The New52, Ultimate Spidey and all ages comics

[jdudley]

How do you guys feel about the state of all ages comics? Is the DC relaunch excitement sustainable if very few of the new readers are kids?

In my opinion, the new Ultimate Spider-man has been a masters class in how to write an all-ages superhero book to appeal to a whole new readership while also exciting existing readers.
Meanwhile, the New52 has presented approximately a dozen awesome new series; however, none of these great new titles has been all ages friendly, in my opinion. Should DC have tried to include some legit all ages titles in the New52? I think this might be the one major complaint of the new52, as I would actually love to give some comics to my brides and nephews but none of the new52 I've read have seemed appropriate.

[BobBretall]

You ask 2 distinct questions:

Meanwhile, the New52 has presented approximately a dozen awesome new series; however, none of these great new titles has been all ages friendly, in my opinion.

You are correct.  None of the New52 are all ages, but DC did not set out to create all ages books, so this is not them missing the mark on execution vs. intent.

However, that leads to your second question:

Should DC have tried to include some legit all ages titles in the New52? I think this might be the one major complaint of the new52, as I would actually love to give some comics to my brides and nephews but none of the new52 I've read have seemed appropriate.

    I'm not sure.  Personally, unless the entire line is going to be all-ages, I'm not keen on there being some titles appropriate for younger kids and then having the "shared universe" aspect potentially leading them into books that are not age appropriate.   Using your Ultimate Spidey as an example, you get them liking that and then they stumble into a radically inappropriate issue of Ultimates because it is in the same shared universe & has a compatible cover-dressing.

    I'd like to see DC create some real all ages books, meaning comics for young & old.   While the Cartoon series books & Tiny Titans can be enjoyed by adults, I really think those are kid books, not all ages.

    Should some New 52 books have been all ages?   I'm going with "no".

    But I'd like to see them come up with a new line of 4-6 all-ages books targeted at growing new younger readers while not feeling like "kids books".

    If we're talking about things they should have done different in the New52, I'd rather DC created some books that could be enjoyed as "done in 1" issues instead of having every single book read like Chapter 1 of a larger story and as a result, having them mostly feel incomplete.   Not every book had to be "done in 1" but it would have been nice to see 20% of them telling self contained stories.

[jdudley]

Should all ages books the main goal? No. However, writers can make fantastic stories that are accessible for all age groups. All I mean to say is that, in my opinion, the New52's one unfortunate flaw has been the lack of such quality all-ages accessible titles.
And I brought up the new Ultimate Spidey simply as an example of how creators can really make something for all age groups. Hard to give a marvel title credit without sounding snarky but I feel that USM really is a fantastic example of what I hoped to see with some of the New52 titles. That being said, I really am extremely pleased with many of the New52 titles—I just haven't found any that I will share with my nieces or nephews, which I was hoping too (my nephew LOVED USM by the way! Which was awesome to see, he keeps asking me when the next issue comes out)

[BobBretall]

And I brought up the new Ultimate Spidey simply as an example of how creators can really make something for all age groups. Hard to give a marvel title credit without sounding snarky but I feel that USM really is a fantastic example of what I hoped to see with some of the New52 titles. That being said, I really am extremely pleased with many of the New52 titles—I just haven't found any that I will share with my nieces or nephews, which I was hoping too (my nephew LOVED USM by the way! Which was awesome to see, he keeps asking me when the next issue comes out)

I'm glad that you feel USM is an all-ages book so far, but I'm pretty sure it's not officially an all-ages title.   Maybe I missed some statement of intent on this from Marvel/Bendis.   In fact, the rating printed on the cover is T+, so if I had to put money on it, I'd say that within a year or so it's going to have something in it's pages that will make a 7-year old's hair stand on end.

[elemental]

For me this is a case that we don't necessarily need more specific all ages books on the Market but more comics should be all ages. What I mean by this is that there doesn't need to be more comics aimed at kids but that we should have more main stream books that are readable by a younger audience. I agree that so far the new ultimate spiderman does this quite well that's not to say it will continue like this

[jdudley]

"all ages" might not be the right term but rather, books appropriate for 10 and up might be Closer to what I think USM (as an example) is accomplishing what the new52 titles have not. Just a missed opportunity, I think. Providing such books was clearly not there intent, i guess I'm just saying that I wish it had been cause talented creators are certainly capable of producing quality work for broader age groups.

