I forget if it was here, or in a response at someone else’s blog, but I claimed that there wasn’t a panel for Johnny DC. Someone at Comic Book Resources yesterday decided to prove me wrong.
However, there wasn’t a whole lot of news. From the article, it sounds more like a push for the all-ages line, which frankly are a lot more fun to read than the DCU proper. However, I did want to say something about it.
“How many people are here because they are already fans of comics for all ages?” (Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures writer Landry) Walker asked the audience, to which almost everyone raised their hands. “What we need everyone here to do is put those comics in the hands of people who wouldn’t normally raise their hands when asked that question.”
(Johnny DC line editor Jann) Jones said the all-ages line is an integral part of DC because it gets young readers caring about and interested in the characters, which hopefully leads those fans to start exploring some of DC’s other titles’ as they get older and their tastes mature. “Not a lot of kids are going into comic book stores nowadays,” Jones said. “So it really is up to adults to put comics in the hands of children.”
I think there’s more DC could do on that end. Getting these books to areas that kids do go, such as toy stores, the kids area at bookstores like Barnes and Noble, or the supermarkets (where I can easily find Archie’s offerings like Sonic the Hedgehog, but the only Supergirl I can find is the current DCU Proper series, which is hardly kid friendly and one assumes the target audience do go to comic stores) might be a good idea. Perhaps working with Toys R Us or Wal-Mart during Free Comic Book Day, as well as co-ordinating with local comic stores, could be another way. I really don’t see any advertisements for FCBD anywhere but on the windows of comic shops. Nothing in the papers, on TV or the radio, or anything like that.
“For way too many years we had no kids comics at all because everybody was busy trying to create comics for grownups,” (DC Super Friends scribe Sholly) Fisch said.
Jones called DC’s all-ages books “palette cleansers” because they aren’t laden down with years and years’ worth of continuity, but instead told standalone stories that are “fun and you can just laugh at and read and enjoy.”
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At the same time, Jones said, older fans seem to gravitate to the humor and sense of fun in the all-ages titles. “We get so many people coming up to us and thanking us for doing these books. People do want that levity. They want to laugh. They want to see that Beast Boy puppy.”
I love a good serious adventure story as much as the next guy, but the current DCU is lacking in humor, a bit of fun, and takes itself way too seriously. The current back-sliding timeline, and ramped up vulgarity doesn’t help it any. In between those two statements, however, is another good point.
“There need to be good comics for kids,” Jones continued. “There’s something wrong with the mentality where it needs to be dumbed-down and just silly.”
This goes for kids cartoons as well. Maturity is in the writing, not the content. A lot of the comics and shows labeled “mature audiences” often have rather immature writing, one-note characters, and are just pushing the envelope for the sake of pushing the envelope, breaking social taboos to get ratings. The theory that bad press is better than no press at all is really just hiding your own failures and “dumbing down” your own skills with a defeatist attitude. That’s kind of the opposite of success.
It doesn’t help that these same movies, games, shows, and comics tend to not sell very well. Sales for DC and Marvel are down, and it’s not just the economy. G and PG rated movies do far better numbers than R movies, and it’s not the fault of the Internet that viewership on the networks are down. If your going to try and imitate the success of The Sopranos, a show I’m very much not in favor of, try figuring out how HBO got so many ratings and awards. Reality check: it’s not because they get to curse, show nudity, and get as bloody violent as they want to. (I’m not sure HBO gets it, either, but all the powers that be like to take the easy way out. That’s the dirty little secret of the recent anime boom, as well.)
A number of fans asked if there were any plans to expand the all-ages line anytime soon. Jones said that she would certainly like to – and that she had a wish list of what characters she would like to get the all-ages treatment next – but that it all depends on time, as she has plenty of other responsibilities at DC that keep her pretty busy and she can’t devote the bulk of her time to editing the all-ages line, despite how much she enjoys doing so.
“I would love to expand the line, I really would,” Jones said. ‘It’s something that we want to invest in. Because we think it’s really important to make you guys fall in love with them now, so that you are invested in them.”
I hope they do it. I would love to be able to read Firestorm again, one of my favorite DC comics back in the day. The new series did nothing for me. However, Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures gets my “Best Scene of the Week” award every time it’s out, and Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam is one of my favorite titles. If it wasn’t for these two and the Marvel Adventures line (I hope there was a panel of that as well), I probably wouldn’t be reading super hero titles at all right now. We don’t get enough of that genre out of the indies, and the indies don’t get on the shelves as much as the “Big Two”.
Walker said “Superfriends” #14 would be chalked full of super-animals – Krytpo, Streaky, Bathound, a veritable animal Justice League – “because people like super-animals.”
I am so totally buying that issue. I wasn’t all that interested in this month’s “talking Starro”, so they can get it wrong. There was also mention that Mike Kunkle hasn’t been able to keep up with Billy Batson due to his day job (which oddly, isn’t making comics, apparently) and his family. It’s nice to see a decent reason for late books. Or a reason at all! According to Jones, he’s not happy about it and hopes to get back on track soon.
So perhaps this is the last Comic Con report. Hopefully, if DC won’t get on the ball, we can and get these comics out. There’s also the “Hanna-Barberra/Cartoon Network” stuff like Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Scooby-Doo, and the Cartoon Network anthologies, so there are still good comic for kids. You just have to look hard for them. Parents, don’t just assume that any comic, game, or cartoon is good for kids just because it is a comic, game, or cartoon. They come out for all age groups, and while I am happy about that to a point, until these industries do a better job of seperating the differences, it is up to you to pay attention and do some research before putting them in a kid’s hands. You’ll all be better off for it.
And you older readers and viewers? Don’t be afraid to check out an “all-ages” title, PG movie, or TV-G program some time. There are some good stories when you can hide behind taboos and vulgarity, if you have the guts to check them out.
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