Do kids even read comics anymore!?

[Eros]

HI everyone:) i hope i dun sound ignorant or anything. But a few weeks ago i was reading a comment from the writer of civil War. He said that "kids will only see a big superhero brawl when they read civil War". Heres thoughts on that statment. In all my 18 years, i have never seen a little kid in a comic book shop actually buy a comic book. I know some of you may have seen them buy some, but im dead serous here, i don't think kids even read like that anymore. When i was kid, i didn't even collect comics, i learned about Marvel superheros from watching those 90s marvel superhero shows. I started reading comics when i was in middleschool for god sakes! Do any of you guys and gals [if you have kids] remeber seeing kids lining up to pick up this weeks hot comic?

Kids today care about the action packed TV shows, and they care about the CG movies etc. The only books the kids read like religion is Harry potter series, and thats where it stops. I don't get the concept that alot of kids read comics anymore, becasue thats IMo untrue. Kids have moved away from reading comics every week, and i assume in about 20 or 30 years the comic industry will be no more. With i-pods and all the new ways people have for getting stuff, reading 32 page books with pictures is not gonna get kids or anyones interest as todays technology is progressing. Some people don't even buy comics in stores anymore, i hear they download them online now. Kids are leaving [or have left] the comics industry, and they ain't comeing back. Comic book shop after comic book shop is closeing down [especially local ones] as you guys know. Comics rely on big sprawling "gimmicks" now to draw in readers. Now unless your name is Batman, Superman and or spider-man [and the othe Lee/kirby creations] chances are the comic book could get canceled. Why don't kids like to read comics anymore [and books] the same reason we spend hours on a computer or watching Tv everyday. Its the sad truth, as our world falls deeper into a techno revolution, old relics like comic books are fadeing away. Ask yourself this, if one guy buys a comic, an then scans it online and makes it avaluable on his web page, would you still buy that comic in the store?:confused:

[Vanguard07]

little kids never buy comics cause little kids never buy anything. Parents who read comics buy comics for their kids. Those kids get hooked and grow up reading comics and then eventually buy comics for their own children.

Comic books have a lot more influence on modern culture than you may think. I seriously doubt the industry is going anywhere any time soon.

and in regards to your last point, yes i'd still buy comics.
Pretty much every song, movie and tv show is available on the internet but they're not the same as the real thing. Sure if i want music I could download songs but i'd rather go see the band. You know what i mean?

[Spidey Rules 2]

Yes I would still buy it. There's nothing like holding the book in your hand. I rarely see kids buying comic books at the store I go to (parents probably don't want to waste the time and money to get one). I guess I should admit that I was 26 when I bought my first comic book (the Marvel/DC crossover). After that I didn't buy another one until I was 30, now I'm 36 and I'm still collecting them. Maybe today's kids will start collecting them in high school or even afterwards.

[The Question]

Little kids still read comics. It's just that now, not all comics are for little kids. My comics book store has a whole section devoted to kids comics.

[jim lee's bat]

i've been reading comic books monthly since I was 14 (3 years ago)

[War Lord]

They do read comics, but not as often because there are so many alternative entertainment options these days.

[Elijya]

yes. My LCS has kids in it all the time.

[Brainiac 8]

My local comic store has younger kids in there on a regular basis.:)

[War Lord]

My local comic store has younger kids in there on a regular basis.:)

Is there a pedophile working the counter?

[LibrarianThorne]

HI everyone:) i hope i dun sound ignorant or anything. But a few weeks ago i was reading a comment from the writer of civil War. He said that "kids will only see a big superhero brawl when they read civil War". Heres thoughts on that statment. In all my 18 years, i have never seen a little kid in a comic book shop actually buy a comic book. I know some of you may have seen them buy some, but im dead serous here, i don't think kids even read like that anymore. When i was kid, i didn't even collect comics, i learned about Marvel superheros from watching those 90s marvel superhero shows. I started reading comics when i was in middleschool for god sakes! Do any of you guys and gals [if you have kids] remeber seeing kids lining up to pick up this weeks hot comic?

