The Cost of Parenting with Good vs Evil
Two things may happen to you as a parent - you and your children will have a lot in common or you won't have much in common. In my case - I'm lucky. My kids love comic books. They love the artwork, the story and the simple equation of good vs evil equals confrontation. As a parent it becomes a balancing act as kids grow and mature - and as I've stated before age appropriate comic books are a great option for younger interested readers. To my knowledge little can be accomplished by trying to limit your child's reading options without filling that void with acceptable options
However - as a parent you may be more hands on or like me just simply want to know as much as you can bout what it is you may be getting your children, and by extension the rest of the family into. For me this means reading / understanding everything from Avengers to X-Men with My Little Pony mixed in someplace.
**There is plenty of reading to be done if you plan on playing catch-up in any comic publishers universe or characters universe for that matter. In some cases (which I may tackle in another post) - it just may feel as though its not worth it (I'm looking at you Marvel!).
I've found there are two primary reasons parents begrudge their children the opportunity to enjoy the smell, feel and message of any given comic book. There may be more reasons - but these are the two that I most of the time and take issue with.
- "They are too expensive." - Without beating up the industry for cover prices, book values and variant costs - the crux of the matter is that it is hard to justify purchasing a $4.99 or even $2.99 book for your kids every week, supposing you only plan on purchasing one book. Lord knows kids never want just one - so in my case for one $4.99 book per child (reading age) I'm spending $15.00 before I even take a look at new releases for myself. I get it - and I understand.
- "They are too violent." - Without coming off as an unforgiving person I'm going to try and explain what I believe to be the woosification of America. This hippy moonbat crap of avoiding confrontation (written, drawn or otherwise) has prohibited our children's ability to provide for themselves the self confidence required to succeed let alone exist in this world. I'm not saying that violence is always the answer or even an option all the time - however violence and brute force have solved more problems in this world than flowers ever have and if a child is not taught to understand when "enough is enough" they will progress in this world with the idea that everyone has good intentions, the sun will always shine and there will never be a day when you may struggle to eat. None of those things are true and yet we allow our youth to be guided into willful ignorance to the problems of the world thereby creating whole generations of children unable to roll a hard six when life demands it. Teach your kids to be kind and polite, until it's time to not be those things any longer and you've just succeeded in creating a small human that can not only care for the needy but defend the needy as well.
I'll address #1 first considering I need to take a quick shot of coffee, breathe and calm my proverbial jets before pursuing #2.
The cost can be steep, so my suggestion is this: Contact your local comic dealer and ask if they are planning a "box sale". A "box sale" is an event whereby comic dealers clear space for incoming or existing back issues by selling customers a short or long comic box for a bulk price to be filled with as many back issues as they can fit. I've seen them held for $20.00 a box - which seems a bit more expensive until you realize a short box fits 150 or more comics and a long box is over 200 comics.
**These will be back issues, but it will provide a library of comics for you and your kids to share in, or that you can regulate the distribution of (don't just give them ALL to your kids all at once).
The other option if you plan on making weekly or bi-weekly runs to the comic shop is to purchase back issues which are typically sold at a lower cost than "new" comics. I find my kids have more fun in the back issue bins because it means that they might be able to get more than one comic. If your dealer is selling back issues for book value, find a new dealer. This is bad business unless the comic has some significance (variant, limited run, death of Gwen Stacy, first appearance of Punisher, etc.).
**If your bankroll doesn't even allow for this option - have that conversation with your kids. They are small people, but they should know the "why" and most likely can be mature enough to understand. After all - family sticks together and the lessons they learn from you on responsibility will pay them 10 fold.
On my second point - after re-reading my rant I think I made my point. Kids are pieces of modeling clay and though they are all destined to become something, how they progress and the quality of life they live is largely based on the impressions we make on them as parents. So as for comics being too violent - please take the time to read the quotes below, I stopped at four, but I could have gone on and on and on. Comics give a great message to kids - again good vs evil equals confrontation. Not all are age appropriate this is true, but those that are will still likely depict (pick a hero) FIGHTING (pick a villain). This is a great moral. Stand for the weak. Be strong in your convictions. I'm not an expert parent - there is no such thing - but I do have opinions, and 12 years of trying to get it right under my belt.
"But everyone's story begins once upon a time, and it's up to us to cherish the time we're given to ensure we live happily ever after." -Scarlet Witch
"Life doesn't give us purpose. We give life purpose" -The Flash
"The Strength of this country isn't in buildings of brick and steel. It's in the hearts of those who have sworn to fight for it's freedom." -Captain America
"You only have your thoughts and dreams ahead of you. You are someone. You mean something." -Batman
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