or Owly or Tintin or Darkwing Duck or whatever and might never give a fuck about the main line superheroes.

[SilverPhoenix]

Comics are not dying, they are just changing, and kids are not the future. The future is 20 and 30-somethings.

I honestly couldn't give a monkeys about whether there are any age-appropriate comics for kids, as most 'all-ages' comics are deliberately unintelligent, and underestimate and insult children. Children should be reading upwards, not having comics written down to them. In the 80s, you had 8 year-olds reading Kraven's Last Hunt or Sin-Eater, which were dark as hell, and that was the way it should be, if you compare those stories to Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, there is a clear gap in quality.

Make good comics and stop worrying about if children read them.

How do you get it and not get it at the same time (to the same fucking degree, I might add), Punchy? You're a genius in that regard.

Yes, you're 500% correct that the Comic Book Industry needs to focus on quality, and not insult the intelligence of its readers (which happens FAR too often in the General Big 2 Comics now and days). Writers will only assure that the 4-Color Comic Book Industry is resigned to magnanimous grave if they do not understand that All-Ages does not mean everything you described.

However, I really do believe that you need to understand that for ANY Industry to remain healthy, it must be in a place where you will most assuredly attract new customers/clients, which in turn will spend the most dollars for your product.The 4-Colors need to cast as wide of a net as possible to ensure the survival of the Industry at large.

Now before you continue to harp on the legitimate concern of whether we would see the amazing comic books that we do get, I must bring up a couple of points.

1) Creator-Owned Comics would not have to be aim at All-Ages Audiences, unless they want them to be. This Industry needs a place where the Older and Adult Reader can read stories that are aimed to entertain and challenge them. The Japanese Manga Industry has a thriving sector aimed at Adult Audiences. Creator-Owned Comics could serve as the arm (but not be limited to, mind you) for the older audiences who enjoy comics.

2) The thing that people need to remember is that Comics once served as the "cutting edge" of entertainment for young audiences. Now what I mean by "cutting edge" is that Comics, due to their nature could get away with things that Television could not. The same thing could happen today. Go back and Analyze the more famous (and critically acclaimed) stories of the past 7 years, is there REALLY anything that needs to be changed besides some of the more Vulgar Sexual Overtones and Graphic Displays of Violence? Sure you would need to be more creative with these things, but most writers would be forced to write a better story without such easy cop outs.

In short, I really do feel its time for the Industry (especially the Big 2) to get back to its All-Ages roots. Like the nostalgia lovers, the "No Kids Allowed in my LCS" bros need to be ignored.