Kids today care about the action packed TV shows, and they care about the CG movies etc. The only books the kids read like religion is Harry potter series, and thats where it stops. I don't get the concept that alot of kids read comics anymore, becasue thats IMo untrue. Kids have moved away from reading comics every week, and i assume in about 20 or 30 years the comic industry will be no more. With i-pods and all the new ways people have for getting stuff, reading 32 page books with pictures is not gonna get kids or anyones interest as todays technology is progressing. Some people don't even buy comics in stores anymore, i hear they download them online now. Kids are leaving [or have left] the comics industry, and they ain't comeing back. Comic book shop after comic book shop is closeing down [especially local ones] as you guys know. Comics rely on big sprawling "gimmicks" now to draw in readers. Now unless your name is Batman, Superman and or spider-man [and the othe Lee/kirby creations] chances are the comic book could get canceled. Why don't kids like to read comics anymore [and books] the same reason we spend hours on a computer or watching Tv everyday. Its the sad truth, as our world falls deeper into a techno revolution, old relics like comic books are fadeing away. Ask yourself this, if one guy buys a comic, an then scans it online and makes it avaluable on his web page, would you still buy that comic in the store?:confused:

I just want to respond to that last point: Of course, I do that now. Scans_Daily got me hooked on Morrison's JLA, and I'm picking up Young Avengers vol.1 the next time I'm in the store for the same reason. It also got me reading Exiles and Runaways, and aided me greatly in hunting down individual issues of various series.

Honestly, I think piracy hurts comics less than other industries because holding a comic in your hand and reading it gives the story a different pacing than reading the scans online. I can get a sense of what a story is like from reading scans, but picking up the trades/issues of the series is always preferable.

[SonOfCthulhu]

The most important point is that most comics are not marketed to little kids, but are instead written, packaged and sold to a much older market. Comics have been increasingly been marketed to the older teen/college age market which is a market that has more discretionary income. It's not really that surprising nor is it a sign that comics are going away.

[Flame on!]

A couple of kids recognised my FF shirt. This was before the film, by the way. When liking the FF was kinda cool.

[War Lord]

The most important point is that most comics are not marketed to little kids, but are instead written, packaged and sold to a much older market. Comics have been increasingly been marketed to the older teen/college age market which is a market that has more discretionary income. It's not really that surprising nor is it a sign that comics are going away.

However, I think that, long-term, the comic publishers are going to have to start reproducing comics that have appeal to the younger ages again.

If they don't, than comics are going to end up being thought of as "old-people's" entertainment and that could be the end of comics, period.

[mathhater]

I've worried about this too. I don't usually see kids in the comic store I go to. But they regularly have these massive sidewalk sales, and on those days I usually see whole families there, and those are usually the only days I see kids rummaging through comics.

But at $3.00 a comic, you have to realize that kids today, unless they're raking in a massive allowance, just won't be able to afford that many comics. If kids are gonna end up with them, you'd think they'd have to get the books from their parents...the ones who can actually afford them.

[The Question]

A couple of kids recognised my FF shirt. This was before the film, by the way. When liking the FF was kinda cool.

Man, I miss those days. :(

[Fading]

Comics like most things just goes in circles. I do think more adults read than kids, and kids probably used to read them far more than they do now, but I don't think the industry is ending because of that.

Watched an interesting comic history thing on the history channel (wasn't going to but it was that or the news lol). Anyway it was about how comics got blamed for America's youth's coruption and blah blah blah, comics got turned dull. Couldn't mention monsters, violence, drugs, cops and so on. Comics because of that became dull and I think it set up future generations thinking comics = for boring dorks.

Lately that trends changed a bit with the movies, and Marvel went from bankrupt to success again. Actually if anything I don't think comics sales are going down because of less kids, but more because of distribution. Sure in bigger cities you might find a comic shop every several blocks or so, here the closest is 30 miles. With gas prices, I don't feel like driving 60 miles total to pick up the newest comic anymore, so if I don't have a subscription to it I rarely get to many anymore. If there was a comic book store within 10-15 miles tho I'd pick up far more issues.

