Why kids quit comics

[TheCorpulent1]

I saw a bunch of high school kids in my comic shop on Free Comic Book Day last weekend. I know it runs counter to the theme of this thread, but I kind of hated them. They had the whole faux-punk/goth thing going on and they were just standing in front of the trades for like forever. Finally, I got tired of politely waiting for them to shuffle along and just walked in front of them, grabbed my Locke & Key hardcover, and left.

But I'm especially bitter for my age. I did think the concept of their being there was nice, if that counts.

 

[Drakon]

It's even better if they were there to actually read the comics, not just get free crap or looking for rolling papers.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, they were actually buying comics. That's why they were standing in front of the trades section so long. One dude was waiting for another dude to pick his trade so that the first dude could then pick another trade that was different. Or something. I kind of tuned them out after a little while. I mean, I'm indecisive myself but damn.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I saw a bunch of high school kids in my comic shop on Free Comic Book Day last weekend. I know it runs counter to the theme of this thread, but I kind of hated them. They had the whole faux-punk/goth thing going on and they were just standing in front of the trades for like forever. Finally, I got tired of politely waiting for them to shuffle along and just walked in front of them, grabbed my Locke & Key hardcover, and left.

But I'm especially bitter for my age. I did think the concept of their being there was nice, if that counts.

Heh, I had a situation similar to that at my local shop during FCBD. I was sitting there chatting with other regulars who are friends and there was those groups who came in. Had the gothic-y/punk-y group who came in, and some preppy people, and some super gaming nerds. They mostly came for the free stuff. The preppy group were the worst. They were so damn loud and were going through making fun of the toys and trades. Store owner had to actually ask them to leave it got so bad.

I will say one thing did happen that pretty cool. One of the gothic/punk things saw the newest Swamp Thing HC by Alan Moore and actually bought it. He even said that Swamp Thing was the 'The absolute **** and so worth 30 d*cks' when his friend questioned him on the price (Yeah, he really said d*cks I guess that meant dollars).

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Man, that gothic/punk kid's ahead of me. I still haven't read the Moore Swamp Thing comics myself.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Same here. That was actually the second goth-y person I'm seen buy that. Not sure if I should think that's cool or be sickened by it

 

[TheCorpulent1]

More people buying comics, for whatever reason, is cool.

 

[trodge]

I'm 32 and most times when I go into my Local Shop there is nobody else in there and when there are people in there, it's mostly kids sitting at a table playing a card game of some variety. Depending on how long I spend in there on a Wednesday I might see 1 or 2 people come in and they're my age or a bit older. Never younger.

As for the digital thing, I've got some comics in digital form. For whatever reason I can't get into them. Something about holding the comic while laying on the couch reading it makes it that much better for me. Comics and the Sunday paper should never go all digital in my opinion.

 

[C. Lee]

When I was a kid....every quick food mart, grocery store, pharmacy, etc....had a spinning rack of comics. The town I live in is a decent size place (populace 20,000 or so)....and there is only one store on town that regularily has comics (Krogers supermarket) and they only carry a small amount.....if you want comic books, you have to drive up to Lexington, the big city down the road.

 

[chamber-music]

Then there's yet another factor; the collective entity I affectionately refer to as Mothers Of America. These are the obsessive, overprotective parents who cry out to the government & the media every time their kids are exposed to-or potentially exposed to-something that they deem inappropriate. Now realistically, a large portion of MOA is being ridiculous. They go nuts over something their kid sees on TV but pay no attention to who he/she hangs out with. They get pissed if somebody swears in a movie, but they'll say 10 worse things in the car on the way home. And they go nuts over something like the violent content of a comic book but let their kids play Mortal Kombat all day long. Nevertheless, they are out there. And they can hurt the industry simply by throwing the baby out with the bathwater. They might see Wolverine stab somebody one time & ban all comics & related materials from their home. This, too, I believe contributes to the lack of young readers.

Dude you are so on the money on what you said. Those parents that who try to shove their responsibility for what their kids see or do on everyone else. Instead of sitting down with their kids and talking about things like swearing of violence they they blame whoever made the content they allowed their kids to see.

 

[chamber-music]

My local comic store is basically a barn down an back treet with no windows.

 

[Chris Wallace]

Dude you are so on the money on what you said. Those parents that who try to shove their responsibility for what their kids see or do on everyone else. Instead of sitting down with their kids and talking about things like swearing of violence they they blame whoever made the content they allowed their kids to see.

And you know who suffers for it? Fans do! MOA is largely responsible for every evil that censorship (read: the "dumbing down" in order to make these media more "kid-friendly") has inflicted upon us, from the restrictions of the Comics Code to the campy Schumacher/Batman movies & the ludicrous TMNT II. Much of this stuff really isn't meant for kids-at least not the impressionable ones whose parents never taught them the difference between fantasy & reality.
I think another factor that's steering young folks away from comics is the fact that they are considered by the world at large to be a "juvenile" medium. I know that may not sound logical, but think about it; kids are under more pressure than ever to grow up too fast. They're cursing younger & younger, drinking younger & younger, becoming sexually active younger & younger. 13-year-olds are trying more & more to be viewed as adults. It's hard to do that while wearing an X-Men t-shirt & clutching a copy of The Flash. Think how hard it is on us adults. I know I'm not alone here; you meet a girl & things start going well-watch how her opinion of you changes when she finds out you're a rabid comic book fan. (And that's IF she doesn't cut you loose immediately.)Nevermind the fact that the guy she takes seriously is probably just as devoted to sports as you are to superheroes. It's still the perception that we fight against daily.