[glwarm76]

In a few months, I predict DC will streamline and relaunch its all-ages/Kid friendly titles into a single line of titles. Most likely not 52 more titles but around 10-15 titles that include titles for the Young Justice and GL animated shows and some other similar titles. Every title in the 52 relaunch was aimed at readers at least in high school and I cannot imagine DC would completely ignore young readers, so DC will likely address young readers as a part of separate initiative.

[BobBretall]

For me this is a case that we don't necessarily need more specific all ages books on the Market but more comics should be all ages. What I mean by this is that there doesn't need to be more comics aimed at kids but that we should have more main stream books that are readable by a younger audience.

When I say "All Ages" this is what I mean.   "All Ages" has become a euphemism for targeted at kids, but should be something that can be enjoyed by everyone.   For example, EVERY SINGLE Marvel comic published in the 1970s when I started reading comics.

Today, one of the best all ages titles on the market is Atomic Robo:
http://www.atomic-robo.com/2011/09/30/comics-should-be-for-everyone/

[InspectorSpacetime]

the more we get to digital eclipsing the direct market i think will see a huge jump in kids comics. you won't have lcs owners controlling inventory and parents wont have to leave their house and go out of their way to get kids into comics. hopefully the stuff already aimed at kids will surge and the mega corps will rush to fill the need.

[Ez Sapien]

An interesting topic indeed.

My son is a 14 year old comic reader and is loving the new DC output.  (yes including the violent stuff!)

He did a review of the new Teen Titans comic.  Have a read.  it always gives me a little insight in to what the kids think.

http://neverironanything.blogspot.com/2011/10/boy-wonder-reviews-teen-titans-1.html

[glwarm76]

An interesting topic indeed.

My son is a 14 year old comic reader and is loving the new DC output.  (yes including the violent stuff!)

He did a review of the new Teen Titans comic.  Have a read.  it always gives me a little insight in to what the kids think.

http://neverironanything.blogspot.com/2011/10/boy-wonder-reviews-teen-titans-1.html

Thanks for the incite. I find it interesting that so many of us are saying there isn't enough all ages comics or that a certain comic is or is not appropriate, when we aren't among that group or have first hand accounts of readers in that age group.

[Ez Sapien]

Thanks for the incite. I find it interesting that so many of us are saying there isn't enough all ages comics or that a certain comic is or is not appropriate, when we aren't among that group or have first hand accounts of readers in that age group.

Our pleasure.  My son is very enthusiastic about comics (yet plays computer games too).  He loves anything Nightwing or Robin and is a huge Deadpool fan. 

He has also just read Uncanny X-Force all in one sitting yesterday and gets it totally.  It has also been added to his pull list now (it is also on mine).

However I think the new 52 has engaged him and he looks forward to seeing what will happen in each new week of it.  So from that point of view DC have done well as far as he is concerned (he loves the idea of the Hooded Woman and is constantly speculating on what that might be about).
 

[Jordan]

All ages seems, to me, to be unrealistic for the most part.  7-year old me and 14-year old me read very different things, as does current 25-year old me.  Except for Thor the Mighty Avenger, I can't think of many comics that I would have wanted to read at just about every age.  

[jonny the homicidal drummer]

I agree they should have, but didn't so that sucks for them

USM is a good example yet it is rated T+ -figure that out
like people have said its up to the parent either way but this makes it harder, no doubt

[BobBretall]

USM is a good example yet it is rated T+ -figure that out
like people have said its up to the parent either way but this makes it harder, no doubt

I don't think the new USM should be the poster child for all-ages comics based on 1 issue.

It's probably rated T+ for a reason.....  at some point there will be some more edgy content in there.

[jonny the homicidal drummer]

I don't think the new USM should be the poster child for all-ages comics based on 1 issue.

It's probably rated T+ for a reason.....  at some point there will be some more edgy content in there.

I agree...something "mature" will come, but maybe it shouldn't
issue 1 and 2 were really good and felt all ages, no need for sex, extreme violence or drugs in the next issues