Plus like you said kids read Potter and nothing else it seems, and they can look up and read comics online. Which like said above does get ppl interested enough to possibly pick a book up. I think tho that the comic book industry, or atleast part of it are seeing online comics as a potential future tho and their just testing a few books now to see where it goes.

[Elijya]

Is there a pedophile working the counter?
what?

[War Lord]

what?

I'm just wondering why young kids would be going in there on a regular basis?

[Elijya]

because they like comics, maybe?

[SonOfCthulhu]

However, I think that, long-term, the comic publishers are going to have to start reproducing comics that have appeal to the younger ages again.

If they don't, than comics are going to end up being thought of as "old-people's" entertainment and that could be the end of comics, period.

No. The comics industry will aways aim for the same market segment. Look at how Young Avengers and Runaways are written. They aren't written for a 30-40 year old. They are aimed at a young market.

When today's toddlers become teenagers and develop their own set of trends then comics will be produced that mirror those trends.

[boywonder13]

i've been reading since I was 8 years old and I BOUGHT my own comics (I'm 14 right now, so thats like 7 years)

[Darthphere]

I buy comics for a mentally challenged kid that lives next door and we read them together.

[Elijya]

No. The comics industry will aways aim for the same market segment. Look at how Young Avengers and Runaways are written. They aren't written for a 30-40 year old. They are aimed at a young market.

When today's toddlers become teenagers and develop their own set of trends then comics will be produced that mirror those trends.
but that's not "the comics industry", that's two titles

there's dozens and dozens of comics marked as being for "mature readers", ten times what there 20 years ago.

yesterday's toddlers have ALREADY grown up and developed a new trend

[roach]

I buy comics for a mentally challenged kid that lives next door and we read them together.

and you get the Official Roach's Insectartarian of the Year award.....good job:up:

[Darthphere]

and you get the Official Roach's Insectartarian of the Year award.....good job:up:


I hate having a soul.:( :up:

[roach]

I hate having a soul.:( :up:

I sold mine to get into one of those "Eyes wide Shut" sex houses...it was sooo cool

[Darthphere]

Bastard.

[SonOfCthulhu]

but that's not "the comics industry", that's two titles

there's dozens and dozens of comics marked as being for "mature readers"

College age kids are "mature readers".

And granted there are titles that are aimed at kids (The Disney characters/Teen Titans Go/Marvel Adventure/etc.), but in large part the majority of the marketing push by comic makers is toward the same set of demographics. Which falls in an age bracket between 13-25.

[SonOfCthulhu]

I buy comics for a mentally challenged kid that lives next door and we read them together.

That's great!

[Darthphere]

Yeah his name is Alex, and he's 9. He wants to be Robin when he grows up.

[SonOfCthulhu]

Yeah his name is Alex, and he's 9. He wants to be Robin when he grows up.

Shouldn't he want to be Nightwing?

[Darthphere]

I dont see why he would want to be either.:o

[SonOfCthulhu]

I dont see why he would want to be either.:o

You did say he was mentally challenged. :(

Count your blessings! At least he doesn't want to be Starfire. :eek:

[The Cleric]

Darth....you are a genuine hero to all. two thumbs up. way to go. yippie kaiyey. thats great sport.

[Elijya]

College age kids are "mature readers".

And granted there are titles that are aimed at kids (The Disney characters/Teen Titans Go/Marvel Adventure/etc.), but in large part the majority of the marketing push by comic makers is toward the same set of demographics. Which falls in an age bracket between 13-25.
ah, but 20 years ago, there was no need for titles aimed at younger readers, was there? It was assumed an 8 year old could pick up the same random issue of Spider-Man as a 13 year old or a 20 year old.

Underground adult titles like Cerebus and american Splendor and what not had been around since the 60s and 70s, but now it's gone mainstream. Marvel started their Epic line with more adult tiles, and then DC started up Vertigo, moving Swamp Thing, Hellblazer and Sandman there, and afterwards ushering in more and more adult titles like Preacher, 100 Bullets, etc.

