Two weeks ago I spent some time with a few friends and their children. A three year old was wearing a Justice League shirt and I asked him which heroes he knew. Superman and Batman were the obvious answers, but he also seemed to have an affinity for the Green Lantern and Flash. I spent the next hour looking up pictures of various superheroes from Marvel and DC on the internet (safe search on). I was surprised at Link’s ability to recognize the vital points of the characters, regardless of artist or style. Claws on the hands clearly belong to Wolverine. The “S” emblem and spit curl were also clear. He didn’t quite grasp the concepts of Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne, but the basics had already been installed. His mother, whom I’ve known for over 15 years, is not a comics fan. His dad, while a gamer, is not an avid comics reader. So where did he gain his interest in these characters? More importantly, how can I encourage a toddler to turn this into a lifelong obsession with all things geek? The obvious answer is Free Comic Book Day.
Unfortunately, I’m not as avid a comic reader as I once was. My geek specialties are video games and Star Wars. Also unfortunate is that Link would be camping with his family in the sand dunes south of Salt Lake City on the first Saturday of May. Considering my in-laws were in town celebrating wife-bot’s college graduation, I wasn’t even sure I’d make it to a comic shop. As it turns out, I went to the gun range with my wife’s stepfather and had some time to kill after shooting poorly. We went to Dr. Volt’s. Ron certainly got a kick out of seeing a Turok comic on the shelf. He read the book as a child. Had I noticed his interest I certainly would have bought the issue for him, but he didn’t mention it until we had left. I could have not only hooked a child on comics but also reignited the passion of a retired barber as well.
My goal at the shop was clear. Regardless of how many books piqued my interest, I needed to get the ones that I would enjoy reading while I screened them for a three year old boy. After I picked up an Ender’s Game hardcover and had it signed by Jake Black for my wife, I took a hard look at the table. In my mind, Super Hero Squad was going to be the way to go. I know Marvel, and I know the series is a good place for kids. That plan didn’t work. Instead, I picked up a combo issue from Dark Horse, Star Wars and Avatar; The Mighty Fighting Avengers from Marvel; and the DC combo of Young Justice and Batman The Brave and the Bold. For good measure I also purchased Batman The Brave and the Bold: Through the Looking Glass (for Link) and Fear Itself Spider-Man #1 of 3 (for me).
I am not a parent. As such, I clearly have the best advice for raising children (your sarcasm detector should be spiking right now). Before I pass a comic off to a three year old boy, regardless of its “All Ages” descriptor, I’m reading it myself. This is not completely altruistic. I like comics too, even if I don’t read them as often as I’d like.
To start, I went for the Dark Horse issue. I’m aware of Avatar, but that’s all. The stories were fun and I found myself enjoying the characters despite knowing nothing about them or the universe they inhabit. The art was fun and expressive, it’s clearly designed just for my purpose, drawing in an impressionable child. I liked the issue more than Link will for now, but his older brother (8-10 years) will probably get the most enjoyment of it.
The other side of that split issue features Savage Opress from The Clone Wars. Personally, I’m disappointed. The art was not what I expected and the story is incredibly weak. Will it make a kid happy? Probably, but even my nephews that love the Lucas’ universe without my intervention would likely be disappointed. It’s a good thing I wanted to focus on superheroes I guess. Notably, of all four “kids” books I picked up, this is the only one I that made me wonder if I should give it to a three year old. One panel features a relatively graphic rendition of a Hutt being “whuk”ed into sludge with an axe. In our modern media this isn’t that bad, but I’ve discouraged parents from showing Revenge of the Sith to eight year olds.
Next up was Captain America and Thor in The Mighty Fighting Avengers. One word, brilliant. If you’re three years old you don’t care about continuity and you certainly don’t care about inaccuracies in Arthurian folklore. If you’re 30 and want a fun comic book you don’t care either. This is classic Cap from WWII, modern Thor, the Holy Grail, and Merlin creating a very fun story. You get dragons, horses, and a guy wrapped up in the American flag throwing a shield. My hat goes off to Chris Samnee, with a distinct nod to Matthew Wilson. Samnee has created the most fun renditions of these two iconic characters that I have personally read, and Wilson’s coloring seals the deal. Between Link and I, this one is clearly going to be most loved by me. But the kid will find plenty to enjoy in the mash-up of superheroes and fairy tales.
