Dan DiDio New Writer on the Outsiders

[saildog]

If I had a bajillion dollars, I'd buy DC and ask for Bruce Timm, Art Baltzar, Franco, Paul Dini, and Geoff Johns.

Now, I realize I probably have excluded someone worthy of inclusion, but I know I haven't included an unworthy artist.

From there, I'd ask these people to put it all back and I bet we'd have some worthy comics that would thrill young and old alike.

As much as I love Watchmen, Sin City, Dark Knight......they derailed comic for kiddies. The reason I love my comic shop is for the sole reason that they have shed The Android Dungeon stigma and reach out to kids by making a family friendly atmosphere. Swing the pendulum back as far as you can and sales will sore and you will build an audience. Look to Hollywood's example. Stuff fit for kids sells..

[BlackKnight]

As much as I love Watchmen, Sin City, Dark Knight......they derailed comic for kiddies.

I disagree.
It was Video Games, Pokeyman-esque Crap & Ultimately the Direction of Animation. Children don't have to try & read a book , when the Imagination is Put right there infront of them & they don't have to create it. Also, there are plenty of "Kid Friendly" stuff on the Shelves today, as our past threads on the Topics have proven. As far as Continuity goes,.. the Mentality of "Darker stuff" is more so in Continuity, Sure,.. However it's also Mostly 30 to 50 yr Olds reading too.

My Son actually reads alot of my books these days..., it's neat stuff..., but unless a parent collects the books,.. not too many Kids are seeking them out either.

[Mego Milk]

If I had a bajillion dollars, I'd buy DC and ask for Bruce Timm, Art Baltzar, Franco, Paul Dini, and Geoff Johns.

word...

[saildog]

I disagree.
It was Video Games, Pokeyman-esque Crap & Ultimately the Direction of Animation. Children don't have to try & read a book , when the Imagination is Put right there infront of them & they don't have to create it. Also, there are plenty of "Kid Friendly" stuff on the Shelves today, as our past threads on the Topics have proven. As far as Continuity goes,.. the Mentality of "Darker stuff" is more so in Continuity, Sure,.. However it's also Mostly 30 to 50 yr Olds reading too.

My Son actually reads alot of my books these days..., it's neat stuff..., but unless a parent collects the books,.. not too many Kids are seeking them out either.

I see your point, and agree.

Forgive me, I tend to be a bit simplistic and my lack of understanding never keeps me from trying to make a point.

However, I still think my list of writers, given a chance to set the tone, would make DC a butt-load of money. Write something that parents and kids will share and you are golden. Again, look at what Hollywood has done since Toy Story. (followed by a ton of movies that kids loved..........and parents got......does my analogy make sense, BK?).

Follow the Toy Story model and kids get it on one level and Parents like it on another and since Parents get it, they are willing to buy. It takes talent, but the precedence was set as far back as Looney Tunes. It's not impossible to do nor does your audience have to be mutually exclusive. Kids can love something that Parents "get". That pattern was set long ago. What made "Shrek" so popular???

[saildog]

word...

I'm not trying to be a suck up and in fact I misspelled "Baltazar".

All I know, is that my Sister, who never read comics (and in fact made fun of me for it), reads them now and watches cartoons (largely produced by Bruce Timm) with her Daughter because there are bits they both get and enjoy.

Lord knows, I never thought I'd see the day and I promise you, I can detail the pathology of how it came to be. She frequently tells me to "shut up!" now.

[thunderbolt]

I think affordability is killing comics, too. When I was a kid I could get 4 comics for a buck. Now it costs nearly 16 bucks for the same 4 basic books. Availability is tough, too. In the 70's you could go into any dime store, gas station or 7-11 and come out with comics.