Meanwhile, Dark Horse and Image started up, and their titles weren't kid friendly. You don't exactly hand an 8 year old Spawn, and I wouldn't give many 13 years olds Mask or Alien vs. Predator either. Savage Dragon even has a ridiculous amount of sex in it.They've since produced books like Conan (one issue even had a nude cover), The Walking Dead, Battle Pope, etc. etc.

Then Marvel started up the MAX and Icon lines, bringing back a hard-core Punisher, and books like Supreme Power, Powers, etc.

I would say the trend has most certainly been toward more mature books

[The Cleric]

all marvel has to do is keep making movies like FF, spiderman or xmen to spark the imagination of the youngens. my nephew loved the torch, and kept pretended to be him three months after he saw the movie. then he got into comics, just to see what was going on.

[Kotagg]

...just to see him get his ass kicked by a fat guy with a beer bottle.

Oh, the irony. ;)

[The Cleric]

yep, one of my favorite moments. oh yeah, he is a spidey fan now...

[mathhater]

Still though, no matter the character, there are going to be stories that just aren't for kids, and should remain for the more mature readers. I know kids love Spider-Man, but I definitely wouldn't want any kid of mine reading say, "The Evil That Men Do."

[The Cleric]

i dont think they relate to the evil part. they admire the charecter, how they think, and how they overcome their struggles. i wouldnt mind letteing them read spidey. but comics like the punisher, there might be issues regarding who should read em.

[Mr. Walters]

I think it is nice that a lot of you say you do see kids reading comics. Maybe it is a geographical thing, because where I live, I NEVER once have seen a kid in a comic shop.

[War Lord]

I think it is nice that a lot of you say you do see kids reading comics. Maybe it is a geographical thing, because where I live, I NEVER once have seen a kid in a comic shop.

The comic shop that I go to rarely has kids in it, or at least I've never seen kids in there.

[SonOfCthulhu]

ah, but 20 years ago, there was no need for titles aimed at younger readers, was there? It was assumed an 8 year old could pick up the same random issue of Spider-Man as a 13 year old or a 20 year old.

Underground adult titles like Cerebus and american Splendor and what not had been around since the 60s and 70s, but now it's gone mainstream. Marvel started their Epic line with more adult tiles, and then DC started up Vertigo, moving Swamp Thing, Hellblazer and Sandman there, and afterwards ushering in more and more adult titles like Preacher, 100 Bullets, etc.

Meanwhile, Dark Horse and Image started up, and their titles weren't kid friendly. You don't exactly hand an 8 year old Spawn, and I wouldn't give many 13 years olds Mask or Alien vs. Predator either. Savage Dragon even has a ridiculous amount of sex in it.They've since produced books like Conan (one issue even had a nude cover), The Walking Dead, Battle Pope, etc. etc.

Then Marvel started up the MAX and Icon lines, bringing back a hard-core Punisher, and books like Supreme Power, Powers, etc.

I would say the trend has most certainly been toward more mature books

But mature books don't necessarly mean readers above their mid-20's.

Also the mainstream DC and Marvel titles (and any new offshoot books) are aimed toward a Rated T audience. This isn't by chance, but by choice.

[Darthphere]

The comic shop that I go to rarely has kids in it, or at least I've never seen kids in there.


What time do you go? I tend to see kids in the earlier parts of the day.

[War Lord]

What time do you go? I tend to see kids in the earlier parts of the day.

To be fair, it's in the university part of town, but I've gone at all times.

[SonOfCthulhu]

Kid tried to karate chop me in my shop as I was buying books just yesterday. He was about 8 and had an armload of Pogs.

[Elijya]

But mature books don't necessarly mean readers above their mid-20's.

Also the mainstream DC and Marvel titles (and any new offshoot books) are aimed toward a Rated T audience. This isn't by chance, but by choice.
yes, but they're rated T, whereas 20 years ago, they were almost all all ages

I'm not saying EVERY book is going to for mature readers. It's like the movies - 50 years ago, the idea of an R-Rated movie would have been appaling to the general public. Today, it's widely accepted - but the majority of movies will always be below PG-13 because that opens up a wider audience.