The last free book I grabbed comes from DC. Unlike Marvel’s outing, I think Link will like this one more than a 30-year old ‘bot. That’s not to say there isn’t something for us older fans. I love the Young Justice cartoon, but I can’t help but want more adult themes. What can I say? Theoretically I’m an adult. The younger team’s portion of the issue reads very much like an episode of the cartoon. It may even have a TV analog, I’m a few weeks behind on the show. Oddly, there are some thematic parallels to the only adult book I bought. Both the Spider-Man story and this one express the complications of overpowering emotion. At least, that’s what I got from it. I wonder how a toddler will react to Kid Flash’s debilitating lack of confidence. I think this story is the most “all ages” of the lot. Link will like it because of the simplistic fun. A teenager will enjoy the complication of self-doubt that even heroic versions of themselves feel. “Adults” like myself will enjoy a self-contained adventure story with some fun characters that reads like a Saturday morning cartoon.
The second half seems a little listless. It’s in an “all ages” comic, so there’s nothing thematically or graphically adult about it, but there’s also nothing to recommend itself to children. There is some adventure with Batman and the Flash thumping on a few pyromaniacs. But the gist of the tale is the tongue in cheek humor and gossip-mongering of the elite. This is clearly designed with an older crowd in mind. Link probably won’t care for the “important” parts of the story and will just look at the fighting pictures. Even his older brother probably won’t care for Alfred’s chiding reprimand of the socialites. A few teenagers will get it and enjoy it. Most adults will recognize the theme, but won’t get any independent value from the book. Maybe it will be good for an adult to find something slightly enjoyable while reading it to their children that enjoy something else about it? In that way, this could be the best of the lot, simply because it might encourage a parent to read comics to their children.
Theorizing that if Link enjoyed that last book that he might want more Batman and Flash, I also bought him a copy of Batman The Brave and the Bold: Through the Looking Glass (March 2011). I liked it, especially the fourth wall bending moments where they discuss the source material. Is Link going to understand the existence of Jay Garrick? Is he going to figure out that the original Flash is a good guy, even though Batman beats him up? Doubtful. Will he enjoy Humpty Dumpty and seeing the world’s greatest detective riding the Jabberwock? Absolutely. Ultimately, I’d feel better if I had gotten this comic for free and paid for the other DC issue, but that’s sort of a moot point. It still reads like a cartoon episode and that means kids and adults may find something they like about it. In fact, between this one and the free one, I’m thinking I may need to start watching this cartoon. Maybe they’re all like that, with fun adventure for the kids and intelligent nods to the adults watching it with them.
My final purchase was Fear Itself: Spider-Man #1 of 3. Link is not getting this one for multiple reasons. Being overly graphic or violent is actually not one of those reasons. Thematically, it’s very adult but so far over his head it would be irrelevant. Having him read it five years down the road may scar him for life though. Mainly he’s not getting it because this is possibly the best Spider-Man comic I have ever read. Keep in mind that I haven’t read any comics regularly, especially Spider-Man, in almost twenty years. I actually passed this to my wife to read the first few pages right after I had. She stole it outright and finished the whole book before I did, while I could only look on as she gasped out loud multiple times. I have only the barest sense of what’s happening in Marvel’s latest crossover, but I will definitely be finishing Spidey’s arc in teh next volumes, making special trips across the valley to Dr. Volt’s just to pick it up.
Odd. I went there to hook a child into the geek drug, only to find myself craving more. My plan was also just to hand the comics off to Link’s mom. But now I’m thinking I’d like to read them with him the first time. Maybe that will tide me over until next month when I can follow up with Spider-Man’s Fear Itself story.
Did you get anything from Free Comic Book Day? What did I miss? What was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!