EvilGuy

January 25, 2012 3:48 pm So you're saying there is no need to serve this audience with anything other than reprints from the 50's and 60's? That my kids will understand the context and sometimes sexist attitudes that pervade the story telling of that time, particularly in Wonder Woman comics? Or that I need to buy her black and white comics, and pitch that as a plus because she can color them? I don't think you really considered your remarks fully. The kids want comics like Daddy picks up on Wednesday. Full color, 20 or so pages, just like Daddy gets. They both tell me Wonder Woman is their favorite, with Batman and Superman and Batgirl and Spider-man and Super Girl bringing up the back of the pack of favorites. They're disapointed when I say that those comics aren't really for them (though sometimes I can hand them Supes or Spidey, but even those I would rather read first just to be sure). My kids' first experience with comics has been that they're excluded from most of what is on the stands. In particular, the titles for girls are lacking; see the majority of these other comments as alternate testimony if my experience doesn't stand on its own for you.

January 24, 2012 9:30 am I can't get through all of these comments in the limited time I have before the workday begins; however, this was too relevant a post to let go without a remark or two. I'm the father (and evil overlord to) twins (minions), one boy and one girl. They're five. I can tell you honestly that they both love superheroes, but my little girl loves them more. She loves any toys we manage to scrounge for her, any dress up capes or WW tiaras and bracelets, and she's my personal cheerleader when I play DC Universe Online. She knows most of the DC characters, and a great many of the Marvels as well. Not only is it difficult to find a comic book to read to her that won't get us into Very Special Talks over and over in the course of 22 pages, but there is very, very limited merchandise in general. I spent four days at NYCC this past year, and through it all I was looking for Wonder Woman items to bring home that she would love. What did I find? On the very last day, in the very last hour, I found a black t-shirt in nearly the right size with a gold WW logo on it. Oh, and numerous half naked Star Saphire Wonder Woman figures that stayed where I found them. No Batgirl (aside from the Legends figure - wrong size, per my daughter's comments), Catwoman, Power Girl, Huntress, Black Canary, Ms. Marvel, Wasp, She-Hulk, or any other items were found either - unless they were provocatively posed or dressed. By Christmas we were desperate (Christmas for a 5 year old is SPECIAL, don't you know, there's no explaining how Santa didn't get the letter or thought she'd prefer a tea set over an invisible jet), and turned to eBay. Sure, this is a budget blowing turn of events, but we did end up with some great stuff. I wouldn't consider this a success on the part of DC's Marketing, though, but rather an underscored failure that lined the pockets of some small time merchants. We did manage to find this, though, which I can't recommend strongly enough: http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Woman-Story-Amazon-Princess/dp/0670062561/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327414123&sr=1-5 - it is brilliantly drawn, and well worded. Both of the kids love it. With the groundswell over the last year or so regarding the portrayal of women in comics, the lack of female creators, etc. I think you hit on something here that isn't discussed enough. Little girls love superheroes too, and they could be equal partners in readership tomorrow if only the Big Two were willing to reach out to them today. Daddy's little girl, after all, loves the things Daddy loves, doesn't she?