[SonOfCthulhu]

yes, but they're rated T, whereas 20 years ago, they were almost all all ages

I'm not saying EVERY book is going to for mature readers. It's like the movies - 50 years ago, the idea of an R-Rated movie would have been appaling to the general public. Today, it's widely accepted - but the majority of movies will always be below PG-13 because that opens up a wider audience.

I'll accept that there is an almost even 50-50 split between mature and general audience books. And yes that is a significant change since the 80-90's when only 8-10% of the books published were Mature rated.

But having a mature rating doesn't equal marketed toward an age bracket of above 25. To my knowledge anyone above 18 can buy a mature rated book.

The point of my post above was to say that comic book companies are selling to a specific audience. If you will allow me to use a generallity: It's like loud heavy metal music. Not everybody likes it. We should agree that most people that like it are young people. Music companies that want to sell heavy metal albums do market their product to young people. They will sign bands that are popular with young audiences and use current slang. These albums will be bought by a lot of people. Some of them will be older than the target audience. But that doesn't change the fact that the company is marketing to a specific segment of the population.

[Dread]

Do kids read comics? That's a good question. All anyone can offer is ancedotal evidence, because there's never been any sort of in-store poll or study taken to examine how many kids buy comics.

My area of Brooklyn in a way reflects the implosion and decline of the comic book market; when I was a younger kid during the late 80's and early-mid 90's, there were maybe 6 or so comic book stores within reasonable walking distance of my apartment. I didn't know where all of them were at the same time, but they were around. Then starting from the mid 90's, they started closing up, one by one in one form or another. Y'know how many comic shops are in walking distance of the apartment now? None. The LCS that I go to requires a 25-30 minute bus ride.

During the 90's, I saw more kids buying comics. Heck, I was a kid buying comics, which back then averaged $1.25-$1.50. Occasionally you got that "special edition hologram cover" that was extra expensive at $2.95. Nowadays, a typical comic selling at $2.95 would be 4 cents cheaper than most. Basically, for a kid, I am sure comic book prices feel like prices of stuff everything else. The price of everything gets more expensive, but your paycheck is still the same. The same with allowance (or whatever means kids have of making money; hardly any kid I know "worked" before high school, and some even then).

Nowadays, I rarely see kids entering a comic book store to actually buy comic books. Usually they're buying a toy, or more commonly, some sort of trading card game pack (Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, whatever's hot that year) or manga. Manga ailes have exploded in recent years, with every store I know, big or small, having to enlarge their manga section because more folks buy 'em. And THOSE folks are younger, sometimes in the high school or junior high crowd. But the Western Comics? I rarely see anyone buy 'em who is under 18. Some days under 20 is rare.

Comic books these days are not only more expensive, but more "mature". There're less restrictions on violence, horror, or sexuality (although, most times you're more likely to see depictions of violence or horror than you ever are of romance; we're very uptight about sex in America). True, many "cheesecake" covers can look like soft core porn, but frankly most kids see worse than that on WWE (which has one segment that airs in network prime-time). I doubt the "maturing" of comic books has had an effect on kids themselves, because they see far worse on cable TV or wrestling. Or movies. Most parents barely regulate what their kids watch, and I've rarely seen movie theatres honestly enforce their ratings system. It happens sporatically if some R picture is really gorey, but not that often. It also true that parents likely buy comics for their kids and so on; I HAVE seen/heard older comic buyers mentioning some comics "for their kids".

True, both Marvel and DC have "kiddie" lines for children, but those sell terribly (and I am pretty sure a lot of their readers are older guys anyway). That's simple; no kid believes they're a kid, and they don't want to be a kid; they want to be an adult and do/try adult things whenever they can. Therefore, if they see a comic that all but screams FOR TYKES, they'd rather try what "everyone else is reading".

Frankly, I think both Marvel and DC have realized that their hardcore fanbases are where their bread and butter are, and have all but adandoned trying to hook in new fans. DC's taken this stance head on, while Marvel still has delusions of new fans.

