The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

[Punchy]

You're right, you just don't understand. You will when you're older.

Hab

That makes no sense, I'll want more kid's comics when I myself am older?

I'm not Benjamin Button!

[Punchy]

Punchy's right, kids can't read. That's why there are no regular books for kids either.

The world of books and the talent pool is large enough that you can have both, at this point, comics aren't.

And isn't it a statistic that most adult Americans don't read books? They read magazines and newspapers, but not novels. Just because you do something as a kid doesn't mean you'll continue it on into adulthood.

[False Prophet]

I think the point is newcomer adults are a hell of a lot less likely to accept the inherent absurdity of most mainstream comics than adults who started at an early age.

And, once again, all ages doesn't have to mean kiddie, just not ridiculously over-the-top in its content. As anal-retentive some parents are, most don't mind their kids reading adult themes if it's handled respectfully. There is a difference between creating content in a mature manner and creating mature content. I want comic creators to be able to write material that I can read without an insult to my intelligence and then pass on to some kid in the library without having to worry about someone calling the cops. This isn't the 80s anymore. Kids aren't wannabe hipster and they aren't flocking to see pretentious crap that thinks its too important and edgy. They like all-ages material that isn't corny and dumbed-down.

[DonnaMoore]

Couple of thoughts, after being too lazy to read past the first page- Punchy, you're crazy. Comics need as wide an audience as possible. Not every comic needs to be all ages, but the art form as a whole gets stronger the more eyes that are on it.
I'm also confused by the difficulty expressed in the article for finding material for kids- I feel like there's a pretty constant stream of recommendations coming out of the news stand. Maybe this will serve as a good collected resource.

I agree there's quality material for kids out there -- the challenge is finding it is not so simple for the average parent. My column probably won't go too heavily into altering what is created but rather altering how it gets distributed.

[Victorian Squid]

I agree there's quality material for kids out there -- the challenge is finding it is not so simple for the average parent. My column probably won't go too heavily into altering what is created but rather altering how it gets distributed.

If that is the "average parent", then I would say the average parent is lazy and usually has no trouble utilizing online and IRL resources for their own needs and wants, so what's the real problem here?

As to distribution, after the announcement that Toys'r'Us would be stocking monthly comics received a big ol' yawn of who cares from basically everyone, digital distribution is going to be what the industry sees as key increasing young readers, and any pricing to encourage it will go through that, not putting expensive and easily-damaged comics back in places like gas stations where kids don't even go anymore.

When people like Jude both advocate wanting to order everything online and not leave the house, and also a completely new distribution system to return comics to places kids barely go anymore themselves, you can see the discrepancy right there.

[S.F. Jude Terror]

Kids don't go to supermarkets anymore? Have people evolved past needing food? Kids go wherever their mom goes during the day. Since mom needs to go shopping at the supermarket, kids can look forward to a nice long ride in the shopping cart that bores the shit out of them. It's the perfect avenue for something awesome like comics. You'll notice Archie comics are still in the supermarket, and they beat the living crap out of Marvel and DC in sales.

I don't want to never leave my house - I don't want to leave my house to go to the comic shop, because the comic shop is a place of depression and smelly manchildren.

[Victorian Squid]

You already gave away that Amy tells you where you can and can't go, several times over.

[S.F. Jude Terror]

You already gave away that Amy tells you where you can and can't go, several times over.

I used to travel an hour to my local comic shop (and take Amy and the kids) at least once a month, until I realized that it was an abusive relationship and started shopping at DCBS. I haven't been this happy with my comic shopping since I was 10 years old.

[sdsichero]

I don't want to never leave my house - I don't want to leave my house to go to the comic shop, because the comic shop is a place of depression and smelly manchildren.

They say it isn't like that anymore now that you don't go there.