interesting blog from wired geek dad

[Dragongravy]

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/03/sh ... +-+GeekDad)&utm_content=Twitter

i think this sums up my some of my feelings on the comic books industry. "it’s not stories about superheroes. It’s stories about people with super-powers fighting and dying with lots of cannon fodder."

[HVAC_Viper]

I feel the exact way. Stories like this are okay once in a while, but anymore they are nothing but greek tragedies from all publishers. My friend and I were discussing one of our favorite characters Tim Drake (AKA Robin III/Red Robin), and how he is the first real hero to be introduced in a long time. And even his creation was to take Batman out of the graphic novel "Dark Knight" and bring him back to the comic book "Caped Crusader". The books need more characters like him and less like the Punisher. The rough edged characters and stories definately have thier place and are enjoyable, but they seem to have taken over to such a degree that the Super Heroes are not Heroes at all anymore.
Ive always felt comics helped cultivate a childs imagination and creativity, but through PG13/R stories and higher and higher prices have totally left them out. Oh well, I'll get off the soap box.

[gogorobo]

i'll admit the last couple of years in comics have been pretty dark and even the big two have come out and said that as soon as the current storylines wrap up we'll be heading into the brightest day (DC) and the heroic age (MARVEL) these are stories that are supposed to harken back to the good ole days of comics, so yes while i admit todays comics are dark i dare anyone to go to a local shop and find a kid in there on their own to buy comics and not because their parents brought them along, sad fact is comics are not for kids anymore

[Dragongravy]

i'll admit the last couple of years in comics have been pretty dark and even the big two have come out and said that as soon as the current storylines wrap up we'll be heading into the brightest day (DC) and the heroic age (MARVEL) these are stories that are supposed to harken back to the good ole days of comics, so yes while i admit todays comics are dark i dare anyone to go to a local shop and find a kid in there on their own to buy comics and not because their parents brought them along, sad fact is comics are not for kids anymore

so the question is why? is it because the subject matter apeals only to the late 20's early 30's comic readers? is the over exorbitant price? personally i feel its both. shiney paper doesnt make a good story, and frankly i think comic books should go back to their newsprint pulpish paper. sure is would be fine to have a premium format, but there needs to be some format that kids can get into reading books again. lower prices and brighter uplifting stories FTW.

[gogorobo]

the real problem i feel is that if you haven't been reading a lot of these books for the past twenty years or so you'll have no clue what's going on and hows who, marvel and DC both have young reader friendly books that are really well done, for DC i would suggest billy batson and the magic of shazam, a really well put together book that's fun younger readers but is really funny and hip and cool if you like shazam, marvel has their line of marvel adventure books which are geared towards younger readers as well and are done just as well as the regular books they are based off of

[HVAC_Viper]

so the question is why? is it because the subject matter apeals only to the late 20's early 30's comic readers? is the over exorbitant price? personally i feel its both. shiney paper doesnt make a good story, and frankly i think comic books should go back to their newsprint pulpish paper. sure is would be fine to have a premium format, but there needs to be some format that kids can get into reading books again. lower prices and brighter uplifting stories FTW.[/quote]

Preach it Brother!!

And I don't think that "kiddie" books are the answer either, those of us reading in the late 70"s,80's,and early 90's didn't need "kiddie" stories to enjoy them, but they also portrayed the heroes as just that, HEROES. Yes there were exceptions but they didn't overwhelm the titles. Also the adults reading during those years enjoyed them as well, and weren't screaming out for more blood. And those that did like them had the graphic novel to read. The occasional dark scene or story line is fine or even fun (and NO I don't think kids should be sheltered) but not all the time in every book. My friend and I were talking about this post and we could name fewer than 10 characters who have stayed Heroes in both companies. Kids now more than ever need to learn that the right way isn't always the easiest thing to do but still needs to be done and comics used to be the best outlet for that message.