Plus, its hard getting kids to read ANYTHING these days. I wonder if in the age of CGI movies and hyper game systems (many kids have no recollection of things like SNES or GENESIS, much less "fogie" systems like Nintendo or, gasp, Atari), that many seem comic books themselves as "kiddie"? Maybe the genre no longer appeals to youth, but to older people, because comic books are no longer power fantasies (which appeal to a younger set), but soap opera melodramas (which appeal to older fans; just watch your grandma zone out while watching GUILDING LIGHT)?

[Darthphere]

I just think comics are too expensive. Parents pay for their kids stuff and I can see why some parents would think $3 dollar for a 22 page comic book that can be read in less than 15 minutes is a huge investment.

For example, you have a 6 issue Dr. Strange miniseries for $2.99 each issue. Thats $18, 132 pages.

For $20, you could get a copy of Harry Potter that has over 400 pages.

Which is the better investment money-wise? Of course the Harry Potter book.


I think, however Marvel has been doing a good job with their digests and TPB's. But theyre not really out there in the open. Book stores have made some smart moves putting their manga and comic book sections in the same place, hopefully more kids will wander over to the comic book shelf.

[Elijya]

True, both Marvel and DC have "kiddie" lines for children, but those sell terribly (and I am pretty sure a lot of their readers are older guys anyway).
actually, Marvel Adventures Spider-Man is Marvel's #1 subscription book

[Eros]

All very good points, thanks for the answers guys! I also wanted to say, i think the decline in younger readers may also have to do with the "Image" associated with comic book readers/collectors. To the general populace if you read comics, and know all about them, you are considered a "geek". People see those guys at comic-con in those odd costumes, and doing really weird things. To people those guys in those costumes at comic-con is what people think all the comic book readers are like. Most pre-teens and some teens never pick up a comic, only becasue they think doing so would put them in the same image as the trekkies and other "geek" fanbases. They don't want to be a "geek", and so even of they do read comics they would never tell their "buddies".

Today "fanboys" even make fun of other fanboys online all the time. Kids these days, and people in general try so hard to fit in. Apprently takeing time to read a 32 page picture filled story is "un cool". They don't want to be the guy that collects spider-man comics. I know from personal experience, as i still haven't told my friends i read comics. I am black buy the way, and the young black people i hang out with, are into hiphop and "Thug life". A guy who reads comics to my friends is loser. So maybe its not just the mature titles these days, maybe its just the bad image people have of comic book readers in the media.

[Elijya]

No, the real reason for the decline of kids interest in cartoons is the developement of better video games and cartoons


back in the 50s, there was nothing like that. Books, Comics, and radio shows were the only places that could do just about anything you could imagine, could literally take a kid to the end of the universe - but only comics could do it visually. Sure, there were a few movies or cartoons, but they didn't do a very good job of it.

Nowadays, we have video games with amazing graphics and the quality of cartoons and movies has skyrocketed. Comics don't have the draw that they use to compared to these things. Radio plays are a thing of the past, and the only thing that's keeping comics from sinking into that same hole is their evolution into a more advanced art-form

[Mee]

I've seen parents buying comics for their kids in my local shop. Not often, but sometimes.

[E. Bison]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/Bane_Lily/Vega_8.gifYeah I have to agree with Eros on the stereotype of comic readers. It doesn't help that at an adolescent age young people are trying to self-identify themselves and being associated with comics is intimidating because of fear of being looked down upon for being "weird" "immature" and "childish".

[Kevin]

All very good points, thanks for the answers guys! I also wanted to say, i think the decline in younger readers may also have to do with the "Image" associated with comic book readers/collectors. To the general populace if you read comics, and know all about them, you are considered a "geek". People see those guys at comic-con in those odd costumes, and doing really weird things. To people those guys in those costumes at comic-con is what people think all the comic book readers are like. Most pre-teens and some teens never pick up a comic, only becasue they think doing so would put them in the same image as the trekkies and other "geek" fanbases. They don't want to be a "geek", and so even of they do read comics they would never tell their "buddies".

