Retrodude wrote:
You seem to have missed the entire point of the article. First he says this: "we should be clear that when we say “comics aren’t just for kids,” what we really mean is that superhero comics aren’t just for kids, but that’s still a fact, too. If anything, the challenge is to find superhero comics that are appropriate for children."
No I didn't. I took it a different way, a way that is supported in bold. The characters were created for kids but have grown with those kids and are not necessarily appropriate for the next generation of children.
Retrodude wrote:
But then he goes on to question whether that's even true or if the very idea is a mass delusion comic book fans use to justify being passionate something that's obviously childish: "What if it’s meant for our children and we’ve just been too selfish to pass it down? What if our insistence on darker, more “mature” superhero stories is freaking ridiculous and everybody knows it but us? What if the reason that the Superheroes Are for Kids attitude won’t die is because it’s actually right?"
Again, it states that the comics are written for
adults who don't want to let go of their childhood. Similar to retro gaming.
I do not think the author said that comic are or are not for kids, but instead he asked questions that make us think deeper about the statement. A question, or series of questions, without an answer is just that - a series questions. For example; he asks
"What if it’s meant for our children and we’ve just been too selfish to pass it down?" Which I take to mean that we, the adults, have not passed them down and are writing them to entertain us adults not kids.
The linked article is more to raise questions and to think about the idea and form an opinion, it is not a factual end all document.
Retrodude wrote:
Also, WTF? "Comics aren't written for kids but the characters are"? That statement makes absolutely no sense.
It does make sense. Take Vanellope Von Schweetz, the character was created for kids. Originally the character did things that were appropriate for kids to watch. A new writer comes along and decides to mash the character up with the bride from Kill Bill. Your telling me that because it is a character originally written for kids can not be written in a way that is not appropriate for kids.
Maybe my wording wasn't the best, so I will try again: Batman/Superman/etc, the characters, was created for teens and now the character is being written for an adult audience; Comics are not written for kids but the characters were created for kids.
A couple of well repected people from within the comic industry commented on the article that support my poorly worded original statement:
I’d argue that the superhero was conceived and primarily used as a young-readers’ genre, but that doesn’t mean it has to be - Kurt Busiek
First, we should separate “superhero” from “comics.” The MEDIUM is not necessarily for kids. But superheroes as a genre? Yes. Too many fans actually make this error who should know better. -John Roberson
Retrodude wrote:All due respect, this is why I always say the only thing wrong with comics is the fans.
You really are not respecting my opinion when you tell me that I am part of group considered "the only thing wrong with comics".
These are just our opinions. You have yours; and I disagree with it. I have mine; and you disagree with it. Sometimes listening and not automatically thinking some with an opposite opinion is wrong, an elitist or stupid will keep the discussion going instead of turning into an off-topic argument.
The fact that those running DC Comics have stated their target audience is males age 18-34 is enough proof enough to me that today's comic
books are not written
primarily for kids (12 and under). I know you think that
"to claim that the actual intended audience really isn't the intended audience is laughable at best and downright idiotic at worst" but the original argument stemmed from the statement
"Most mainstream comics are aimed at adult males". Again, I quote someone in the industry who knows more than me (since I am a fan and am the only thing wrong with comics)
We’ve seen no evidence that DC markets its comics, even the ones directed to them, to kids at all. In fact, DC Executive Vice President John Rood told ICv2 that its ads for the New 52 were directed at adults. “Our buying demo was adults 18-34,” he said (see “Inside the New 52”).
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/21953.html
which gives an answer to the original argument of if "Most mainstream comics are aimed at adult males" or not.
