EP0049: Comics for Kids




Podcast – The Classy Comics Podcast show

Summary: A look at several comics that are great for kids. <br> Transcript:<br> Host: Today we take a look at 7 series of comics and graphic novels that are great for kids. Straight ahead. <br> <br> Announcer: Welcome to the Classy Comics podcast where we search for the best comics in the universe. From Boise, Idaho here is your host, Adam Graham. <br> Host: When I was growing up, my dad didn’t actually let me read superhero comics and I think that there was actually good reason for that. There’s a lot of comic material out they are that’s dark and gritty and just not very appropriate for kids to read but if you’re a fan of comics and you’d like to introduce that to your kids and you want something that’s not going to expose them to a lot of dark, violent stuff as well as sexual content that you don’t really want them introduced to, it can be a challenge. So today, we’re going to go ahead and take a look at some comics and comic series that are good for kids and I should note in talking about this that in addition to comics that are really you know just not appropriate for kids, there are comics that are made for kids that also can be inappropriate in other ways, such as talking down to the kids and not really telling good stories. So, we’re kind of looking for quality in both ways. So, I’ve got seven different ideas, six really for kids of all ages for the most part and 1 for slightly older kids. So, we’ll talk about that. I also will mention one option which is to introduce your kids to Gold and Silver Age comics. In general, the comics did not tend to be nearly as graphic and certainly did not have the amount of sexual content that many modern comics will contain. However, you need to be aware that these were written for a different time, so a lot of the language in terms of actual dialogue may sound weird to kids. In addition, particularly during the Golden Age, some superheroes could be almost bloodthirsty in their reactions or callous, at the very least and some books contain material that could be, at the very least, racially insensitive if not, racist. So, it’s something you need to use your judgment on.<br> Alright, well onto the ones that I would recommend and we’re going to go ahead and start with Duck Comics and by Duck Comics, I mean the comics featuring Scrooge McDuck and Donald Duck. If you’re like me and you grew up watching Duck Tales, many of the ideas for stories for Duck Tales came right out of the pages of these comics, particularly those by Carl Barks, talking about the adventures of Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck. Now I mention some of the older comics being a bit dated. I really don’t think that is a case with Duck Comics. They’re written very well, in a way I think holds up magnificently and doesn’t depend on the time period. Certainly, kids will recognize the time period is different but I don’t think it will make a huge load of difference. They’re great adventure stories with a good sense of adventure and they are enjoyed not just in the United States but the world over. In fact, for many European comic fans, the real comics are Duck Comics, forget about all these superheroes. I wouldn’t go that far but they are really enjoyable and they’re great for kids. The Carl Barks library, which is being republished in 30 volumes, contains works from the 1940s to the mid-1960s and there’s also the Don Rosa library, containing his works with Scrooge and Donald and the boys from 1980s to 2006. They’re both really good writers. They’re good reads for kids and so I’d encourage you to check out the Carl Barks library or the Don Rosa library series, which are really just great collections of Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck stories.<br> Alright, the next thing I want to mention is the D.C. Animated Universe comics. Now this is not something everyone knows because so many people grew up watching the...