Today "fanboys" even make fun of other fanboys online all the time. Kids these days, and people in general try so hard to fit in. Apprently takeing time to read a 32 page picture filled story is "un cool". They don't want to be the guy that collects spider-man comics. I know from personal experience, as i still haven't told my friends i read comics. I am black buy the way, and the young black people i hang out with, are into hiphop and "Thug life". A guy who reads comics to my friends is loser. So maybe its not just the mature titles these days, maybe its just the bad image people have of comic book readers in the media.

I'm black too, and most of my spanish and black friends do that "Thug thing." they ALL know i read comics because i told them, 1. this books could mean my future. i'm a writer so there. 2. these books are more important to me than you will ever be, 3. some of my friends are bigger than me, but they dont mess with me because they know that i can and will hurt them if i ever have to. they're not afraid of me, but they just rather not fight me.

[Silicon Surfer]

I think that the reason so many children no longer read comics is for 2 of the reasons stated. One is the cost which can be considerable if you really get into it. The second is the greater quantity of media available to kids. When I started reading comics a long time ago, they were universally available in supermarkets, they were cheap, and kids didn't have much else to read that was constantly new.There were very few tv channels, no internet, and fewer new movies. If a kid wanted new ideas, stories, heroes, or just something to relieve the boredom, comics were just about the only choice. For me though they were a good choice. My reading improved very quickly, my vocabulary and spelling were well above my grade level. Although I recognized that the science was phony, it was my first real exposure to the concept of science. Today kids get these things from a variety of media and the problem is exactly the reverse in that kids have too much media to deal with and there is no practical way to ensure that kids get the worthwhile stuff. Comics don't do for modern kids what they used to. To draw in new kids comics need to be easily accessable and affordable to compete with the vast amounts of cheap and even free media that now compete for kids attention.

[MyPokerShirt]

Ask yourself this, if one guy buys a comic, an then scans it online and makes it avaluable on his web page, would you still buy that comic in the store?:confused: all you have to type is "dcp" into any torrent search and you can download thousands of comics. it's NOT THE SAME.

on your other points there are some young teenagers on this very board. do they count as kids. i think the industry is better than its been in 10 years so there's not much to complain about

[MyPokerShirt]

actually, Marvel Adventures Spider-Man is Marvel's #1 subscription book

but isnt that just because very few people subscribe through marvel?

[Elijya]

while it's true less people subscribe to comics than buy them through other means, it can still be a decent chunk of a books sales, and for a title like Marvel Adventures, can raise their circulation by up to 50%

Marvel also distributes these books directly and therefore sees more profit from them, since there are no middlemen like Diamond and comicbook stores who need to take their cut

[ang_hulk]

no they dont.They are a annoying in comic shops to

[Elijya]

wow, that's a new one "Kids SHOULDn'T read comics"

you do realize that if you don't get at least some kids to read comics, there won't be ANY comics 20 years from now?

[Darthphere]

wow, that's a new one "Kids SHOULDn'T read comics"

you do realize that if you don't get at least some kids to read comics, there won't be ANY comics 20 years from now?


Wait, you mean at some point between now and I reach the age of 40 im going to stop buying comics.:( :( :( :(

[Elijya]

if not you, other people will stop, and the number of readers will dwindle until it's not financially feasible to continue the market

[toya thegr8]

I'm 17, dunno if that's still considered being a "child", but when I trudge into the comicbook store they youngn's are buying children comics or books. Only a few pick up stuff like Civil War. I dunno if rating have anything to do with it.

[Elijya]

it doesn't much matter if the youngins pick up Civil War or other mainstream books now, what's important is that they'll grow up to start reading the mainstream if they start now

[OtepApe]

It's only on a rare occasion I will see a kid buy a comic of some kind, and usually only because there parents are already interested in them.

