Have superhero comics lost their innocence forever?

[enyawd72]

These pages, posted by Samurainoir in another thread really bother me...they hit just a little too close to home, as I lost my mother 11 years ago to a horrific four year battle with cancer.







My question is this...WHY would anyone at Marvel, DC or any other writers of super hero comics think people want to read about this kind of stuff? Isn't there enough depressing news happening all around us in everyday life as it is? Comics are supposed to be FUN, entertaining escapism. By constantly trying to push the envelope and make everything "real" don't these publishers realize they're destroying the very essence of what these stories are supposed to do?
Maybe it's the fact that as we get older, we're a little more conscious of our own mortality, but I long for simpler comics with my favorite heroes and villains where I can leave real-world troubles behind.

[palitoy]

While i think most comics are kind of immature and probably shouldn't handle such issues, a person battling cancer depicted in a well written fashion can be somewhat inspiring.

I get it, you personally don't want to read this story and I'm not rushing to the news stand either but I can think of ten worse examples of how comics have lost their luster with me. Like DC's portrayal of it's female characters in recent years or the over use of gore.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I can see your point, but I think there is a place for such stories. I wouldn't want to see this all the time, but exploring the human condition via the fantastic is one of the things I liked about comics of the Bronze Age, when writers went beyond "standard super hero plot of the month". The majority of DC's output is now devoid of any such humanity, it's just event-driven spectacle, one after another.

I haven't read any of this Thor run, but I imagine this is a subplot running in the background behind the usual cosmic Thor stuff.

I was a HUGE fan of James Robinson's Starman title, and it just so happened my mother passed away right around the time the original Starman, Ted Knight, died in that title. The issues following his death were somewhat painful for me, but they honestly helped me get through it, even if just a tiny little bit.

Chris

[palitoy]

To put it in perspective.

[EMCE Hammer]

The story above doesn't bother me as inappropriate for my eyes, but I'm sure not handing it over to any of my kids. I think most comics have lost their innocence, primarily because they're written for us now instead of kids. All isn't lost, but it is getting real hard to find stuff I'm comfortable buying for my children.

[EMCE Hammer]

^I can see your point, but I think there is a place for such stories. I wouldn't want to see this all the time, but exploring the human condition via the fantastic is one of the things I liked about comics of the Bronze Age, when writers went beyond "standard super hero plot of the month". The majority of DC's output is now devoid of any such humanity, it's just event-driven spectacle, one after another.

I haven't read any of this Thor run, but I imagine this is a subplot running in the background behind the usual cosmic Thor stuff.

I was a HUGE fan of James Robinson's Starman title, and it just so happened my mother passed away right around the time the original Starman, Ted Knight, died in that title. The issues following his death were somewhat painful for me, but they honestly helped me get through it, even if just a tiny little bit.

Chris

That Starman run is one of the best ever IMO. Not for young kids either, but at some point I'd be really happy if any of my children came to appreciate it as much as I do.

[enyawd72]

What's ironic is Jane Foster saying to Thor "I could use a good saving the world story." to divert her attention from her illness for a while. The writers should take their own advice.

[enyawd72]

The story above doesn't bother me as inappropriate for my eyes, but I'm sure not handing it over to any of my kids. I think most comics have lost their innocence, primarily because they're written for us now instead of kids. All isn't lost, but it is getting real hard to find stuff I'm comfortable buying for my children.

It's funny you say that EMCE...maybe I just never grew up, but I still want those comics that speak to my inner child. They, like toys, keep me young at heart.

[Earth 2 Chris]

The Spidey panel Brian posted reminded me of "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man", one of THE classic Spidey tales of all time. This was published when I was a kid, and when mainstream comics were still "all-ages". It was the back-up story to a standard super hero tale with Spidey fighting the Wrecking Crew of some such. This simple back-up story about Spidey visiting a terminally ill boy spoke volumes about Peter Parker's character, and it also touched a nerve in young Chris Franklin...even if I didn't completely understand the finality of death at that point.

I do think that comics can touch on these things and still give you that escapism you want. I do agree that most super hero comics are full of things kids shouldn't see or read, mostly the excessive gore and over-sexing of female characters both Steve and Brian mentioned. If a kid were to read a story like this, minus the other gratuitous elements, it may help them deal with their own experiences when loved ones face something like this.

Chris

[EMCE Hammer]

It's funny you say that EMCE...maybe I just never grew up, but I still want those comics that speak to my inner child. They, like toys, keep me young at heart.

I like to have a choice. I enjoy a Starman just as much as a Brave & Bold or Scooby Doo. I am saddened that it leans so heavily toward the stuff that has completely gone away from what we got to read as kids.

[madmarva]

If you go back and read Superman 161 from the early 1960s, it's kind of similar. In one of the issue's stories it depicts the deaths of the Kents from some weird disease that they caught on a cruise. Superboy couldn't do anything about it, stressing his limits. That story didn't go into as much detail and wasn't as grounded or realistic as those couple of pages of Thor, but it touched on the same emotions. Superman comics of that day were supposed to be geared for 6- to 10-year-olds.

I do wish there were more general audience super hero comics like filled the stands in the 70s and 80s. Today I think DC is particularly guilty of amping up the cheese/beef cake and gore for nonstory-telling reasons.

But, yeah, I don't think DC and Marvel's main titles are being created for kids anymore. They want that prime 14-38 male market that so much of entertainment is geared to today.

[Hedji]

Didn't the Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel already deal with this? I remember it being a powerful read as a kid.

[johnnystorm]

Ok, here's what I don't get: wasn't Thor a doctor? Jane has to explain this to him?
He was there during that Captain Marvel story, which is in continuity officially.
I'm confused?

[HardyGirl]

While I respect creative license, I think people have gotten away from comics as a kids medium. Yeah, adults read more comics than kids now I think, b/c we grew up reading them, and most kids today don't. On Free Comic Book Day, I see more kids than adults being comics, kids want the toys. But I also think that grown-ups have given up on buying comics for kids, b/c there aren't enough appropriate choices. For myself, personally, I like the innocence and escapism. I'm really into the Batman '66 comics, and they are appropriate for all ages. I also like the Scooby-Doo Team-ups.

[jwyblejr]

Didn't the Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel already deal with this? I remember it being a powerful read as a kid.

Yeah none of this is really new. Whether it be cancer,drugs,alcoholism,or racism or whatever it's been covered before.