 

[SoulManX]

And you know who suffers for it? Fans do! MOA is largely responsible for every evil that censorship (read: the "dumbing down" in order to make these media more "kid-friendly") has inflicted upon us, from the restrictions of the Comics Code to the campy Schumacher/Batman movies & the ludicrous TMNT II. Much of this stuff really isn't meant for kids-at least not the impressionable ones whose parents never taught them the difference between fantasy & reality.
I think another factor that's steering young folks away from comics is the fact that they are considered by the world at large to be a "juvenile" medium. I know that may not sound logical, but think about it; kids are under more pressure than ever to grow up too fast. They're cursing younger & younger, drinking younger & younger, becoming sexually active younger & younger. 13-year-olds are trying more & more to be viewed as adults. It's hard to do that while wearing an X-Men t-shirt & clutching a copy of The Flash. Think how hard it is on us adults. I know I'm not alone here; you meet a girl & things start going well-watch how her opinion of you changes when she finds out you're a rabid comic book fan. (And that's IF she doesn't cut you loose immediately.)Nevermind the fact that the guy she takes seriously is probably just as devoted to sports as you are to superheroes. It's still the perception that we fight against daily.

HENCE why Japan is ahead of us...we *****fy our children

 

[Chris Wallace]

HENCE why Japan is ahead of us...we *****fy our children

Clarify that, please?

 

[SoulManX]

Clarify that, please?

Comics tv game shows etc have loads of sex and violence yet thier kids seem to do ok...we on the other try to censor way to much

 

[RogueDK]

As do most longtime fans, I would imagine. There's just something about holding it in your hands. Especially in light of technology trying to take everything else away from us.

My sentiments exactly.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Comics tv game shows etc have loads of sex and violence yet thier kids seem to do ok...we on the other try to censor way to much

I agree with that. I don't think kids need to be watching hardcore porn or anything, but I think the US tries to bowdlerize way too much.

 

[SoulManX]

I agree with that. I don't think kids need to be watching hardcore porn or anything, but I think the US tries to bowdlerize way too much.

You know the funny thing is when parents where kids they watch crap that now they dont want their kids to watch. Parents need to wake the hell up

 

[RogueDK]

You know the funny thing is when parents where kids they watch crap that now they dont want their kids to watch. Parents need to wake the hell up

Clearly you're generalizing.

 

[simplysuperhero]

My son is 6 1/2 years old. He loves being read to and is starting to read himself. He likes superheroes. Comics seem like a natural progression for him but it's new to him. The graphics are distracting. We picked up a comic book for him on Free Comic Book Day but he was so caught up in the images that he didn't bother reading the comic so I read it to him. I'm sure he would like comics a lot more if they had easier vocabulary.

All that comic book publishers have to do is put out comics that Appeal to young kids that are easy to read and they'll be ready. I know it's a matter of time before my son starts reading them and I will try to encourage him to do so.

While videos are appealing for him, he knows it's not everything. I'd prefer to show him new things on the screen--that is, the tv via netflix: Batman 60s episodes, Monkees, 3 Stooges, Little Rascals, Jetsons, Flinstones. You get the idea.

 

[Drakon]

My son is 6 1/2 years old. He loves being read to and is starting to read himself. He likes superheroes. Comics seem like a natural progression for him but it's new to him. The graphics are distracting. We picked up a comic book for him on Free Comic Book Day but he was so caught up in the images that he didn't bother reading the comic so I read it to him. I'm sure he would like comics a lot more if they had easier vocabulary.

All that comic book publishers have to do is put out comics that Appeal to young kids that are easy to read and they'll be ready. I know it's a matter of time before my son starts reading them and I will try to encourage him to do so.

I completely agree with you, but I want to counter with this: If that happens, then I know that for the most part, those of us who are adults are going to resent the decision because it will seem "kiddy". Look at all the people who won't play the Wii because it's more "family oriented". Granted, I think we're better off without that kind of person, but you catch my drift.

While videos are appealing for him, he knows it's not everything. I'd prefer to show him new things on the screen--that is, the tv via netflix: Batman 60s episodes, Monkees, 3 Stooges, Little Rascals, Jetsons, Flinstones. You get the idea.

Count Duckula?

 

[simplysuperhero]

I do catch your drift.

Hard to believe comic book publishers haven't created introductory comic books to hook kids in that would not alienate its current adult readership.

 

[SoulManX]

Clearly you're generalizing.

Prove me wrong

 

[Chris Wallace]

My sentiments exactly.

I think there is definitely a market for digital comics, but guys like you & me-we will never convert unless we had no choice.
And SoulMan & Corp-so you do see where MOA is (or at least could be) costing the industry a lot of young readers?

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I don't know what "MOA" stands for.