My boss (who knows I read comics) is always telling me about how his kids are crazy about all things Spidey but don't read the comics. I tell him about the stuff aimed at younger children and he actually persues some kind of interest in the,. Whether he buys them or not, I don't know. But unless they are a family member of some kind who are already interested in comics, kids don't really pursue an active interest in them, which is a shame.

[SonOfCthulhu]

you do realize that if you don't get at least some kids to read comics, there won't be ANY comics 20 years from now?

I disagree with this statement. This is not smoking we are talking about. If kids don't read them when they are 8-14 it doesn't mean they can't get turned on to them when they are in their later teens to early 20's. Remember, that's when the books will suddenly seem to be relevant to them because that's how they are being marketed.

Plus there are other avenues to hook them on the heroes now. Movies being made from comics are pulling in new readers, and not just for the superhero books.

[MyPokerShirt]

independent books are aimed at adults. adults get into those they get into, say Icon or Max line. nect thing you know theyre onto Squadron Supreme, then New Avengers. then before you know it you have a 30year old grown man crying over his backissue of The Boy Who Collected Spider-Man, which is on top of a pull-list including Power Pack and Runaways... well, maybe not Power Pack, but you get the point.
adults read comics.

[toya thegr8]

Plus superhero television shows has taken away some of the would-be revenue and/or interest in comicbooks. Ironically, it was the opposite for me.

[SonOfCthulhu]

Plus superhero television shows has taken away some of the would-be revenue and/or interest in comicbooks. Ironically, it was the opposite for me.

I think it's the opposite for quite a few future collectors. Take JLU or the Teen Titans, for instance. It introduces them to characters they wouldn't normally know about in their preteens. When they get thier first job and have spending money (plus little in the way of bills to spend it on), this "seed" introduction can sprout into them becoming comic collectors.

[toya thegr8]

I think it's the opposite for quite a few future collectors. Take JLU or the Teen Titans, for instance. It introduces them to characters they wouldn't normally know about in their preteens. When they get thier first job and have spending money (plus little in the way of bills to spend it on), this "seed" introduction can sprout into them becoming comic collectors.

I won't dispute that, since that was how it was for me.

[Darthphere]

I know, when I have kids, im going to try to get them into comics, not like force them to, if they dont like 'em hey whatever.

[X-Punisher]

Shouldn't he want to be Nightwing?

JESUS MAN WHY ARE YOU RUSHING THE KID?!

[Anubis]

Reading Nightwing? The current Nightwing book? Wouldn't that be punishing the kid? :)

Anyway, I just recently got a couple of my co workers grand children hooked on comics. My supervisor enjoys them too, but she doesn't by them herself, she just reads what I have. Loves Cable/Deadpool, and UFF. But she's pushin 60, so I guess she doesn't count. But, the kids are reading it. I've passed on the addiction.

[ang_hulk]

it doesn't much matter if the youngins pick up Civil War or other mainstream books now, what's important is that they'll grow up to start reading the mainstream if they start now



WHOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! not only do i stand corrected-I stand angry with myself for being so bitter,after all i guess in some way I was that kid.....all those years ago saying "WOW she hulk used to look alot like hulk" and "heres my list,do you have any of those" as I handed him my list that id filled out with terrible hand writing.I feel bad now knowing my hulk collection grew because of one comic and although i bought it at waldens it was a comicbook no less and comic shops were dreamlands in the late 80's early 90's and i loved just grabbing books out of the many cases just because hulk or she hulk was on them.hummm,i gotta wonder if thats still happening.I mean,I loved the cartoons but i didnt read any comics at that time,now reading comics i prefer them.sadly back then reading class was a alot more complex to and childrens books didnt all involve cybernetic frogs.

[Elijya]

I disagree with this statement. This is not smoking we are talking about. If kids don't read them when they are 8-14 it doesn't mean they can't get turned on to them when they are in their later teens to early 20's. Remember, that's when the books will suddenly seem to be relevant to them because that's how they are being marketed.

no it doesn', but it helps

and you're not required to start smoking between 8-14 to smoke later in life, eitehr

[Orko Is King]

When I used to go to a comic shop, kids would only buy Simpsons books for some reason.